As the semester comes to an end and the weather heats up, the season for road trips begins. For people with limited funds and other starving-college-student obstacles, road trips may seem impossible. But, for students with a little hope and a lot of patience, a road trip could be one of their best times ever.
Ana Burgess, a Richmond resident, is a believer of the concept of no plans means no disappointments. She said she picks a final destination and hopes to arrive in one piece.
“I never make plans because they always end up falling through,” she said.
Her road trips consist of driving to music shows and visiting friends.
“It makes traveling a lot cheaper when you pick places that you know people. Then you don’t have to waste money on a place to stay,” Burgess said.
She also advised that when traveling, one must expect things to go wrong. For instance, while Burgess was riding at 3 a.m. with a friend back to Richmond from Charlotte, N.C., her friend fell asleep while driving and crashed into a guard rail, totaling his car. The phone call to her sister asking for a ride home from “somewhere in North Carolina” is an example of the unexpected happenings while on the road, she said.
Follow these tips to ensure a good trip:
*Always plan in case something goes wrong
*Keep communication-bring a cell phone; let someone know where you are traveling
*Bring cameras-you want those memories caught on film
*The more the merrier-plus it’s a bigger cash pool
*Don’t waste money on stupid things-pack lunches when possible, cut down on stopping time
*Bring a map-everyone gets lost
*Be happy and have fun-at least you’re not in class
Dixie Alexander, a senior mass communications major said most of her favorite memories happened on the road.
“The destination is only half the fun; it’s getting there that usually makes the trip,” she said.
On Alexander’s road trips to New York City, anywhere from eight to 10 people pilled into a minivan and took off. She recalled passengers using the bathroom in open parking lots, stealing random road memorabilia, running tolls by accident, getting lost in bad neighborhoods and mooning other drivers.
“And that was only the first trip,” said Alexander, who has pictures of proof at home.
Besides the usual drive to Virginia Beach, Nags Head, or any of the surrounding beaches, the summer months are perfect for other road travel since plenty of unusual attractions exist right here on the East Coast.
Fairmax.com lists all major cities, events and dates for people who drive for fun. Roadsideamerica.com features offbeat tourist attractions all over the country that travelers may never have considered – everything from pet cemeteries to strange museums along with driving directions, prices and maps. Roadfood.com directs travelers to inexpensive places to eat and abnormal cuisine along the way.
When planning a road trip, research places that offer student deals and cheap transportation. Buses provide good travel because there is no need to worry about gas or vehicle maintenance on a, more people can go. Also, road-trippers need not worry about crashing because the music was too loud or someone bumped the driver while mooning another driver. On a bus, travelers risk the possibility of sitting next to the old, smelly person, but they might be down for a good time, too.
Still undecided about where to go, or maybe a little scared on how to do it? The VCU Bookstore’s travel section is a great resource for books on places to visit and how to travel.