I’m calling this record-breaking “high 60s/low 70s, 3-day weekend” my unofficial Mid-Tri Spring Break! Luis and I took advantage of the unseasonably warm temperatures and went to the Morton Arboretum on Sunday and Monday, located about 15 minutes from campus.

The Morton Arboretum is one of my favorite places to get away and immerse myself in nature. Growing up in a smaller town, I was always playing outside away from concrete and traffic, and coming to Chicagoland was an adjustment in that sense.

The Morton Arboretum is a non-profit organization that was founded in 1922. Its mission is “to collect and study trees, shrubs and other plants from around the world, to display them across naturally beautiful landscapes for people to study and enjoy, and to learn how to grow them in ways that enhance our environment.”

It has 17,000 acres of land with 16 miles of hiking trails. Having an annual membership is worth it to be able to go year-round because daily admission and parking is quite pricey.

It was a busy day there — everyone else had the same idea with the warm weather. We saw people of all ages and backgrounds, some in shorts and tank tops, and others still bundled up. The stark contrast between winter and spring was evident, as one of the ponds still had a layer of ice on the shady side, with geese swimming on the sunny thawed side.

As my 3-day weekend is coming to an end, I have exams to study for and projects to complete. My never-ending to-do list was neglected, but sometimes it’s necessary to put those things aside for some vitamin R (rest/relaxation/rejuvenation). Now, back to the books!