Taking my 20-year-old car on a road trip!
Call me crazy, but my week long road trip from San Fransisco, CA to Austin, TX was is one of my most memorable adventures to date. During my freshman year Christmas break, my (now) ex-boyfriend and I drove my dinky, run-down car to Austin for my sister. Here is a list of some of my favorite sights and must-do's!
Stop 1: Palm Springs, CA.
We spent 2 nights, and one full day here. We spent the day checking out Joshua Tree National Park- somewhere I had always wanted to visit. The park was beautiful and I am very glad we made the trip! However, I personally wouldn't go again for a few reasons. The park would be heaven for rock climbers and intense campers- both of which I am not. It also has many great views, but it is a one-and-done type of place. One stop I highly recommend is detouring to Pioneertown on your way to Joshua Tree. Only about 10 minutes off the main road to the park is a "town" (more like one block) that replicates a historic pioneer town. Perfect for Instagram pictures is a Wild Wild West scenic strip featuring a general store and little shops.
Stop 2: Tucsan, AZ
I don't have too much to mention about Tucsan, as we just stayed for the night. We made a dinner stop in Old Town Scottsdale and enjoyed more of the "wild west" environment. Although we only spent about two hours here, I loved the atmosphere and definitely want to return. Next time, I'm adding a Camelback hike to my to-do list!
Stop 3: White Sands National Park, NM and El Paso, TX
On our way to a friend's house in El Paso, we decided to make a detour to White Sands National Park. About an hour and a half north of El Paso lies the park, and boy, does it come out of nowhere. The dunes are a really cool experience and if you are visiting, I would recommend grabbing a cheap sledding disk from a local Walmart to avoid spending $20 for one at the park. We finished our day at a friends house in El Paso, TX about an hour away from the park.
Stop 4: Austin, TX baby!
After a long 9 hour drive through the middle-of-nowhere Texas, we arrived at our final destination in Austin. We were able to spend 2 days with my sister before I had to head back to college and we enjoyed walking around the UT Austin campus, sneaking into the football stadium, and eating our way through South Congress.
