Sarah Carrillo
Living Editor
James Riswick / Associate Editor
Road trips – quite possibly some of the most fun college experiences you can have if you do them right. Road trips mean bonding with your friends, seeing new places and, of course, driving.
California is one of the best places to take a road trip. Fodors.com, a travel Web site, raved about California’s many destinations:
“Wherever you go in the Golden State, there’s plenty to fall in love with: very few visitors go home unsmitten.”
So before you get too bogged down with homework and tests, take a minute to plan a weekend to explore some of the great places just a few-hours drive from here.
One of the greatest benefits of taking a road trip is the chance to grow closer to your friends and share adventures that you’ll remember forever. One piece of advice from senior Stephanie Andrews, a self-proclaimed “road trip expert,” is to travel with people with whom you will get along with. A car can be a pretty cramped space when filled with four people and their overnight bags, and these close quarters can lead to bickering if you’re not careful.
Road trips also offer the chance to see sights that you may not get a chance to see after you graduate and move away. How often are you within a few hours of so many great places? Take advantage of it. On a road trip you can see a new city, explore the outdoors, try new food and maybe even learn a thing or two.
Road trips can also be the perfect short-term escape from life. They’re cheaper than flying and you can go anywhere your wheels will take you. And being in a new setting and relaxing by the pool or taking a walk around town can really lift your spirits. Even driving can calm you – as long as you don’t get lost.
Getting lost can be one of the hazards of road trips, but it doesn’t have to be. If you plan ahead and bring maps of your destination and directions to places you want to visit, you can avoid most instances of wandering around aimlessly searching for Main Street.
Penisha Wells, a member service and travel consultant for AAA, recommends getting a city map, which is more detailed than large area maps.
“Make sure to check road conditions, because your route may end up changing,” Wells said. “Also make sure you know the difference between the shortest route and the most direct. A shortcut could shorten your mileage but you could end up going through mountain terrain which your car may not be prepared for, and it may actually end up taking longer.”
Wells also recommended planning some aspects of your trip before you leave. She said travelers should decide what kind of activities they want to engage in and make sure there is something for everyone to do where they are going. Travel agents can also help find special rates and package deals. But don’t limit yourself to a strict schedule. You never know what surprises you may find when you arrive.
Another tip is to check the prices of activities and gas before you leave so there are no surprises. Gas especially can be expensive, so it’s good to have an idea of costs beforehand.
“Make sure people split the gas bill, otherwise the driver gets bitter,” senior Catie Royal said.
Royal offers a few other tips she has learned from her many road trips.
“Bring snacks for the car, but try to eat cultural food too, like fish tacos in Mexico,” she said. “And bring a video camera, or take lots of pictures and good music.”
There are almost an infinite number of places you can go for a weekend. Look at a map of California and you can see dozens of places worth checking out, but there are a few that stand out for their notoriety, number of attractions or scenic beauty. Some are good if you want to sight see or be active, and others are better for a more relaxing weekend, but with a little research you can find the perfect place for your ideal weekend getaway.
But there’s more to road trips than just hopping in the car and going. While spur-of-the-moment adventures can be fun, road trips often turn out better with a little planning and preparation.
Palm Springs
Driving time: about 2 1/2 hours.
Palm Springs is great if you want a relaxing weekend spent mostly by the pool. The extreme temperatures of this desert community can make it a daunting task to be out in the sun for too long, but it may be worth the effort to visit the Cabazon Outlets just outside of Palm Springs. There you can find stores such as Addidas, Coach and more, and find some great deals as well.
Palm Springs also features a street fair every Saturday and Sunday with more than 250 vendors and free admission and parking.
For more information, visit www.palm-springs.org.
Las Vegas
Driving time: about five hours.
Las Vegas offers a plethora of activities, from gambling to amusement parks and shows. Each hotel has something unique to offer and even just walking down the strip is an adventure. However, if you are not 21 it can be difficult to walk around the casinos, so you may want to save this trip until then. The gardens at the Bellagio Hotel offer a beautiful and serene place to escape from the bright lights of the casinos.
Andrews offers one piece of advice for visiting Vegas: “Don’t go when you’re tired, like after finals, because you’re going to want to stay up all night.” Make sure you’re well rested before embarking on this adventure.
For more information, visit www.ci.las-vegas.nv.us.
Catalina Island
Driving time: one hour to Long Beach, plus a one-hour boat ride.
OK, so technically visiting an island is not a road trip, although you do have to drive to the boat. But Catalina’s beauty and wealth of activities made it impossible not to include. After taking a short boat ride from Long Beach, which costs about $50 round trip, you have many choices of how to spend your day on the island. You can snorkel, take a tour or glass-bottom boat ride, or rent a golf cart and explore the area on your own.
Make sure to reserve your spot on the boat and arrive early so your seat is not given away. Most leave around 9 a.m. and return around 5 p.m.
For more information, visit www.catalina.com.
San Diego
Driving time: about four hours.
San Diego is home to not only several major tourist attractions, but also many Pepperdine students. If you play your cards right, you may be able to save money on a hotel and instead crash with one of your San Diego native friends.
The beach is a must when visiting San Diego, but if you want to try something you can’t also do in Malibu, visit Sea World or the San Diego Zoo. At night, the Gas Lamp District offers a variety of restaurants and nightclubs, but be aware that you must be 21 to enter many establishments.
San Diego also has several large shopping centers, like Horton Plaza and Fashion Valley. Sports fans can see a Padres or Chargers game. Old Town San Diego also offers several historical museums, boutiques and restaurants.
For more information, visit www.sandiego.org.
San Francisco
Driving time: about six hours.
Aside from the Golden Gate Bridge, an obvious must-see and must-drive, there is plenty to do in San Francisco. Pier 39 offers entertainment such as V, a variety show; Aquarium of the Bay; Alcatraz Island Tours; Riptide Arcade and Studio 39.
For shopping, there is Union Square and the Ferry Building, which features gourmet food and restaurants. You can also see a Giants game at SBC Park.
Senior Kellie Kanda, from nearby San Jose, said locations like China Town and the Ghirardelli Center are good places to walk around and people watch. The Ghirardelli Center also features the chocolate shop by the same name, making it a must-see for those with a sweet tooth.
For more information, visit www.sfvisitor.org.
Big Bear Lake
Driving time: about 2 1/2 hours.
If you enjoy skiing or snow boarding or just snow in general, then you’ll want to head up to Big Bear Lake sometime this coming winter. In the mean time, Big Bear offers activities such as hiking, boating and camping.
One big incentive to visit Big Bear is its latest promotion: Tank of Gas Away in Big Bear Lake. With this, when you book at least one night in a participating hotel before Nov. 18, you will receive a $25 gas card to pay for your drive up. Rooms start at $69 per night.
For more information, visit www.bigbearinfo.com.
09-152004