HIGH LIFE : What’s an ‘Ultimate’ Spring Vacation?

With only the weekend of spring break remaining, high school students from all over Orange County will be out today and tomorrow, soaking up that last ray of sunshine, catching that last wave and cruising that last boulevard.

If your vacation wasn’t all you expected it to be--or even if it was more than you hoped for--remember, there’s always next year. Let’s take a fantasy break here. If you could do whatever you wanted, wherever you wanted, over your next spring vacation, what would you do and where would you go?

Here are some responses to this week’s hot topic: “What would constitute your ‘ultimate’ spring vacation?”

“Going on a cruise to Mexico with a girl that I love, whoever she is. That would be perfect.”

--Matt Lilliard, 18, senior, Foothill

“Going to Mammoth and finding it deserted and with snow--oh, with my girlfriend of course, because love rules my life.”

--Allan Baker, 18, senior, Foothill

“Cruise to Antigua and lay on the beach until I burn up and disappear.”

--Craig Turk, 17, junior, Foothill

“A gondola ride down the canals in Venice, under a full moon with a candlelight dinner, gazing into the eyes of Carol Alt.”

--Dave Knos, 17, junior, Fountain Valley

“Go to Australia and surf with the bungalow boys and hug koala bears.”

--Renee Horrocks, 17, senior, Fountain Valley

“Meet a nice young lady, bathing half nude, in the hot sun under the Palm Springs sky.”

--Tony Beattie, 17, senior, Fountain Valley

“Soaking up the rays on a small island in the Bahamas.”

--Liz Hartzell, 17, junior, Laguna Hills

“Going to Club Med for two weeks and not having a care in the world.”

--Kim Westad, 16, junior, Laguna Hills

“Going on a cruise with my boyfriend and kicking back.”

--Tiffany Torres, 14, freshman, Laguna Hills

“One with a great lady at your side, much beach and your good friends. A book can also relieve your mind of normal pressure. As long as you’re at the beach, it really doesn’t matter at all.”

--Jeff Santelli, 17, junior, Loara

“It would have to consist of sun, surf and sand; something like Tahiti or a Club Med vacation.”

--Eddeane Casares, 15, freshman, Loara

“Going to Palm Springs for a week. I would go with five friends and, of course, our parents wouldn’t go.”

--Michelle Jefferson, 15, freshman, Loara

“Would definitely have to include some sunshine. With the sun doing its job, I could do almost anything--go to the beach, lay out, play some sports.”

--Linda Hsu, 15, freshman, Loara

“Seven days of uninterrupted sleep.”

--Sabrina Lewis, 17, senior, Loara

“Camping out at Carlsbad. I would pump weights and get tan all day while meeting some hot-looking girls with blond hair, dark tans and great bodies. Doing these activities would be like living in heaven.”

--Todd Kaudy, 17, senior, Loara

“Traveling around the Southwest part of the United States--Palm Springs, Las Vegas, Arizona . . . all in about a week and a half.”

--Tim Warady, 17, senior, University

“I would go hiking all by myself hoping to find a girl who went hiking all by herself.”

--Alan Hou, 18, senior, Villa Park

“I would go to Palm Springs with my friends to have a raging time.”

--Paul Plank, 17, senior, Villa Park

“I would go to Mexico to go fishing.”

--John Brewart, 16, junior, Villa Park

“I would go water-skiing on Lake Mead with my family.”

--Tim Boettcher, 18, senior, Whittier Christian

“I would go house-boating on Lake Shasta with my family. We’d hike, camp out and water ski.”

--Larry Gonzales, 17, senior, Whittier Christian

“I’d love to go to Ft. Lauderdale with a bunch of guys and get into lots of trouble.”

--Ezra Carbins, 17, senior, Whittier Christian

“My ultimate spring break vacation would be to sleep and sleep and sleep, and just maybe force myself to get up once and go to the beach . . . and sleep.”

--Natasha Petakoff, 16, junior, Whittier Christian

Next Week’s Hot Topic: “What is the ‘in’ slang saying or word at your high school?”

Hot Topic responses gathered by Joanna Brooks (Foothill), Kristin Hardeman (Fountain Valley), Maureen McFadden (Laguna Hills), Jane Kim (Loara), Rebecca Leung (University), Shanne Ho (Villa Park), Lara Voloshin (Whittier Christian).