Road Trip to California

My first year of college here at Western my friend Megan and I both wanted to go somewhere for spring break and since neither of us had been to California we were both determined to somehow get there. We debated on going to either San Francisco or San Diego. We decided on San Diego because since it was only March we knew that the farther north in California we went the chances of the weather being nice enough to go the ocean or beach was not as good, so we decided on San Diego. We knew there was no way we would be able to afford to fly out there (being two broke college students) so we looked at the price to take a train out there. We figured out that if we took the train we would need to rent a car once we got to San Diego, so we could site see and not be stuck at our hotel the whole time, and between the cost of the train tickets and renting a car it would be too expensive, so our only option left was to drive. We liked the idea of driving because then we would be able to stop and see other things on our way out there since neither of us had been to Colorado, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, Texas, etc. , the only downfall to driving was the fact that if we wanted to spend more time in San Diego, seeing as how spring break is only a week long, we would have to drive straight through and it would still take us 48ish hours to get there and between two people that is a long time to spend in a car. Once Megan told her dad about us taking this trip, Megan’s dad and stepmom decided they would drive out there with us and we would drop them off in Santa Barbara on our way to San Diego because Megan’s stepmom had family that lived in Santa Barbara that way we could split the driving between 4 of us and then they would just take a train back to Wisconsin. Once we had our plans figured out we left Friday night around 6pm and started our long drive to California. Somehow we were able to fit all 4 of us plus all of our bags into my little black two-door grand am. Driving thru the Rocky Mountains on Saturday afternoon was the scariest, yet most breathtaking drive ever! It was weird to think that just a few hours earlier that morning driving thru Nebraska it was spring weather and driving thru the mountains it was like a snow blizzard. Being able to only see the mountains around you and the biggest most beautiful houses and ski lodges was amazing. It was also very scary because you are driving on mountains on a 3 lane highway with cars and semis all around you and snow and ice on the roads. Seeing the ramps on the side of the highway were semis are suppose to go if they lose their brakes was not a very calming site, but needless to say we made it through the 2-3 hour drive through the rockies. We made it to Las Vegas Saturday night around midnight and like they say it defiantly looked like the city that never sleeps. Coming over the hill and being able to see nothing but sparkling lights was quite an image. Once we got into the city we couldn’t help but take a break from driving and get off the highway and drive up and down the strip looking at all of the people, hotels and lights. We even let temptation get the best of us and we stopped at the Mirage hotel and casino to look around. I was very surprised to see the most beautiful flower gardens in the hotel I have ever seen. They even had taken the flowers and made them into objects, like birds, ladybugs, snails, trees, etc. As we continued to walk around Megan’s dad went and gambled in the Casino for a little while. After about an hour we decided we had better get back on the road. Around 6am Sunday morning we arrived in Santa Barbara. Megan and I decided to stay the night in Santa Barbara and had Megan’s stepmom’s niece show us around and take us to the beach. The next morning Megan and I drove the 3-4 hour drive to San Diego. Driving from Santa Barbara to San Diego along the coast was the most breathtaking drive I have ever been on being able to see the mountains on your left and the never ending horizon of turquoise water from the ocean on your right. Once we got to San Diego we found our hotel and were quite surprised to find that the hotel was practically on the beach. We knew it was close but not step out of your room and walk fifteen feet and be on the beach close. After getting out of the car we didn’t even go check in to our hotel first we went straight to the beach and walked along the water and just took in the view. The three days we were in San Diego we went shopping, laid on the beach and relaxed, went to the San Diego Zoo, went sky diving and ALMOST got a tattoo. Driving back was a very long drive seeing as how it was only Megan and I to split the driving, and it was also a good time to find out that Megan hates driving at night so I had to do all of the night driving by myself. We stopped in Las Vegas on our way back and spent the night at my Aunt and Uncles apartment and the next day we stopped at the Hoover Dam on our way back home. Once we got into Arizona we also stopped at the Grand Canyon. Neither of us really had no idea as what to expect when we got to the Grand Canyon, but it was one of the coolest things I have ever seen. For miles all you can see is the beautiful layering and depths of orange, red and brown rocks. After walking around for awhile we decided we should get back on the road so we continued our trip back home. We managed to get back to La Crosse Friday night around midnight. Although it was a lot of driving and I’m not sure I would ever do it again I would defiantly recommend driving to the West Cost to anyone who has never done so because there are so many great places to stop and things to see along the way to experience.