Christian Brothers’ Day Trippers

A freshly printed license in hand, a gas tank full of last week’s paycheck, and a car packed with close friends and promise — the day trip is the hottest new weekend activity taking the CB community by storm.

The day trip offers a short, rejuvenating reprieve from a heavy workload and a chance for fledgling young adults to spread their wings and make lasting memories.

Whether embarking for a hike along the San Francisco shore line or strolling the streets of Carmel, these mini-vacations are sure to bond friends forever and breathe new life into the average student’s Instagram game.

These trips require “little to no packing and are more cost efficient [than full length vacations],” says seasoned traveler Faye Messner (’15).

A huge proponent of the day-trip, she has been taking these mini-vacays since she first first received her license at the tender age of sixteen. Now a senior, Faye has seen a lifetime of California views, all within driving distance.

“I love San Francisco and the Bay Area in the summer. Always Tahoe in the winter,” shares Faye.

“If an easy breezy hike with beautiful views of waterfalls and beaches, Muir Woods is the ideal local,” adds Hannah Delaney (’15).

San Francisco offers hikes along the Marin Headlands coast and non-stop shopping within the city. Tahoe is a hub for all things athletic in the winter months, but it also offers ample opportunities to curl up in a warm lodge with a cup of cocoa.

If navigating the busy streets of San Francisco by car spawns anxiety, Messner lends a tip, — drive to Berkeley and take BART into the city to avoid parking.

“Parking in the lot is free and a two way ticket is only $8. It lets off right in the center of Union Square, a prime location for shopping and urban views.

Despite the many benefits, some might say a weekend getaway could potentially get in the way of school work. Avid traveler Robert McGlone (’15) disagrees.

“It’s totally subjective,” he says. “If you get all of your work done before, it’s totally relaxing.”

These quick trips allow a student the ability to leave all of last week’s frustration on the open road. Letting the sweet melody of Chris Brown’s classic “Kiss Kiss” wash away any Algebra II concerns.

McGlone’s favorite location is Carmel because, “it’s classic and there are so many places to walk around.”

“The three hour drive to Carmel is worth it.’ he continues, ‘There are beautiful ocean views and a relaxing sea town vibe.”

The distance does not play a crucial role in christening a explorer however. Every frequent traveler starts small. At the prime licensing age of sixteen, parents may not be as willing to allow such distant travels.

Antonia Eliopoulos (’15), better known to her friends as Merriweather Lewis relates, “my friends and I started out with short weekend trips to Davis.”

A trip to Davis is both cost effective and filled with ample opportunity for adventure. Only a short drive away, it is the perfect location for a young student to begin their life of travel.

A newly realized hot commodity, day trips broaden horizons, alerting students to different ways of life only a few hours drive away.