Ten Ideas for Spring Break Road Trips

Road Trips have been around for a while now, and to many teens and young adults it has become a rite of passage. It's not just the destination, it's the car ride there as well that makes it so spontaneous and exciting. The most popular time to hit the road for most though, is spring break! Based on personal experience, Google maps, and yahoo travel my top ten ideas are as follows:

10. Southern Pacific- Following the old US-80 across the nation's southern tier is between San Diego, CA and Savannah Georgia. Along the way you will run into different foods, cultures, and landscapes. There are many places you may want to stop, but one of my personal favorites is Arizona's "The Thing!" along I-10 at exit 322. You would also of course, have to see the Grand Canyon. Without many stops (not even at a hotel), this trip would take you around 4-5 days in a round trip. That would be a bit senseless though. For such a long trip, you should give yourself at 3 or so days extra to just relax, have fun, and be able to stop and admire your surroundings.

9. Mount Rushmore- Driving down the 385 in South Dakota will lead you to Custer, SD. While in Custer, there are a couple of must sees. This includes the Crystal Cave Park, the Cosmos of the Black Hills, and of course, Mount Rushmore. A trip to Custer will usually last a day or two since the attractions in Custer are all so close together.

8. Blowing Rock, NC- The Blue Ridge Parkway, a 469-mile (755 km) long scenic highway in Blowing Rock, NC connects two national parks, the Shenandoah and the Great Smoky Mountains. While in Blowing Rock, make sure to visit Tweetsie Railroad (theme park), the Hickory Museum of Art, and Edge of the World, an outdoor adventures company including rafting, climbing and hiking. To enjoy all of its beauty, a trip in Blowing Rock would last at least two days.

7. Laguna Beach- Take a trip right down the "Coast" highways from the East Coast Highway to the Pacific Coast Highway right through Laguna Beach, CA. There you can sunbathe in its golden sand or stop by their Ocean Avenue Brewery. A day trip To Laguna Beach would be great for a first time road trip.

6. Hot Springs, VA- Take route 220 down to Hot Springs, Virginia. There you will find skiing, snow tubing, Golf, Spas, and KidsClub all at the Homestead Ski Resort. You may want to stay at least 4 days here to really experience skiing to the fullest.

5. Baltimore to Savannah- The I-95 takes you down from Baltimore, MD to Savannah, GA or vise versa on a road within earshot if not sight of the Atlantic. You may want to stop in North Carolina's Outer Banks, to see the dunes the Wright Brother's first took flight, or the Ghost town Savannah, Georgia. A trip there and back would take at least a week, especially if you were planning on stopping in numerous places.

4. Pacific Coast- Pacific Coast Highway takes you from San Francisco to Los Angeles where you can enjoy some of the most beautiful coastlines in the world. While in San Francisco, make sure not to miss the famous golden gate bridge and in Los Angeles you can't miss the Walt Disney concert hall or Spaceland. You'd have to spend at least 3 or 4 days in these cities with so many attractions and monuments to visit.

3. Washington, DC- Crain Highway leads you to Branch Avenue which winds into Pennsylvania Avenue where the heart of Washington DC lies. There you will find the white house, the Washington memorial, the National Mall, International Spy Museum, gardens and more. Trips to DC can take anywhere from a day to around two weeks. There's so much to see, and it's all up to you to figure out how long you would like to stay.

2. Daytona Beach- Driving down the US highway 1 and into South Ridgewood Avenue will take you straight through Daytona Beach, Florida. There you will find Sun Splash Park, Speed Park Motorsports, the Sunglow fishing pier, and just south remains the oldest city in America, Saint Augustine. Daytona Beach holds so many possibilities; it all depends on how long you want the trip to last.

1. Florida Keys- Drive down along the A1A and arrive in Key West, a dreamlike location. The length of a road trip to Key West all depends on your starting location. The Florida Keys are just minutes away from the mainland which makes it all the more convenient. There are many diving and snorkeling opportunities including touring the reef with photographer Stephen Frink. You might also want to visit the Dry Tortuga's National Park, Nancy Forrester's Secret Garden, and the Key West Aquarium.