How to Spend Spring Break Weekend in Staunton, V.A. as a College Student on a Tight Budget

Have you ever considered seeing a show at a live theatre? At the American Shakespeare Center (ASC) in Staunton, Virginia, you can! The live actors play music before the show and at the intermission, have improv moments with the audience, and play a variety of roles within their own body! I never knew leaving my dorm for spring break would bring me such peace!

Follow this article through the reflection of the joy that I experienced in discovering a new aspect of Virginia I’ve never been to. I will share moments from my trip that will be remembered forever. It’s a recollection of memories that came from embracing a new atmosphere that ultimately led to a new encounter of feeling surprised and delighted beyond what words can describe.

Journey

The weekend of March 20, 2026,  I attended a Shakespearean-themed field trip with my collegiate English department in a part of Virginia that I have never experienced on my own before. We spent the time engulfed in live theatre and its atmosphere. The days unfolded into something unexpectedly meaningful. I wanted to also find the nuances of the creative space–which was one that resulted in a surprisingly delightful memory more than I had ever planned for at all. This uniquely different world that encourages stories, voices, and theatre magic unlike traditional American opera or theatre experiences. It felt like the right time in my collegiate and personal life to encompass myself in something so closely related to my future study abroad plans to London, United Kingdom. 

Simplified Itinerary

March 20

• Arrived in VA

• Attended a custom lecture of a behind-the-scenes of the two performances we saw on the trip

• The Hound of the Baskervilles performance experience

March 21

• Attended two workshops relating to stage directions and Shakespearean stage conditions,

• Twelfth night performance experience

March 22

• Attended a directing workshop where our groups of students worked with understudies and tinkered around with the elements we learned the day before, 

• Backstage tour of the ASC

• Departure

Quick Information about the ASC

ASC is a casual dress establishment, but people have definitely dressed up! It is totally a family friendly option for a night out or a date night! There are moments during the shows where it may have embedded adult content that may not be completely understood by little children, teenagers may be able to understand. I understood some of the subliminal messages, but some of them I had to ask about. Prior to my attendance I didn’t have any context for either of the performances that I watched, but I still had a wonderful time! For seating visibility the middle of the second floor balcony, gallant stools, and sides of the stage that aren’t behind a pillar are the best! If you sit behind a pillar during a performance there will be times where you lean around it and potentially could miss out on some of the fun going on! All devices are strongly discouraged and  if you wish to have memories for your camera roll the ASC recommends scheduling a tour. 

Noise considerations: it gets decently loud because of the passionate acting, but there are moments that may not be favored by those with sensory stimulation differences or hearing impairments, so be sure to take that into account if you or your guests may have any differences or impairments!

What to Bring to the Performances

• A light jacket, it does get cold at parts but is otherwise warm!

• Water, but they have concessions open.

Budget Breakdown

As for the budget of the trip, I roughly spent $590 on the 2 night stay at Hotel 24 South and the ASC all-inclusive fee, which included the performances, lectures, and backstage tour. Spending-wise my budget as a college student was about $200. I recommend having $350 for pure spending money, so that the expenses that are spontaneous are accounted for, like going to an escape room or spending a day on the city shopping. I was invited to go to an escape room, but I wouldn’t have been able to have a nice dinner with my friends if that was a cost I invested in. However, if you're not looking to spend much money on a weekend sabbatical, something that saved me buying a meal for dinner was bringing food from home to eat for when we first arrived, and then making free collages at a local art gallery or museum while we relaxed afterward.

Dining and Local Spots

The city overall is quite walkable, the need for a car is low unless there is a plan to travel outside the city limits. There is a movie theater within a few minutes of walking from the hotel. My favorite dining places were Split Banana Co. with their wide variety of gelato flavors, Mill Street Grill for their ambiance and quality dining selections, and Baja Bean for their taste of Mexican food.

If I had more time I would have loved to try Sweet Addie’s, which is a waffle shop that’s closed on Saturdays, so by the time I had arrived and settled in the establishment was already closed. Remedy Burger would have been a great lunch, but by the time I had wanted it there was about a 30 minute wait and with my packed itinerary, I couldn’t fit it in. Another that I would have really tried was the charcuterie place, however I am under the age of 21 and although it would have been nice, I decided against exploring that establishment. If you’re looking for something different there are a range of cuisines from American to Indian to Mexican around the hotel.

What I Forgot to Bring

Some essentials that I missed out on that I either needed and didn’t buy or bought out in the city that don’t seem necessary until it comes time to need them. Bandaids, pain relievers, snacks, lotion, and even shoes for after a cooldown swim would have made the trip a little less stressful. I also forgot some simple things like a notebook, and hair ties—they weren’t going to ruin my enjoyment of the trip, but I would have appreciated having one on hand more than having to buy one!

What I'd Do Differently Next Time

If I theoretically had a few more days added onto the trip I would have explored the city a bit more in depth. I would have liked to see the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library, go bowling, see Virginia’s version of Buc-ee’s and compare it to my hometown’s. I also predict that I would have made the effort to try cuisines that are typically outside of my comfort zone just for the joy of it. Obviously, none of these were things that I had to do, but in general things that I would have truly liked to do during my trip.

Bonus Travel Tip

If you find yourself traveling a lot or spending money truly anywhere, you can scan your receipts to an app, Fetch, which translates dollars spent into points that are usable for gift cards at the selected retailers they host on the app. I scan receipts from my shopping trips at grocery stores, food delivery, and online shopping when it emails receipts. Although I use this app leisurely it would have come in handy more closely if I was able to go shopping a lot more! 

Conclusion

Overall, I had a really great time and truly wouldn’t mind doing it again. My favorite part was going to a new part of Virginia and experiencing a new style of theatre. What are your best travel tips for your adventurous endeavors domestically and abroad?