Hello valued Hoot readers. For our last edition of the year, as we dream of a time in the distant future when finals are done and there are no more class assignments to do, our editors will be recommending their favorite vacation destinations.
James: My favorite vacation that I’ve been on was traveling to Scotland with my family in 2017. Scotland is full of cool castles that were interesting to see, including the castle where “Highlander” was filmed (although I hadn’t seen the movie at that point). On that vacation, we started in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. After spending a few days there, we traveled to Inverness, where we unfortunately did not see the Loch Ness Monster. Perhaps the best part of the vacation was seeing the Scottish Highlands and the beautiful landscapes there. If you’re looking for a place to take a vacation, go to Scotland. Also, shoutout to Hawaii, which was a close second place for my favorite vacation.
Avery: I’ve been on several vacations in many different places, near and far from wherever I call home at the time. I would say the best place to vacation is anywhere where you can relax and forget about the world of worries and stress. For me, this is anywhere with water. Whether at a port in Boston or a beach in Aruba, the ocean is always relaxing and lovely to watch. I also think it’s nice to go somewhere with opposite weather than where you’re coming from. Nothing will take you out of the ‘real’ world more thoroughly than a 30° temperature difference. Just make sure you pack accordingly!
Cooper: This isn’t necessarily the answer I thought I’d write, but I’m a big fan of cold weather (even though this article is perhaps somewhat focused on summertime traveling). One winter, my family and I rented an AirBnB in the Berkshires, and had a great weekend watching movies while being warm and cozy in the snowy mountains. I think I appreciated the togetherness more than the environment, but I’m still counting anywhere cold and snowy as my pick for a vacation spot.
Rachel: I feel lucky to have traveled to some fun destinations in my life, where I got to experience different cultures, museums, food and more. It is tough to decide what my favorite vacation destination is, but if I have to choose, I may have to go with Italy, which I went to when I was 14. That is probably because my trip to Italy involved a variety of different cities, each with their own identity. We flew into Milan, which felt like a city I would want to live in. Everyone was fashionable, the buildings were modern with a bit of character, the outdoors was lively and this city began my delicious food journey. Then, we took a train to Venice, which was quite lovely. I loved walking along the water and looking at the old buildings. Plus, there was still some fantastic food. You can never have too much pasta. Then, we traveled to Florence, which might have been my favorite spot of the whole trip. I felt every aspect of this city was gorgeous, the food was the tastiest and we also got to go to some fun museums. Furthermore, Florence had my favorite hotel room, which felt like an artsy apartment. Finally, we went to Rome, where we were able to go to some of the classic Italian destinations and explore some great historical sights. Not to mention, we were still having fantastic food. Overall, it was a fun trip with so many exciting spots and I was able to learn a lot about Italian culture. Special shoutout to London, which I went to the year prior. In this thriving city, I was also able to have fantastic food and go to one–of-a-kind-museums with fascinating exhibits. These destinations have all been amazing, and I look forward to wherever I will travel to next, as I am sure that future destination will provide me with a fabulous vacation.
Michael: So far, my favorite vacation has been the “Grand Circle” roadtrip my family went on right after COVID-19. What is the Grand Circle, you may ask? Well, it’s visiting a bunch of national parks which are located in a circle around Lake Powell in Arizona and Utah: the Grand Canyon, Arches, Capitol Reef, Bryce Canyon and Zion. There are also a lot of other destinations as well, such as Monument Valley or Antelope Canyon. The scenery was, without exaggeration, ethereal. As someone living in green Massachusetts, I had seen all of these famous desert landmarks before, but it’s another thing to see them up-close and personal. The eerie beauty of the red sandstone is a testament to the raw power of nature over countless centuries. And even driving there is a special experience, too, as the road soars above canyons, dives into forests, and threads across narrow drop-offs on either side of the road, without guardrails! I took a lot of amazing photographs there, which you can see on my instagram @michael_the_sun. Then, after a week of that, I spent another week in none other than Las Vegas! Admittedly, since I was only 18 at the time, I didn’t get to utilize that part of the trip to its full potential. But getting to experience Sin City and all of the sensory overload it can offer, with it’s wacky hotel towers and countless opportunities for live entertainment, is still amazing. To quote General MacArthur, “I shall return!”
Jenna: I don’t know about my favorite destination, since I honestly don’t feel qualified to talk about vacation spots when I hardly travel nor know how to relax, but I can tell you that I’ll be going to Nice and Paris, France this May! I’m super excited as this will be my 2nd time out of the country, first time in Nice, and 2nd time in Paris. I think it’s important for your vacation destination to have great food, good shopping and good weather, and that’s basically France. I’m looking forward to a break from my gluten-free eating too, as the bread in France doesn’t bother me as much, yay! The architecture will be gorgeous, the seaside views will be awesome, and I can’t wait to just enjoy myself after a lot of hard work. I’ll let you guys know if it ends up being my favorite, but it’s definitely my most anticipated trip of all time, and I’ll probably be inspired to pursue another dream destination next!
Jason: It’s hard to imagine a time when finals aren’t dominating every corner of my mind—especially with summer on the horizon, which already feels like it’ll be just as chaotic. When I need a mental escape, I often find myself daydreaming about the coast of Ghana, easily the most breathtaking place I’ve ever visited. I had the opportunity to travel there earlier this year, and it truly changed my life. If you’re craving a destination that offers a perfect blend of natural beauty, rich cultural history, stunning beaches and unforgettable food, I can’t recommend Accra enough. I’ve been fortunate to travel to many places around the world, but Ghana—an unplanned trip at the time—quickly became one of my all-time favorite experiences. I especially recommend joining a few guided tours with local experts. It’s the best way to experience the country’s incredible diversity, from historical landmarks to vibrant markets and scenic coastlines. You’ll walk away with stories, memories and a deeper appreciation for a place that often flies under the radar
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