Being able to skip town in search of adventure elsewhere is always exciting and invigorating. I love the different sights and experiences that come with traveling to different locations outside of my hometown. Not only is the planning phase of taking a trip exciting, but the journey to the destination is also amazing in its own right. Of course, the pièce de résistance is the destination itself, but it doesn’t hurt to enjoy all aspects that traveling entails.
That being said, even though I don’t make enough effort to travel extensively (which is something I constantly regret), whenever I do have the opportunity to travel, I seek out destinations that will get me closer to the ocean. Whether it's the hazy and chilly beaches of the Bay Area or the sunny, balmy shores of SoCal, there’s something deeply comforting about visiting the ocean. Maybe it’s the sight of the waves rolling and crashing against the rocks, their intensity discernible not only visually but audibly as well. I love hearing the sound of the ocean waves—it immediately lifts any stress I may be experiencing. As soon as I get a whiff of the salty ocean breeze (which has a slightly fishy smell—mildly unpleasant to foreign noses but immediately rejuvenating to me), my stomach is immediately filled with butterflies. The excitement is probably coupled with the prospect of finally being able to get out of the car and stretch my legs, since no matter where I go the nearest beach is more than an hour away.
Even though experiencing the ocean in all of its briny glory is enough to make me happy on its own, the accompanying beach towns are always lively and full of wonderful things to see. I love driving down the main street, inevitably lined with a haphazard assortment of different structures and architectures. A myriad of coffee shops, specialty stores, cute little boutiques, and other establishments sprawl along the strip. Their pastel exteriors and weathered-down facades preserve the town’s colorful history and vivacity. The quaint little cottages sits hodge-podged in a row, each house competing with its neighbor to get the best view of the shimmering sea.
Depending on what beach town you visit, the number of people varies. Popular destinations such as Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, and Santa Monica are always full of tourists and residents. More remote locations are less inhabited and to me seem more picturesque; these are the towns I prefer, since they’re small enough to explore while retaining their vintage, coastal charm. Their unaltered beauty and uniqueness is what mesmerizes me, and I always announce to my family my resolve to live in one of these unmarred beach towns sometime in the future.
Whether you’re traveling to the beach, to a bustling city, or even to another state or country, there’s something beautiful waiting to be discovered. This is the biggest upside of traveling: experiencing things you’re unaccustomed to and stumbling upon new and exciting places.
