I started skiing at the age of 3, first learning in Montana. But for the last ten or so years, Utah has been like a second home: I’ve taken an annual ski trip to Utah with my family and a large group of family friends that I’ve grown up alongside. We’ve been all over the picturesque Wasatch Range, skiing at Park City, Deer Valley, Solitude, Brighton, and Snowbird. For a Northeastern skier, Utah is like another realm. The long, varied runs and low-density powder create an unparalleled ski experience that leaves sore legs but wide-stretched smiles and whoops of exaltation.

Utah’s mountains have always offered a tranquil respite. There’s an indescribable feeling as you stand over a steep field of snow with no one in sight, surrounded by towering, rugged peaks glistening in the sun and dense evergreens weighed down by lumps of snow, all as the crisp, quiet air numbs your face. And you feel that same feelings as your skis float above the smooth, untracked snow, billowing up around you as you weave through beautiful aspens. It’s a feeling I wish I could live over and over again.

Another collection of photos from an early-winter snowfall.

From Santorini we went to Istanbul, whose lively streets were a great contrast to the isolated island life. It’s easy to forget about the significance of Istanbul in world history: such a focus goes to the Greek and Roman civilizations, especially in schools, so there’s an unfortunate negligence towards the Ottomans and the Byzantines.

Istanbul, the capital of the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires, has been a center of civilization for around 1500 years. It’s a metropolitan teeming with history and culture, and as a Muslim, it was awe-inspiring to experience Islamic influence and history and to understand where elements of my culture have come from. Moreover, for meat lovers like myself, Istanbul is like heaven with its plethora of kebab houses and its famous grilled meatballs.

There was so much to see in the city — from Topkapi Palace to the Hagia Sophia to the Grand Bazaar. The city’s landscape was beautifully framed by the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn. Being on the water as the sun set was a breathtaking way to bring our amazing trip to an end.

From Athens we flew to Santorini, the world-famous Greek island renowned for its white buildings, its blue-domed churches, and its sheer cliffs. With all the hype it receives, I arrived to the island pretty cynical, expecting the island to fall short of its unwavering romanticization.

I couldn’t have been more wrong. Santorini blew me away: the white villages, blue domes, and steep cliffs were immaculate, and the atmosphere was quiet and peaceful. The food was rich and fresh. The sunsets were magical — every night we sat outside of our villa and watched the white walls turn golden and the sky fade into a gradient of deep blue, blue, light blue, orange, and pink. Our villa was located in Imerovigli; I enjoyed the refined tranquility of the village. We also spent a day in the town of Oía (seen in the first and second picture), known for its shops and restaurants, along with its classic postcard view across Santorini’s famous blue domes.

Rather than spending another day in Athens, we opted to explore the region of Peloponnese. We stopped first at Corinth to see the canal that connects the Aegean to the Ionian Sea, then proceeded to the ancient ruins of the once great civilization of Mycenae. The ruins offered expansive views of the surrounding valley, mountains, and sea. Our last stop was Nafplio (seen in the last picture) — a pleasant town on the sea with beautiful beaches. The drive through the region split through tall mountains and yellow-green plains dotted with scores of olive trees, reminding me of our drive through Italy’s Tuscany region.

We began our summer 2019 trip in Athens, the capital of Greece. Having marveled over Athenian civilization in social studies classes, I expected to be wowed by the overwhelming history of a city that was once the cultural center of the world. I anticipated a city that would look a lot like Rome — a city built around its well-preserved ruins. Athens is similar to Rome in that the expansive city revolves around the Acropolis, but it felt like the city valued its history far less than Rome did. Ancient relics felt randomly interspersed amongst the bustling traffic and sprawls of apartment buildings. The Acropolis itself was a true wonder, but part of the experience was muffled by construction on the Parthenon. For travelers going to Athens: you really don’t need more than a day to cover the highlights.

We visited Puerto Rico in hopes of supporting their economy following the destruction of Hurricane Maria and Hurricane Irma, but we didn’t know what we would find a year after the hurricanes made landfall. At face value, we saw normalcy: roads in tact, electricity working, gas stations running, and people going about their daily lives. But when we looked closer, the patchwork recovery was evident, especially in the precarious power lines. And when we talked to residents of the island, they described scenes of horror, including a lack of power for upwards of ten months. Visit Puerto Rico not just for the crystal blue waters and the colorful, historic streets of Old San Juan; visit it because Puerto Ricans need help, and our government certainly hasn’t been helping them.

