LEAH NASH PHOTOGRAPHY

STORIES | ESSAYS: Hedonists on Holiday

Spring Break is a time when more than one million college students flock to the beach. Nowadays many choose international locales but Miami Beach is becoming a prime destination because it's cheaper and closer. The goal, says John Spivak from Bucknell, is to "Get drunk, get laid, and get a tan, with an occasional meal thrown in." Locals may hate the crowds and the impossibility of parking but most businesses on the beach, like the hotels and clubs, love the masses, and the money they bring in. This story was created for The Miami Herald.

Lindsey helps Matt from Georgia Southern do an upside down beer bong on Miami Beach. Later Matt would have "tequila wars" with his friend where his record for chugging the liquor was 29 seconds. According to the Journal of American College Health the average male has 18 alcoholic drinks per day while on spring break.
   
University of Miami student Dwight Vincent spent the day at the beach drinking Smirnoff, making glass sculptures and checking out the ladies.
   
Friends try to revive a passed out Joe Lillo, a student from Johnson & Wales Culinary School in North Miami. Life guards who work the beach estimate that fire and rescue has to be called about three times a day during spring break because of excessive alcohol use.
     
  
University of Missouri students play chicken and some of the girls resort to devious methods to win.
   
Every week at the Clevelander Vanessa Adriazold models swimwear for the crowd. But when the college kids come in to town, things are a little different. "During spring break I wear a smaller bikini. Everyone wants to see something, and we are not allowed to flash. I don't want them to be disappointed."
   
The film crew from "Girls Gone Wild" were often on hand during spring break week to give out free liquor, hats, and thongs to the girls who would put on a show for the cameras.
     
  
Senor Frog's Cantina held a hot body contest for the ladies. Nicole Roy and Katie Miller from Mount Ida College won the prize of a $100 bar tab by flashing their chests, showing their thong underwear and blowing up condoms.
   
At Crobar on South Beach, Amanda Miller and Nicole Sanders party with some spring break boys. "Everybody tries to go home and forget what happened." says Miller.
   
Patrick Schmoker shares his hotel room with four other friends. The boys estimate that they spent about $1500 each on their week in Miami Beach. However, none of them regret the cost. "It was the best spring break ever," says Kurt Mehlin who shared the room. "We met some cool people to stay in contact with the rest of our lives." Whoever passed out last had to sleep on the floor.