(COVINGTON, La.) — As many Louisiana natives know, Mardi Gras, also known as Fat Tuesday, is full of lively parades and partying. However, some people enjoy getting out of Louisiana’s jumbled holiday festivities.

“I can go to a parade any time,” sophomore Mason Cambre said. “It is not everyday that I can go up north and shred the powder on a snowboard.”

Although going out of town for Mardi Gras is a viable option, some say that staying home is almost required during Carnival.

“These creatures we call people (those who abandon Mardi Gras) need to be ostracized from our happy, parade-loving community,” sophomore Mason Robicheaux said.

On the other hand, some students find that “shredding powder” is much more enjoyable than parades.

“Even hitting a two-foot jump… just gives me the inspiration that I can do anything. I feel free as a bird,” sophomore Cole Knobloch said. “Shredding that thick pow pow (powder) is totally wicked.”

Conversely, many students that do not visit the mountains enjoy visiting other areas of the country, such as sophomore Ben Gorringe, who enjoys trips to California during school breaks.

“Yo dawg, Cali is my jam,” Gorringe said. “Anyone who thinks otherwise does not know what they are talking about; Cali is righteous.”

Some students do not even go East nor West; they prefer to leave the country completely.

“Anyone who has not gone out of the U.S. is missing out,” sophomore Gavin Gaude said. “Waterloo, Australia is absolutely radical.”

Although it seems many students rely on Mardi Gras break to take an out-of-state vacation, loyal Louisianians still remain for the celebration.

“Parades are awesome,” sophomore Justin King said. “You get to meet a lot of new people that you would not meet if you were snowboarding.”

“People that leave Louisiana to take a ‘vacation’ have no idea how much they are missing out on,” sophomore James Bryant said. “Catching mini footballs and various sorts of beads makes me feel like a legend.”