Ryan ChartrandWith finals over and summer here, that usually means three things: time to relax, go to the beach and work on that tan. Or not. There are many more ways to have fun with your summer vacation:
A: Alaska. Everyone thinks of Alaska as a cold, desolate place. While that’s true during the winter, summer is a whole other story. Flowers are in bloom, the animals are out and it’s not 100 degrees outside.
B: Biking. Not everyone is an avid biker, but those who can scale Bishop Peak on their bikes might want to consider a more long-distance ride. Bike trips can be in parks or on the roads Tour de France-style. And best of all: fuel costs only as much as you need to eat and drink. Also an option: organized bike tours.
C: Concerts. Want to see your favorite band during the concert season but find they’re not coming anywhere near you? Get a bunch of friends and go on a concert tour. Instead of focusing on locations, focus on where the music is at.
D: Disneyland. Seriously, the happiest place on earth is not just for kids. It has exciting rides, good food, and long lines with no choice but to stand around with your friends and talk. Other than the sore feet you’ll have by the time they kick you out of the park, this is one of the most carefree ways to spend your summer. Go to Disneyworld in Florida for a different Disney experience.
E: East Coast. The East Coast is amazing transportation-wise. Once you’re in a major city like New York City or Washington, D.C., you can ride your way up and down the coast all you want. Their transportation is not only extensive, but cheap, allowing you to explore all that the original 13 colonies have to offer.
F: Fishing. This is a pretty classic way to spend some time with your dad (or your family in general) during the summer, and it is a great way to bond and maybe catch something nice and healthy for dinner. Fish on the barbecue anyone?
G: Guggenheim Museum of Modern Art. OK, so you don’t have to go all the way to New York, but museums are often a great and enriching way to enhance a vacation experience. If you’re not usually the museum type, it’s OK – spend as much or as little time as you want there.
H: Hiking. California has some great hiking. Not only can you find great hiking spots in San Luis Obispo, but there’s Yosemite National Park and dozens of other places as well. Bring your tent and sleeping bag and you can explore to your heart’s content.
I: Ice skating. Listen, summer gets really hot. Other than escaping across the equator, there’s not much you can do about it. But ice skating is cool AND sun damage-free, unlike the Pacific Ocean. The cost of skate rentals gets you in for a few hours of chilly attempts to imitate Will Ferrell and Jon Heder a la “Blades of Glory.”
J: Jetset. If you’ve got a lot of airline miles or if you just plan of flying somewhere, become a temporary jetsetter. Don’t let coach seats get you down; a true international traveler of mystery is fashionable in any situation. Just put on a colorful printed scarf and a pair of big sunglasses and you’re set.
K: Kayaking. Yet another water-related activity, kayaking is easy (once you get into the water that is). You can go kayaking in a lake or in the ocean as long as the water is calm enough. Avila Beach is one local kayaking spot where you can even watch the seals swim around you.
L: Lakes. You can go camping near lakes, get a hotel room or rent a cabin by one and have the time of your life. Lakes are good places to go because of their versatility: You can go swimming or do any number of water sports.
M: Mexico. Ay Caramba, everyone and their mom has been to Tijuana. Cancun is an obvious choice, but can get really expensive so choose a less popular city. For a chance to eat less expensive enchiladas, places like Oaxaca and Puerto Vallarta are perfect.
N: NASCAR. NASCAR pretty much runs all year round, but it’s a popular summer sport. Imagine wearing a tank top, shorts and a baseball cap with a hotdog and a soda in either hand, watching fast cars zoom around the hot tarmac. Not on your TV, but in person. Now that’s hot.
O: Orbitz. Can’t find anything you want to do on this list of ideas? This online travel site has a lot of good deals on everything except the food you’ll eat and the stuff you buy.
P: Pampering. People tend to think that spas are for people with miniature poodles under their arms, but a little saving can get anyone a day of luxury and massages at almost any spa. Places like Glen Ivy Hot Springs in Riverside County have a myriad of ways to relax within their compound without breaking the bank.
Q: Quickie Vacation. OK, so you don’t have all summer to cruise around the world. You have a job lined up and maybe even a few summer classes, so you still have somewhere to be for 10 weeks. No problem; do a day or weekend trip. Most of these ideas are easily done in a day or two, so don’t think you’re stuck smiling for customers all summer long!
R: Road trips. Yes, gas is expensive, but get a couple of people together and you can drive anywhere by splitting the cost. You can even rent an RV if you don’t want to pay for hotels and AAA will provide you with maps and other useful information to help you along.
S: Surfing. The ever-popular ocean sport is practiced year-round even in the coldest of waters, but summer is when it comes alive. California is lined with great surfing beaches, and if you don’t know how, you can boogie board or body surf instead. Or you can watch one of the many surfing competitions that will visit the California coastline this summer.
T: Third World Countries. You may think that international travel beyond Tijuana is out of your league, but in reality, it’s not. The airfare is a bit expensive, but once you have the money for that you’re more than halfway home. Hotels can run from the super-luxurious to the homeliest of hostels, so you can live cheaply. (Food and shopping is inexpensive too.) For the best in third-world travel, look to Asia, Central and South America.
U: UV Rays. They aren’t good for you, but you can still go bask in the sun all you want as long as you cover yourself in lots of sunscreen every few hours. Remember kids, melanoma can be a deadly cancer and no one likes wrinkly, unnaturally orange-tinted skin at age 30.
V: Vines. If you’re 21 and over, why not go on a wine tour? San Luis Obispo County has many wineries offering wine tastings and other attractions. (Cave tours, anyone?) If you want to go beyond fair SLO county, you could do a wine tour all around California a’ la “Sideways.” For the devout winos, a wine tour in France or Chile is another option.
W: Water skiing. A few summers ago I spent a few weeks learning how to water ski. It was pretty easy to learn, a great workout and a lot of fun once I got over the fear of being run over by a boat. Also, it’s something the whole family can do together (or a big group of friends). No boat or skis? No worries, many areas with lakes have rentals available.
X: The X-Games. This August, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. So unless you’re going back home to Maine, you can probably catch them. Of course, if you’re a fan of extreme sports or the adrenaline rush of watching something along the lines of “Jackass,” this is perfect.
Y: Yachting. OK, so most college students probably aren’t going yachting this summer unless they’re one of the Ivy League elite or something. Either way, a cruise on any kind of boat is an option for almost anyone who’s able to stand a few days at sea. For a little more fun, pretend to be a pirate for the entire trip.
Z: Zoos. A lot of metropolitan cities have zoos. Although you may not be the biggest fan of winding your way through thousands of little kids just to see a monkey, take your girlfriend or maybe your little sister and score some brownie points. Later on, you can check out some of the cooler parts of the city.