Maui, Hawaii

A passport is unecessary for this gorgeous summer destination spot. Known as the “Valley Isle,” the city is full of quaint and traditional towns, as well as its shimmering beaches. One of its most large and famous beaches is Maketa Beach State Park, which offers golden sands extending nearly two-thirds of a mile long and 100 yards wide, perfect for picnics and swimming.

Cancun, Mexico

Renowned for its white sandy beaches, near-perfect weather and bright-blue waters, Cancun is the perfect stop for close international getaway.

“When you go to Mexico you get immersed into a whole other culture and its entertaining to use my spanish knowledge to communicate with people,” sophomore Carrie Miller said.

Barcelona, Spain

Barcelona is known for its art and intricate architecture. One of the most popular is La Sagrada Familia Church, designed by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí. It is also one of the best places to have an authentic Spanish experience with its city life.

“The city is beautiful and happy, and always accepting of every walk of life. The food, scenery and architecture is so breathtaking,” Sequoit alumna Athena Pylarinos said.

Rome, Italy

History buffs may  fall in love with what Italy’s city has to offer. Vatican City is also home to the Roman Catholic Church. Another must-go-to is the Colosseum where the ancient Romans held gladiator fights.

“I had heard so much about the timeless artifacts and priceless treasures that the Vatican museum and library hold and so just being there brought me close, in a sense, to the golden ages of the Renaissance,” D. Pylarinos said.

Warsaw, Poland

Located on the Vistula River, the capital of Poland offers a variety of architecture from Gothic churches to modern skyscrapers. One of its biggest attractions is the city’s “Old Town,” which is dotted with small cades and pastel buildings.

“Warsaw had so much diverse history behind the city that I really just fell in love with how quaint and homey it was,” sophomore Grace Hellen said.

Santorini, Greece

One of the Cyclades Islands in Aegean Sea, Santorini offers a unique insight in Minoan life because of the ash preservation at Akrotiri. The village of Imerovigli is called, “the balcony to the Aegean.” It is the perfect place to take Instagram photos because of its gorgeous sunset, complementing the white buildings and clear water.

Morocco

Dominated by cafes, Morocco is an extremely diverse place if you are looking to experience a unique culture. Also, authentic couscous is served every Friday at each restaurant if hunger takes over.

“Morocco is one of my favorite places because I experienced such extreme culture, shock. I was in a country whose lifestyle is so different than anything I had ever known, and that was amazing to travel through and see what normal is like for the Moroccans, and so not normal for me based on the culture I was raised in,” Sequoit alumnus Dimitri Pylarinos said.