As winter break approaches, students have already decided to take a trip out of the state: traveling to Utah, going on a cruise, skiing down Big Bear, flying out of the country to experience cities such as Dubai and Seoul, or even visiting countries such as Australia.

For some people, taking a small road trip would suffice, but for sophomore Monica Lin, she and her family plan to visit Australia and New Zealand within the short span of two weeks.

“[My family and I] are going because my mom really likes kangaroos,” Lin said. “I really like traveling and taking pretty photos; plus, I don’t like being in the same place for so long like Walnut and Diamond Bar. [It] gets so boring.”

Some students, such as junior Andy Shin, plan to go back to their hometown during winter break to go sightseeing at famous locations, hike mountains, and meet family members.

“I am going to travel around South Korea, visit a few cities, and eat some native food that originated from Seoul. I also plan to visit Namdaemun, an underground street market where you can buy good clothes for an agreeable price.” Shin said. “Even though I was born and raised in Seoul for [a majority] of my life, I couldn’t go to Namsan and [its] Tower. I’m going to hike the Namsan Mountains with my dad and dine in the Tower.”

Big Bear Lake is another popular winter vacation spot that many students, such as freshman Kailyn Shih, choose to visit. Various activities at Big Bear Lake include: sledding, ice skating, snowboarding, and of course, building snowmen.

“I’m probably going to Big Bear [Lake] with my family for break. I’m looking forward to the snow! It never snows here,” Shih said.

Although cruises may seem boring to some, many people enjoy cruises because of the buffets, fancy dinners, and free time—all while traveling to a new part of the world. With break coming up soon, this is the perfect chance for students to go on a long-awaited cruise.

“I’m going on a Caribbean cruise. I’m so excited! I’ve never been on a cruise before!” freshman Kathleen Hsu eagerly said.