Life is a highway

   Road trips are as part of American culture as apple pie, but, for some reason, students from Granite Bay High School just seem to be making those trips down the beaten road less and less as years go by.
   Maybe, it’s because of money, perhaps fear of the unknown, but, whatever it is, here’s a guide to an exciting summer to discovers more about the United States.

The Parks
   Established in 1872, Yellowstone National Park is the oldest park in America and is located in three different states – Wyoming, Idaho and Montana.
   It’s home to such icons as Old Faithful – the geyser that spouts regularly every half hour or so – and wildlife that seems nonexistent in a country that’s often run over by infrastructure and modernization.
   GBHS junior Anne Barton is one of those lucky few to have visited one of the most well-known locations in the United States – though the experience wasn’t perfect.
   “It’s a big national park with a lot of animals and geysers, which is cool,” Barton said, “But there were a lot of mosquitoes there, and the drive is really long.”
   Barton said the weather is “not cold, but colder than Granite Bay. It’s like perfect temperature.”
   But with a 14-hour drive on your hands, Yellowstone might not be the best option as a summer road trip for teenagers.
   National parks are still a viable option, however, with places like Yosemite National Park within the boundaries of the state. And just beyond the northern border of California lies Oregon and Washington, home to such aesthetic beauties as Crater Lake and Mt. Ranier.

The City
   As one of the most famously liberal cities in the world, San Francisco, a mere two-hour drive from one of the most conservative counties in the country, is a great place to discover a mindset not often possessed in “tiny town Granite Bay,” as GBHS senior Aleksandra Kordic said.
   “The city is kind of cool,” Kordic said. “And the people are interesting, and all really well-dressed, which is awesome.”
   But the contrast in political atmosphere between Granite Bay and San Francisco isn’t the only thing that separates them, but the city vs. suburban feel as well.
   “There are tons of people always on the street and a lot of buildings (in San Francisco),” Kordic said. “Whereas here, it’s mostly just houses and shopping centers.”
   With the ocean right next door, high quality shopping and the Rain Forest Café to boot, what’s not to love about the city by the bay?
   “Well, obviously shopping is pretty high up there (in San Francisco), but just walking around is nice too,” Kordic said. “There’s this cool place, the Metreon, and next to it is a pretty park called Yerba Buena Gardens where you can just sit, eat lunch and hang out.”
   But San Francisco isn’t the only big city in America, but it’s just the closest. There are others, like Los Angeles and New York, that definitely deserve mention.
   The Los Angeles area is host to seven professional sports teams and attractions from Disneyland to the Los Angeles Zoo to Magic Mountain.
   In fact, southern California in general may just be road trip central for us from the north. It’s far enough away to get out of suburbia, and close enough to keep from feeling completely lost and out of place.
   But for those of you with a little more of an adventurous nature, another city might be just the place to go. On the other side of the nation, arguably the most famous city in the world, lies the Big Apple. And it holds some of the most impressive arrangement of activities available to a tourist.
   Watching plays on Broadway, seeing the Statue of Liberty and touring the Metropolitan Museum are just a few of the things New York City life offers.
The Party
   And where some cities are known for their beauty, and others for their business, there are still the select few that are just known for being known. These cities are dubbed the “Party Cities,” and they do nothing short of live up to their name.
   GBHS freshman Alec Archuleta used to live in Las Vegas prior to the Granite Bay area and said Las Vegas did more than live up to its reputation.
   “It’s hectic,” Archuleta said. “There’s always something going on.”
   But that’s not always a bad thing. One of the best things, Archuleta said, is that it continues to grow and change as a city – even if there are not a lot of things to do for minors.
   “The strip is a street in Las Vegas where all the hotels are like the Mandalay Bay and the Luxor,” Archuleta said. “Eighteen-year-olds can go to the parties, and 17-year-olds try to do the things 18-year-olds can do. There are just parties everywhere.”
   But it doesn’t have to stop there. Instead of heading East, pointing the compass South can lead to college party central Santa Barbara and Tijuana, Mexico – known infamously for its careless attitude.
   But remember, if you do make the trip across the border, it is another country. Be careful.
   ***
   Road trips are all about innovation and experiencing the unknown, so feel free to mix it up, have fun. You don’t know when you’ll get the opportunity to make one again.