Road trips save money, double fun

Who among you loves a good road trip? OK, don't all raise your hands at once.

Some of the best memories of my life involve packing the sport utility vehicle I drove while attending college and trekking through Florida for a football game or driving out of state to enjoy camping excursions or concerts with friends.

I didn't have the funds at the time to do much traveling by air, but I was happy to improvise. I always considered roadtripping a chance for adventure and happily stocked the vehicle with friends, food and all the fun essentials. Often, I would drive as many as 16 hours to a mountainous spot or gorgeous beach somewhere.

Recently I joined a friend for a 10-day break from work: a trip through Nevada, Arizona and Utah. As always, this road trip was a blast, and it made me think that when economic times have us making more conservative decisions and spending less, a road trip is a perfect and affordable getaway solution.

As we began the journey to Lake Havasu, Ariz. -- a place neither of us had previously visited -- from Los Angeles, it became apparent that you don't have to go far to find an escape from the daily grind. In just a few hours we had arrived at this popular spring break destination, a beautiful town surrounded by desert hills and a vast lake suitable for any postcard. A half of a tank of gas was all it took for our Audi, so for about $25 we were able to find a little slice of heaven. If we had stayed right there for the duration of the trip, I would have been happy. We could have packed the itinerary with activities and really explored the area. However, we planned more stops with the final destination being Salt Lake City. So after two nights, we were off to our next city: Las Vegas.

We had both visited Vegas many times, but this trip led us along a different route than the usual trek from L.A. This brought to mind the fact that to take an affordable and quick vacation to a place that you have previously visited, just consider switching the route. Taking a different highway or a road less traveled and stopping at cute restaurants, boutique hotels and fun spots along the way creates an entirely new adventure. We stopped at a small local bar and grill and had a great time talking with locals, enjoying a home-cooked meal instead of the usual fast-food freeway fare and picking up souvenirs. After two eventful nights taking in the Vegas action, we ventured on to St. George, Utah. Because my traveling companion had been there several times, we stayed somewhere out of the way so that he could experience a fresh spin on the town. To mix it up on road trip, try new things to get a new experience and a different perspective.

After an evening in St. George, we made our way along the picturesque desert roads to the exquisite Zion Canyon for a rigorous and scenic hike at one of the nation's most beautiful parks, stopping at a petting zoo along the way. I love the outdoors and have done many hikes, but this was my first visit to Zion, an area just nine hours from home. It made me think of the other national parks, cute little towns, beach communities, vineyards and historic areas on the West Coast I had not yet visited and those that are special enough to revisit by way of a fresh path. There are so many possibilities for affordable and easily accessible getaway destinations.

Our road trip through four states and five cities encompassed both nature and night life, took three tanks of fuel and allowed me to clear my head and rejuvenate. And it was one of the greatest road journeys I have been on in my life. When the expenses were divided between the two of us, it was a small price to pay for an abundance of relaxation and adventure. We could have saved even more by camping and cooking our own food, which creates its own unique adventure.

Consider nearby towns and areas that could provide a great escape. Then think of the money that could be saved by making a road trip of it. Travel, vacations and excitement do not have to be expensive. Trips in a car allow you to be spontaneous with your stops along the way, and it's almost our responsibility to experience the places and people right there in our backyard. Even if you've already visited a place, be creative about the various routes you can take and new and unique places to experience. Really, you don't have to fly half way around the world for a change in scenery.

Among her numerous accomplishments, Courtney Hansen is the author of "Garage Girl's Guide," the host of Spike TV's "PowerBlock," the former host of TLC's "Overhaulin'" and a writer with Wheelbase Communications. You can e-mail her by logging on to www.wheelbase.ws/mailbag.html.