AP exams. Graduation. Finals. Prom. Grades. Senior Survivor. College decisions. This is just a sampling of all the things weighing on the minds of students–particularly seniors–at Brighton High School. If thinking about them collectively makes a student’s shoulders heavy, they are not alone. Schools across the country are in the homestretch, and students are checked out, clawing for the finish line.
In order to stay motivated over these final weeks, however, it is important to remember what comes next: summer activities. Whether it’s hanging out with friends or playing sports, going camping or taking a vacation, there is something for everyone to rest their eyes on. In getting over this last hump, memories that will last a lifetime await on the other side.
Perhaps ideas are lacking, though. There’s no favorite summer hobby to go to, or no vacation is planned. If this sounds familiar, here’s a humble recommendation: embark on a classic American road trip.
Now, on the surface, this may sound unappealing. As Brighton High School math teacher Mr. William Braschler said, “I hate road trips.” He specifically added that he gets carsick very easily, giving him a preference toward flying. Senior Nicholas Lang largely agreed with this sentiment, adding that he thinks they’re “kind of boring.”
Oftentimes, though, these sentiments are often built off of past experiences that may not reflect a modern vacation. For instance, many choose to drive huge chunks of the country all in one day, building fatigue. In other cases, people don’t travel with the right group, going with family or friends they struggle to get along with for long periods of time. If these key pieces of the vacation are not tailored properly, a bad experience is destined to happen. However, if the trip is done with a collaborative group, and there are plans for frequent breaks between driving to avoid sickness, anyone can enjoy this kind of vacation. In fact, Lang even conceded that under better circumstances, he might still be open to the idea: “[If] you’re with the right people, then it can be fun.”
These issues also ignore the huge upside of taking a summer road trip: freedom. When done right, these vacations can offer great sentiments of exploration and adventure. Everywhere from coast to coast is on the table, truly offering something for everyone. For example, in the case of senior Ethan Anderson, he would not only be able to go to Colorado, his destination of choice, but he would be able to engage in all of his desired activities.
“I like trips where you stop for four hours [and] go see a national park… I think driving through the mountains would be really cool,” Anderson said.
On the other hand, for Braschler, he would personally like to travel all the way out to the west coast to either the Redwoods or the Grand Canyon, with both of which being possible on one, well-planned road trip.
Now, even if the decision is made to take on a road trip, there is still a major detail to work out: where to go? Regardless of budget, time and interests, there is a way to make one of these adventures work for anybody. While a significant amount of personal planning is needed to make the experience worth it, here is a rough plan to get started:
Step One) Choose an end destination. For a shorter trip, pick somewhere within 300 miles of home. For a larger expedition, anywhere within the contiguous United States is on the table.
Step Two) Consider how much time there will be to comfortably drive each day. If carsickness is a concern, choose a shorter amount of time. If the time budget is only a few days, aim for longer distances each day.
Step Three) Book hotels that correspond with the end of the driving segment each day. Things can get pricey here, so one may have to adjust according to the budget. If there is more money to spend, consider looking into Airbnbs that can offer a unique experience.
Step Four) Find attractions and get on the road! While there still needs to be select points of interest along the way to fill up the trip, it’s also important to leave time for unplanned activities. That is always one of the joys of getting away like this, so prepare for exploration.
At the end of the day, this is just one idea of how to spend this summer. Regardless of what one embarks on over these next few months, they should simply feel encouraged to try something new this summer. These days of warm weather are finite, so it is wise to make the most of them.
