Gathered around the table we were throwing out spring break destination ideas from camping up the coast of California to hiking the Appalachian Mountains in Tennessee. One thing was for sure, we were set on keeping this trip fun and cheap.

Instead of opting for the typical spring break beach trip, we decided to head west to Tucson, Ariz. "Tucson? Why did you come to Tucson?" was the common reaction from most locals when we told them we were on spring break. But we had a free place to stay, sunshine and each other. We were happy.

As we headed out on the 12-plus hour road trip we may have gotten lost in El Paso, seen Mexico from the highway, and made several stops trying to fix "Howard." Now, Howard became the beloved name of our soft car-topper that held the majority of our luggage on top of Abbey's Toyota Highlander. As soon as the tires hit the highway "Howard's" straps, tying down everything, made the most annoying noise flapping against the car. And so naturally we made several attempts to silence Howard. Finally at one point we had a water bottle and paper towels stuffed underneath to silence the racket. We get creative points for that right?

But one of stops showcased this breathtaking sunset. And there we were pilled on the hood of the car, fixing Howard, laughing hysterically and loving every minute.

Did I mention we like to keep things cheap? We took a day trip to Sedona, Ariz. to see the red rocks. Now Sedona is an area know for its "soul-nourishing wilderness and pampered luxury," but we literally left without spending a dime. Our snack at ColdStone consisted of splitting a pint of Founder's Favorite and using Jean's gift card to pay for it. We hiked, taking in the enormous landscape.

So if you're looking for a memorable trip without breaking the bank, I suggest you head West. We had quite the adventure and a left with a full photo stream to remember each hilarious moment for years to come.