Photo Creds: Unsplash
Summer is the time when Watauga students take a break from their responsibilities to find the time to relax and experience new adventures. Many Watauga students go on spectacular vacations where they can recharge and escape from their daily routines. Summer vacations also give students a chance to reconnect with family and reduce stress. Many students are going on fun adventures this summer, but below are a few summer vacations that stand out.
Ella Jennings is a Watauga High School junior who will be traveling to Italy. Often, students go on trips with their families, but Jennings is getting the wonderful chance to experience Italy with her friends through the high school. Teachers Andrew and Savannah Wilson, along with Chris and Olivia Tarnowski, will be in charge of the trip and have helped these students get the opportunity to travel out of the country, sponsored by EF Tours.
“This is my first trip to Europe and I get to go with my best friend Elizabeth so I’m really excited,” Jennings said.
Jennings will be traveling to Venice, Florence, and Rome, where she will be staying in different hotels as they travel. As Jennings ventures throughout Italy, she will be able to experience their amazing architecture and eat delicious food.
“It’s going to be crazy to have Italian pasta,” Jennings said. “I’m so excited to be able to try it because I have heard so many amazing things about it.”
Along with the amazing food and the wonderful views, Jennings is most excited to experience and learn about each city she travels too.
“I am most excited to go to Venice, we are going to go on a gondola ride,” said Jennings.”I’m also so excited to see the art in Florence and the History of Rome.”
Alyssa Graham is also a Watauga High School junior, and she will be traveling to Flagstaff Arizona. Arizona is a beautiful state that has many outdoor attractions such as hiking and national parks.
Graham will be staying in Arizona for a week, where she will get to spend time with her parents and her brother and sister. She will be staying in a VRBO house, which is similar to an Airbnb. Graham and her family are excited to see all of the sights that Arizona provides.
“In Arizona, we plan to go on multiple hikes,” Graham said. “We will also be able to see the Grand Canyon and all of the beautiful views that Arizona has to offer.”
Out of all of the places to go in Arizona, Graham is most excited to be able to see the Grand Canyon, which is one of the world's most beautiful places. The Grand Canyon also allows hiking for further exploration.
“I am most excited to see the Grand Canyon,” said Graham. “It is one of the World's seven natural wonders, and I have seen so many pictures but am so excited to finally see it in person.”
While some students will be going to one main destination, Callie Finch, who is a junior at Watauga High School, will be going to multiple. This summer, Finch will be traveling to Peru and Brazil. Finch will be traveling with her dad and a unique part of their trip will be that they do not have an exact set agenda.
“We are just going day by day,” Finch said.
Finch will be visiting Brazil for five days, where she will get to bond with her dad and experience the culture and incredible nature. Finch will then be venturing to Lima, which is the capital of Peru.
“When we get to Peru, we will be renting a car and driving around as much of Peru as we can for 3 weeks,” said Finch.
Even though Finch and her dad do not have set plans for their time in either country, they know for sure that they will be traveling to one of Peru’s most famous destinations.
“The one thing we are for sure doing is hiking up to Machu Picchu, which is a 5 day hike along with camping,” said Finch.
While Finch will be going on amazing adventures, including a five day hike, she is most excited to see one of the most important parts of Peru’s culture, which are the llamas.
“I’m most excited to touch and hug the llamas in Peru,” Finch said.
Throughout all of these amazing summer vacations, these students will be able to spend quality time with people they care about while also getting the chance to visit places that not many get to see. They will learn about different foods, architecture, and nature, giving them the chance to take a break from school and learn something new.