We are only a couple of weeks into the school year, and for a lot of the student body, summer vacation seems like a distant memory. These were some of the most popular vacation spots this summer for your fellow plant students.
Lots of Panthers went to the beach. Whether you like to go to the beach for a nap, read a book, fish or crash in the waves, the beach can make for a relaxing getaway and a great way to escape the stress of life. Between Tampa, Sarasota, St. Pete, and Clearwater, 3,576,785 traveled there during the 2024 Calendar year (FLgov.com). This reinforces the fact that the beach might be one of the best stress-free vacation spots.
Emmy Warren (12) stated, “I really liked being at the beach with all my friends because it’s our summer tradition, and we just spend all day at the beach and in the pool, and it’s just a week of togetherness.”
Not to mention the amount of non-beach activities around the beach. Just 20 minutes from St Pete Beach is the St Pete Pier, within walking distance from that is the Museum of Art History, the Salvador Dali Museum and Al Lang Stadium, where the Tampa Rowdies play.
Scotland is another popular destination.
According to visit Scotland, “With are wild beaches, sparkling lochs and romantic castles, we’re often referred to as one of the most beautiful countries in the world.” (visit Scotland)
Not only does it have amazing sightseeing, but it also has some great hiking, fishing, history, and some of the oldest and most historic golf courses in the world.
Sophomore Zach Lockwood’s shared his thoughts about Scotland. “I would begin by saying that it was majestic. Everything about it was gorgeous, the golf, the resorts, the lakes, and even the small towns. It is a must go on trip, and I highly recommend it to golf and nature lovers. The hikes were spectacular as well.”
Scotland has a rich history dating back to 4000 B.C. and an extensive amount of nature and sightseeing, especially for those who love golfing. After all, Scotland is the birthplace of the sport. With St. Andrews’ Old Course dating back to 1552, it has the earliest records of golf. The course was originally 22 holes before the standard 18-hole format was adopted in 1764. In 1873, St. Andrews held its first British Open, more formally known as the Open Championship, and since then there have been 150 Open Championships held there.
Spain was another well-traveled to destination this summer.
Specifically, Josh Uttech (10), traveled to Andorra, Spain, and said, “I’d say Andorra feels like a little mountain town mixed with a giant playground. Everywhere you look, there are big mountains, rivers, and paths to explore. The air is super fresh, and it’s really calm, but also exciting because there’s so much to do outside.”