Going on road trips is a fun and different way to have a great weekend. But with today’s rising gas prices, many students have started doing stupid things like pouring sand in their dorm rooms and turning up the heat to simulate the heady vibes of Cancun beach. This has been a growing trend (especially in English) and is so kooky that even Aaron Fetrow has been spotted drinking a virgin pina colada in his office. “His hair was perfect,” said junior Maddie Kaplan, who claimed to have seen the spectacle. What many students fail to realize is that there are plenty of fun places you can go to for a weekend, or maybe just a Saturday, while burning up less than one tank of gas. Check out these “Carolina One Tank Trips” for a unique weekend. They’re super!Myrtle Beach (approx 200 miles) Last year me and some of my cronies went to Wilmington Beach. That place was cool and all, but all the hotels near the water were either booked or expensive. It’s a beach for rich surfer dudes and golfers. Myrtle Beach is a much more interesting place, and offers a glimpse into a uniquely American subculture. Oh yeah, this trip is one tank down, and one tank back to home. Sorry. The thing about Myrtle is that it is mad cheap. There is a plethora of cheap motels right on the “strip,” many of which are less than $30 for a room and have Astroturf on the balconies (always a plus). The strip is right on the water too, which means you won’t have to drink and drive to enjoy the warm waves and white sand that Burt Reynolds once proclaimed “the best damn beach in the world.”

And there are plenty of great things to do and see within walking distance of any of these motels, such as the Family Kingdom amusement park, the Ripley’s “Believe It or Not” museum, and like a million putt-putt places.

Ian Young, a junior and self-described beach bum, is a good person to talk to about Myrtle Beach, as he has been there several times. “The best part about Myrtle Beach is how trashy it is,” he said to me during a two-hour interview. Truly well put.

Many people may be put off by the bright neon lights, tacky motorcycles, strip clubs, and “pick-one-off-the-wall” tattoo parlors characteristic of the “Redneck Riviera,” but I urge you to leave your Greenleaf politics at the door and embrace the rebel culture during your stay.

Dan River (approx. 50 miles) Tubing down Dan River is a relaxing and sensual experience, loved by people of all ages.

“The place where we went was awesome,” said Levi-wearing junior Jason Straus, who went on a lazy river ride a couple weekends ago. “The weather was great, and we found a place where you can rent tubes for only a few bucks each.”

“You gotta make sure you bring a lot of friends, and you should bring a cooler cause you can get a tube for it and have cold beer as you float along,” Straus explained.

JR Outlets (approx. 20 miles) In case it’s raining and you absolutely need to get off campus, I would highly recommend the JR Outlets, located in Johnston County, I-40 exit 143.

The JR Outlets is the largest cigar outlet in the world. But since only smoking cigars is only cool if you’re a big fat guy, most people go for the great bargains on cigarettes, tube socks, and pimento cheese.

I make a trip out to JR’s probably every other week, just to get away from it all. You don’t even need to buy anything; you can just go there and meet people or get a hot dog and do homework. Whatevs.

Chapel Hill / Cats Cradle (approx. 50 miles) Chapel Hill is neither a hill, nor a chapel. It is a city!!! I know you’re all probably thinking “what the.” but Chapel Hill really is a city, and in fact there are a lot of cool things about it. Let’s find out! Not only is Chapel Hill the home to such burly brutes as former Guilford student Ryan “Big Worm” Jarrell and junior Robin “Pinky” Shores, but it is also a party animal’s paradise due to the overwhelming presence of University of North Carolina students and their respective fraternities. One event worth checking out is the Halloween festival. It is one of the largest Halloween scenes in the nation, with more than 80,000 people crowding Franklin Street the past few years.

There are also plenty of music venues in the Chapel “Thrill” area, such as the infamous Cat’s Cradle, which is actually located in adjacent Carrboro.

So I urge you to get out there, and try some of these beautiful One-Tank Trips. Partying at the same five available places every weekend is only interesting for so long, but a weekend of fun with your best pals will last forever.