Fall break is prime time for a road trip

Fall break is up and coming, and if you're like the majority of people who call states to the west of Maryland home, you probably aren't jumping on an airplane because of the three-day weekend. I have to admit though, when I was a freshman, my first thought was to make the trek home for some good food and my former bed. That was until I realized that the single extra day off didn't warrant the time and money it would entail-yeah, and my parents also said no. With no car and little money, it is still possible to get off campus for the weekend. And, you don't have to wait until the school gives us another measly vacation (i.e. Thanksgiving) to do it. Sometimes the best road trips happen at the most unexpected times.

"It's all about cigarettes, coffee and good music," said sophomore Austin Evers.

It turns out that he's just about right. You might add some friends - it's nice to have some company and someone else to drive - and some money to that equation. Evers, who claims to be an old hat at the skill of "road tripping" has, in fact, made quite a few extensive trips across the United States. He and his friends made the drive from Dallas to Baltimore in 23 hours and, later on, San Francisco to Baltimore in five days. The shortest trip he's made recently was from Baltimore to Duke University in five hours time. According to Evers, these trips were great simply because they weren't planned, and when the idea to drive down to North Carolina occurred to him in the middle of the night, he simply jumped in his car and hit the highway.

There are, however, some closer places you can hit, but there is no reason to put a limit on the destination; it only takes away from the excitement. Unless of course, time is an issue, which for people trying to stay in college, it can sometimes be. The closest cities to travel to on the east coast would probably be D.C., Philadelphia, Atlantic City and New York. There are also a ton of colleges to visit along this entire stretch of cities, so if you know a place where you can stay, by all means go for it. Travel to D.C. takes only about 45 minutes by car and about an hour by bus or train. Trains from Penn Station to D.C. only cost about six bucks one way on weekdays, but they get run up to $20 on weekends. Taking a Greyhound bus costs around ten dollars one way to D.C., but it is a little sketchier and takes a bit longer. However, Greyhound pretty much goes anywhere, as I learned last year and despite recent incidents, is known to be relatively safe. Greyhound offers a special called the Ameripass, that once purchased is good for any ticket to every destination that Greyhound serves.

My recommendation would be to find a friend who has a car and avoid the hassle of alternative transportation altogether. This way you can pick the music, and you won't get stuck sitting next to a wino or a creep for three hours. And you can make your trip as spontaneous and flexible as possible.

The two best options, I think, are Philadelphia and Atlantic City because they are not too far away, and are totally worth the three hour car ride. This weekend, in fact, you can catch your very own Mental Notes a cappella group performing at the University of Pennsylvania. Although I've never gambled in Atlantic City, my last trip there was one of the best times I've had at college thus far. And why not stop by Philadelphia on your way there and grab a cheesesteak for breakfast? Granted, Philadelphia is only by some definitions "on your way there," but if you have time and you're not in a hurry to get back, make the stop. New York City would be great as well, but finding a place to stay could be somewhat of a hassle. It would probably be better to plan on utilizing the old "park and ride" system of public transportation once you get outside the city. There are other destinations further south, such as the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Va., that offer a college party experience like no other. Even if you or your friends don't know anyone there, you could probably still make it into a few parties and bars around campus.

For a much closer, college-oriented trip, drive about an hour to University of Maryland, College Park. There are always a plethora of parties and bars to attend. There is one bar/restaurant at College Park, called Sante Fe that is particularly worth the trip. Sante Fe is a Mexican restaurant that has the most amazing bar and outdoor patio where college students hang out. Believe me, there is nothing even remotely close to this in the immediate vicinity of Hopkins. However, once I make my millions, I plan on coming back and building one right next to P.J.'s.

So here's how I envision the perfect fall break weekend. Don't make any plans to go home or hit a frat party. Instead, get some friends and some good music together one night and declare your destination. Make sure your gas tank is full long before it gets dark outside, because you wouldn't want to have to stop and fill-up at 2 a.m. Buy a disposable camera and lots of car food (Mike and Ike's, M & M's and Mountian Dew) and you should be ready to take off at any time. Remember, any wild idea or crazy prank you think of along the way should not be thought about twice - and the risk of sounding lame, just do it. The memories that you make will last a lifetime.