As summer approaches, daydreams of freedom from tests and papers fill students’ heads. Living in one of the biggest, most popular attractions in the world, like San Francisco, can make anyone long for a change of pace and scenery. Cash may be short, but don’t rule out a road trip with friends as an easy way to escape the city for a few days.
Whether it’s across the state or country, there are plenty of guidelines to make a road trip a success. Mark Sedenquist, publisher for RoadTripAmerica.com gives some advice for students and adventurers seeking some fun without blowing all their cash.
“The single biggest problem is trying to drive too much in a day and/or see too many attractions on a trip,” says Sedenquist. For longer road trips he advises limiting driving to five hundred miles, or less than ten hours.
Housing and gas are the most expensive parts of the trip, so bring along a few friends to help cut gas costs and be sure to use the car with the best gas mileage. There are online fuel cost calculators to help budget as well.
When it comes to lodging, don’t rule out staying in a youth hostel. Most offer dormitory and private rooms and all have safes and lockers for personal storage. Hostels range between twelve to thirty dollars a night and are clean, affordable and offer great opportunities to meet fellow travelers. Outdoor camping is another option, particularly during the summer months—most campsites run between about ten to thirty dollars depending on amenities and location. And don’t forget about personal connections, Sedenquist mentions, “Students have a remarkable built-in network for cheap overnight lodging, and just about every school and educational department has some visitation program for traveling students, use it!”
Here are a few spots to check out in the San Lorenzo Valley located in the Santa Cruz Mountains:
Roaring Camp Railroads features a train ride to Bear Mountain on an old steam engine through one-thousand-year-old sequoias.
The nearby Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park features over a dozen miles of hiking trails through a two-hundred-year-old redwood forest.
Downtown Felton is home to the tallest covered bridge in the nation as well as The Bigfoot Discovery Project, a quirky museum featuring a collection of Bigfoot memorabilia and a huge model of the creature himself.
Grab a bite to eat at Tryolean Inn Restaurant, which is well known in the area for its authentic Bavarian and German cuisine.
Take advantage of those long summer days and don’t let rising gas prices prevent you from having a fun weekend. Remember: there are plenty of peculiar, yet beautiful places nearby that you probably haven’t noticed.