For many of us, looking at Instagram photos and checking out Pinterest boards of European landmarks and food inspire us to one day travel to Europe. However, even though it seems that waiting till college to study abroad on the continent might be the way to go, in actuality, the summer of 2016 is shaping up to be the absolute best time to go to Europe in years.

Don’t believe me? Let’s take a look at some of these facts:

Money

Though prices in Europe might always be a bit more expensive than their American counterparts, going to Europe now allows you to get more bang for your buck with the historically high return the dollar gets on European currencies. At the moment, 1 US dollar will fetch you .88 Euros and .69 British pounds. While that might not seem like a lot, the current exchange rate is the best it has been this decade and waiting to go to Europe might cause you to miss out.

In addition, though Europe has always been known for cheap domestic airlines such as RyanAir, new low cost carriers such as Norwegian and Icelandic Air not only allow you to travel across the pond at a fraction of the cost as legacy carriers, but with the stopovers sometimes built in, you might get to experience 2 countries for the price of 1 ticket.

Once In a Lifetime Events

The summer of 2016 is shaping up to an exciting one throughout the continent full of activities and festivals that are best experienced firsthand. For the political wonk, being in Britain while they vote on the Brexit will not only give you a firsthand perspective on a possible historical moment, but might also be the ideal topic of your college essay. And for the sports fan, how about joining in with other soccer junkies from around the world as the UEFA 2016 tournament looks to crown its new champion in France in July.

The Old Standbys of Western Europe

While Madrid, Barcelona, Paris, and London might always be there, what better way to get a head start on life then experiencing these cities while you are young. Studies have shown that traveling abroad before college improves maturity and open mindedness in students as well as enriches them culturally and intellectually.

Even if you are a year away from going away to school, having a summer full of reflection, contemplation, and most of all fun will allow you to return to high school better equipped to take on the year and a firsthand perspective for that AP European History or AP Art History class you just happened to sign up for.

---

 

Contributed by Matt Zonis

I’ve lived in California all my life, and I’ll say it is an uplifting place that will have a person smiling by the end of their time spent there. There are tons of places in California that can have a newcomer excited, just as there are many pleasures to be found by locals who’ve lived their entire lives there.

Most people would look at the larger monuments as a special adventure worthy of their attention; however, my time at the Aquarium of Pacific in Long Beach, California was the most exciting time I’ve ever spent in my life. If you enjoy learning new things, love sea animals, and just want to have an amazing experience with wonderful people, then I would definitely recommend this incredible aquarium as a must-see if you’re in the area. Many locals never even make their way down!

I went on a Saturday afternoon, and the workers were very polite and I was given a manual about the activities and a handbook with facts about each and every animal that lives there in one of the tanks.

Then, as I was walking to each tank and the guide was explaining about the animal inside, other visitors began to engage in a conversation with me about the animal, opening up the learning experience from the pages of a manual, to the excitement of genuine mutual interest and interaction. We began to share the knowledge of what we were learning and how we can discover more. How cool is that?!

Another exciting part of the experience is being able to see divers go on a swim with the animals. You can watch them with whales and even sharks. I was so excited and scared to see the divers with the sharks, as we all know just how ‘friendly’ they seem to outsiders. I was hooked because seeing the animals and humans interact with one another was amazing.

After a couple of hours, I went off to look for then number one thing that everyone person has to do while having a very long day, and that is eating. The food that surrounds the aquarium is delicious. You can get burgers, hot dogs, nachos, pizza, pasta, or something healthy if that’s your style. Just as long as you don’t eat the fish!

---

Contributed by Tyler Dickerson

Ever wonder what it’s like to tell a story with photos instead of words?

Our traveling author did, and with Instagram as his only tool, he shared his.

---

Contributed by Nick Fochtman

It may seem odd to follow your favorite brands on Instagram (unless it’s @glateens, of course). I already follow them on Facebook and Twitter, you say. What do they have to offer me on Instagram? Good question. And here are some answers:

Obviously, following your favorite stores will give you an up-to-date look at the new styles being offered and big sales.

Following your favorite restaurant not only gets you pictures of new food dishes, but sometimes creative ways of presenting the food (or the condiments). See @tacobell, for example.

Instagram can also be a useful way to get an inside look at the companies you most enjoy and care about. From pictures of employees in the midst of their daily grind to pictures of company parties, get an inside look at your favorite companies’ work style.

Don’t forget you can always follow your favorite sports team on Instagram as well.

Interact! The @starbucks account mainly posts pictures of their products taken by followers. I wonder if a free coffee comes with that. It’s a great opportunity to interact with the company.

There are many reasons to follow your favorite brands and companies on Instagram. Ultimately, getting an inside look at the organization can be far more illuminating than reading their posts on Facebook and Twitter.

---

Contributed by William Pate