How to Beat the College Lifestyle

Being a full time student-athlete at Sacramento State really takes a toll on my free time. I use to spent all my time in Washington hiking the Cascades and exploring every forrest service road my car could manage. I took trips to Oregon, the Olympic peninsula, and anywhere I wanted anytime I pleased. I quickly learned this is not possible in college, all the time I use to spend searching for hikes I now spend in the library cramming for midterms. 

After a few months of staying inside stuffing my face full of chicken flavored microwave noodles I decided I was sick and tired of being stagnant. I convinced my friends (this didn't take too much persuading) to pack up and head to San Francisco for the weekend. This could not have come at a better time. 

We were lucky enough to crash at a friends and spend the money we saved on clam chowder and sweatshirts from the Wharf. 

This hiatus from stress was enough to get me through the rest of the semester, but then I started craving another get away. This time we made the 3 hour commitment and headed to Monterey Bay, I couldn't have been more excited. We spent the day pushing through crowds at the aquarium and driving along the Big Sur Coast, which had been a dream of mine for as long as I can remember. 

Sitting in my dorm reminiscing on these trips has me preparing for more second semester road trips. I urge you to get off campus and just go, this goes for all of you sitting in the office all week just to spend your weekend on the couch as well. GET MOVING! Explore your surroundings and don't be afraid to make some unlikely friends to save on gas and lodging. Don't assume because you don't have a car this isn't possible, take a train, travel on the Bart; there are plenty of ways to make these trips on a budget (thank goodness for AirBnb).