After visiting Kauai, we took the 30 minute flight to the Big Island for the last few days of our trip. Three days did not give us enough time to cover the entirety of the expansive island, but we enjoyed our time by visiting black sand beaches, swimming with dolphins, and driving up to the summit of Mauna Kea (seen in the next gallery) to view the sunset and stargaze. Even after the destructive volcanic eruptions, the Big Island stunned me with its moon-like landscape on the Kona-side of the island — the sprawling fields of lava rock and the stark, hazy silhouette of distant volcanic mountains.

The highlight of our stay on the Big Island was the dormant volcano Mauna Kea. We began the long drive up the mountain early in the day, stopping to acclimatize to the sudden elevation change. Traveling from 0 to 14,000 feet above sea-level in one day was a unique experience, as was going from the warmth of the palm tree-covered beaches to the bone-chilling cold of Mauna Kea’s barren, crater-dotted summit. The numbness in our fingertips and the chattering of our teeth was trumped by our awe as the sun set on a sea of clouds. It felt like we were standing on the edge of the earth. After the sun set, we viewed the star-filled sky, basking in the serenity of the cold night as the Milky Way and coveted constellations stared down at us from the heavens.

The first stop of our 2018 summer trip to Hawaii was the island of Kauai. Though far less frequented than Maui or Oahu, Kauai deserves international recognition for its untouched beauty. But because of the smaller influx of travelers, Kauai — in most areas at least — feels sequestered away from the chaos of the outside world. It’s the perfect mix of the island life and the active lifestyle; you feel so at peace staring out over the mountains and the ocean, yet the thrill of adventure from hiking, snorkeling, golfing, kayaking, surfing, and other activities is always present and easy to access, too.

On the island, you’ll find almost every sort of environment you can think of: lush green forests, rolling hills, thundering waterfalls, towering mountains, jagged coastlines, sandy beaches, narrow ravines, rocky canyons, and bright blue water. At one moment, you can be on top of a miles-long canyon, but thirty minutes later you might be at a calm, sandy beach. It’s the amalgamation of these fascinating environments that give Kauai its picturesque grandeur and make it one of my favorite places I’ve ever been to.

For 17 miles along Kauai’s northwest shores, jagged cliffs and towering spires tumble into the blue-green waters. Amongst these magnificent peaks are sprawling green valleys, sequestered beaches, and plummeting waterfalls. Over our week-long stay in Kauai, we experienced the coastline’s mesmerizing beauty from the air on a helicopter tour, from the water on a snorkeling tour, and from land on a hike. Undoubtedly one of the most striking places I have ever been, the Nā Pali Coast, no matter how we experienced it, took my breath away each time.

An assortment of pictures of Jasmine, our family’s cat.

The first snowfall of the 2017-2018 winter brought a surprisingly copious amount of snow and a much-appreciated day off from school. As light faded in the late afternoon, I went outside to see the snowfall. I was struck by the calm in the air, the silence of the woods, and the hearty scent of wood burning in the air, so I pulled out my iPhone and started shooting. The thick cover of snow atop the labyrinth of branches and evergreens created the perfect shots.

Following our cruise, we took the high-speed rail from Barcelona to Paris with great expectations. Paris did not disappoint. With its intricate, uniform architecture — beige facades, blue-gray roofs, and fancy black-railing balconies — the city made a stunning impression. Each landmark was grand in its own right, and there were so many to see. Equally as impressive as the architecture was the food: I relished the unforgettable richness of the crepes, pastries, and hot chocolate. Over the course of our three day stay, Paris steadily rose to the top of my list of favorite cities.

The ruins of Pompeii are one of Europe’s most famous tourist attractions. We were lucky enough to walk through the ruins of the 2000 year old city. It was an eerie scene with Vesuvius looming in the background, reminding us of its destructive potential, as we walked through the once-great city. I was amazed by how well-preserved the ruins were. I was also fascinated by how advanced their society was: from pizza ovens, to drainage systems, to sliding doors, features that were seen in the ruins remain central components of societies today.

The pictures of the Amalfi Coast speak for themselves, but no picture can capture the mesmerizing beauty of this 30 mile stretch of coastline just south of Naples. The coastline features sheer cliffs, dotted with quaint, colorful villages, falling into the Mediterranean’s bright blue water. While most people visit Positano, seen in the last photo, we stopped in the small town of Amalfi and sailed along the coast. The Amalfi Coast easily stands right at the top of the list of most beautiful places I’ve ever been.

Even amidst the misery of the 104 degree weather, Rome impressed with its renowned historic sites. I found that the city was lackluster outside of the old walls, but I was struck by the grandeur of what lay within — the ornate gold ceilings of Saint Peter’s Basilica, the turquoise water of the Trevi Fountain, the expansive arena of the Coliseum, and the well-preserved ruins of the Roman Forum. To first-handedly experience parts of one of history’s greatest civilizations, and to walk through places that are so often mentioned in my history textbooks, was truly incredible.

