During the pandemic traveling by plane or boat has gotten harder, so most students will be vacationing at home. But some places are still open and are plenty of fun; these include Monterey, San Francisco, San Diego, Yosemite, and Lake Tahoe, which are just a drive away!

The first stop on our travel log is Monterey’s 17-mile drive. “The famous 17-Mile Drive is a visually stunning stretch of roadway which hugs the pacific coastline from Pacific Grove to Pebble Beach featuring awe-inspiring sights along the way,” (17-Mile Drive). On the ride, you can visit the Spanish Bay Beach & boardwalk, or the lone tree (which is one of the most photographed trees in the world).

Next on the trip is the Monterey Bay Aquarium, cataloging about “200 exhibits devoted to the diverse habitats of Monterey Bay,” (Facts & figures). The exhibits range from varieties of jellyfish to coastal birds and otters. They are open to all guests from 10 AM – 5 PM, with adult tickets for $49.95 and youth tickets for $39.95. The view of the ocean from the aquarium is perfect for spotting coastal life as well.

After Monterey, you can visit the attractions of Lake Tahoe. The Kings Beach State Recreation Area “encompasses a fair amount of shoreline on the northern edge of Lake Tahoe,” (Kings Beach State Recreation Area). Kings Beach is open from 6 am-10 pm and allows dogs east of the park. The beach has band fires as there is a high risk of a fire spreading. 

And if you’re looking for novelty, The San Diego Zoo has animals such as camels, capybara, and anacondas. Adult tickets are $62 for people 12+ and kids tickets are $52 for children 3-11. The zoo’s hours are from 9 am to 5 pm. If you need a place to stay there are lots of hotels around like the San Diego Mission Bay Resort.

On the other hand is the Golden Gate Bridge, located in San Francisco. A path along the golden gate bridge is open for pedestrians but not to pets. It’s 1.7 miles one way from the Welcome Center to the vista point lookout. To do the full walk there and back is around 1-2 hrs. The bridge opens from 5 am to 6:30 pm.

Emerald Bay State Park is an “inlet along the southwest shore of Lake Tahoe,” (Emerald Bay State Park). The park is open from sunrise to sunset and with pets not allowed. I suggest that visitors ask a relative to look after them for the duration of your trip, though Emerald Bay State Park is available for camping. The fees for parking at Vikingsholm parking lot are $5 per vehicle for the day or $2 per vehicle for 1 hour with max length at 18 ft.

Finally, our last stop is  the Yosemite national park, most known for its many waterfalls. The park is open 24 hrs every day and pets are allowed (but only in developed areas). With such a large area of different terrains, visitors can witness different animals, insects, and amphibians. Rock formations at Yosemite are breathtaking; some to see are Half Dome, El Capitan, and Sentinel Rock.

Regardless, Monterey, San Francisco, San Diego, Yosemite, and Lake Tahoe are good for a day trip or a week-long getaway. Their various aquariums, national parks, zoos, and more are highly rated and enjoyable for the whole family. And that’s only the tip of the iceberg; There are other varieties of activities to do, like eating at Gianni’s in Monterey bay.