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colorado mountains on a road trip
colorado mountains on a road trip
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Things To Do & See On A Road Trip In The West, According To Students

Her Campus Placeholder Avatar Maddie Solomon

I grew up in Denver, in the heart of awe-striking mountains, sunshine, and a kindness hard to find elsewhere. I went to college in Los Angeles, and there’s no better feeling than driving down the PCH, the blue ocean acting as the mascot of the West Coast. In LA, I learned immediately where to find the best tacos and where the most beautiful flowers bloom. It’s the land of possibility; I would start the day getting coffee in Pasadena and end the day at a bonfire in Malibu, with sweet wine and the stars. 

West Coast, best coast. There’s no place more magical than the western United States to road trip through on your spring break. To get the scoop on where to go, Her Campus asked four different Her Campus chapters at colleges in the west about the must-see spots in their cities. So curate the perfect playlist, grab your sunnies, and get ready for a road trip of your dreams — complete with stops in Colorado, California, and Washington.

Los Angeles, CA: Enjoy beautiful views of the Hollywood Sign from Griffith Observatory.
griffith observatory in los angeles to see on a road trip
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“At Griffith Observatory, you can access the best views of LA’s iconic attractions, and gaze at the stars through free telescopes!” – Her Campus at UCLA

Berkeley, CA: Visit the observation platform at the top of UC Berkeley’s Campanile.

“Catch a jaw-dropping view of the Bay Area and experience the daily carillon concerts from the top of the Campanile in the heart of UC Berkeley’s campus.” – Her Campus at UC Berkeley

Boulder, CO: Stroll down the Pearl Street Mall.
shopping in a store like one at pearl street mall in colorado on a road trip
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“Pop into the local stores and restaurants for shopping, craft beer, and views of the flatirons from the rooftops. Plus, dogs are allowed in! Bonus points if you go to a rooftop bar, like Rosetta or Avanti.” – Her Campus at CU Boulder

Ellensburg, WA: Sled down the side of the Water Tower.

“The first snow of the year is so exciting in Ellensburg. Celebrate like the locals by grabbing the lid off your trash can and sliding down the side of the water tower (the highest point in the city’s limits)!” – Her Campus at Central Washington University

Her Campus Placeholder Avatar
Maddie Solomon is a writer for Her Campus, where she reports on pop culture, travel and local adventures, national style trends, and more. She is a writer, advocate, and Jewish professional interested more broadly in community building, social justice, and civil rights. Maddie graduated from Occidental College in 2021, where she majored in Political Science with an Education minor. Her work has been published in The Denver Post, Women's Media Center, The Jewish Journal, Persephone's Daughters, amongst other publications. Maddie grew up in Denver, and carries her college experiences in Los Angeles – the land of sunsets, tacos, and oceans. She moved to Boston last summer to explore a new East Coast post-grad life and lives in a Moishe house. In her free time, she enjoys coffee hopping, going to concerts, soul cycle, Shabbat dinner parties and bringing people together, traveling, and exploring Boston with her friends.