Pisa is known for one thing and one thing only: the Leaning Tower. It’s an architectural marvel that’s worth the trek. The rest of the Field of Miracles featured equally impressive architecture. There wasn’t much to see outside of its wall, however. What I found most ironic was that I couldn't find any pizza in Pisa.

We only got to spend a few hours in Florence, but I really wish we had more time. The drive into the city takes you through the famed golden hills of Italy’s Tuscany region. From the cobbled backstreets amongst the cathedrals and statues to the teeming plazas and leather shops, the city immerses you in tradition and brings you to what feels like the heart of Italian culture. No other place we visited quite matched Florence’s traditional, hearty vibe. The hilltop view from across the waterway gives you a brilliant view of the expansive city and the grand mountains of Tuscany. And the food is indescribable; few things will match the taste of the pasta or the richness of the chocolate gelato I ate while in Florence.

Everyone knows Monaco for its affluence. That affluence was hard to miss when we visited — mega-yachts are moored for all to see in the marina. But few people mention Monaco’s tight backstreets or the surrounding mountains sloping into the sea. It was these sites, more than the allure of the opulence, that stood out to me in Monaco.

Over the course of two days, we docked in Marseille and Villefranche-sur-Mer. From Marseilles, we visited the tiny coastal town of Cassis, seen in the last 2 pictures. The town is framed by a giant cliff jutting out of the Mediterranean’s turquoise blue water. Its center is a series of small streets with colorful buildings descending town to the sea from the vineyards above. In the town center, we found delicious crepes.

Villefranche-sur-Mer, the oft-neglected destination on the French Riviera, was our port for our visit to Monaco. Built around the turquoise bay, it had a similar feel to Cassis. It’s a picture-perfect town with large mountains, crystal blue water, and bright buildings.

Barcelona was the first European city we visited on our trip through Europe in the summer of 2017. The city, even for a New Yorker, felt huge. While traditional elements were still visible, Barcelona impressed more with its upbeat culture and modernity. It seemed to have a different liveliness than elsewhere in Europe, with loads of people flowing in the streets and cab drivers racing down the roads. At night, that liveliness didn't seem to fade, as it seemed to in other cities. In Barcelona, there always felt like there was always something more to do, something else to see. Pictured below is the Sagrada Familia and Park Güell.

Punta Cana is one of the most visited destinations in the Caribbean. Prior to the trip, I was worried that it would feel like an overcrowded beach town, but Punta Cana was the exact opposite. The calm, crystal waters and the palms fluttering in the light breeze offered a source of much-needed relaxation during my first year of high school. The sunrises over the Caribbean Sea were bright orange every morning, while the sunsets exploded into cotton candy colors. The last picture was taken at Punta Espada, a top-100 golf course 30 minutes south of Punta Cana that was among the most beautiful places I’ve been and my favorite golf course that I’ve played.

The city of Old Quebec, sitting atop the banks of the St. Lawerence, brought a warm feel with its crowded, old streets. While we spent only a day in the city, I enjoyed it more than Montreal. Montreal felt more like a modern city, whereas Quebec City reminded me of Europe. My favorite part of the city, aside from the poutine joint in the heart of the city, was the main plaza aside the Frontenac, seen in the following pictures.

We visited Seattle following the conclusion of our cruise in Alaska. Seattle itself is a nice city, but I didn’t find much of the metropolis to be particularly exciting. While attractions such as Pike Place Market, the Space Needle, and Chihuly Garden were certainly cool, there wasn’t much else for us to see in the downtown. Add in the unrelenting downpour of rain, and you’re left with a picturesque city on the banks of the Puget Sound that lacks substance.

Two hours outside of Seattle is Mount Rainier National Park. With stunning mountainous vistas, glaciers, and groves of wildflowers and evergreens, Rainier brought us right back to Alaska’s coveted serenity.

We took a cruise to Alaska in the summer of 2015, docking in Ketchikan, Juneau, and Skagway. I was immediately taken aback by how different it was from anywhere I had previously been. There was so much untouched beauty — endless evergreens, gray clouds hanging over the still water, bald eagles soaring overheard, and tails of humpback whales peeking out from the depths of the Pacific. Being away from everything in Alaska made me appreciate the value of true natural beauty.

Amelia Island is about 40 minutes northeast of Jacksonville. The island has Florida’s coveted climate without Florida’s usual crowds and development. The site of my parent’s wedding, Amelia Island will always hold a special place in our hearts.