Ridge is a go-getter. As he approaches graduation at St. Thomas More Catholic High School in Lafayette, Louisiana, he can look back on a number of accomplishments. But instead, the top student, student body president and campus ministry member looks forward to his future goals. In the fall he’ll attend Georgetown University in Washington D.C., where he’ll major in Political Science and Government. And hopefully do some more traveling. Because having traveled on a summer tour with Explorica last year, from London to Madrid, Ridge is eager to explore new places and meet new people — to absorb as much as he can from the world around him.

We recently had a chance to ask Ridge some questions about his travel experiences and how they have prepared him for his upcoming college career. His insightful responses below will certainly help future travelers determine what to expect on an Explorica tour.
 
Which Explorica tour did you choose?
Last summer I traveled with Explorica on a European Cultures from London to Madrid tour. The group left on July 17th and returned on August 12th. It was amazing.

What made you decide to travel abroad?
Rather than staying home in front of the TV, I prefer to get out of the house and do something worthwhile each summer. Summer of 2005 I spent three weeks at Georgetown University in Washington D.C. at a politically based leadership camp. So, in 2006, I knew that I wanted to travel and Explorica was definitely a great decision.

Why Explorica?
Well, as I sorted through the many different trips and companies available to me through the Internet, I couldn't help but notice three main things about Explorica that were different.

1. The variety of destinations that each trip offered. I knew that I wanted to see Europe, but Explorica allowed me to do more than that. I saw the main cities of eight different countries in just under a month. How amazing! 
   
   
2. The diversity of the student groups and the easy communication before and after the trip. I decided that if I was going to do this, I didn't want to travel with a small group of my best friends. And Explorica offered a tour with nearly thirty teenagers from all around the United States. While expanding my world view, I also met so many people from my own country and made friends that will last a lifetime.
    
3. The low cost. Price was probably the most important thing on my list of criteria. I knew that traveling overseas would not be cheap, and Explorica seemed to offer an amazing program for a fair price. My fees included my airfare, two of my meals each day, one night on a cruise boat, and much more. Explorica was definitely the best deal I had seen anywhere.

What were some of your best tour memories?

1. The many bus rides in between cities. Though they may seem long, they were great opportunities to just sit back and watch beautiful countryside roll past the windows. It was also the best time to play games with the group and get to know each other better.
   
   
2. My many adventures in trying to speak foreign languages.

What did you learn from your Explorica travel experience?
An easier question to answer would be ‘what didn’t I learn from my Explorica travel experience’! Traveling broadens your horizons, but Explorica did so much more. Having a professional Tour Director with your group at all times is such an asset to the trip. Each place we visited was explained by our guide, and we learned so much while in Europe. The experience was incredible, and it helped me to discover my passions, discover my interests, and discover myself while in such amazing places. It was more than worth it!

Are you studying topics now that relate to your tour?
World History, English, French, Religion, and so many more subjects relate to my tour. It is so amazingly cool to be sitting in class listening to a lecture on the Palace of Versailles, seeing the pictures, and knowing that I’ve already been there in person—or to be reading Thomas More's Utopia and knowing that I just returned from the same London streets where he once walked. The tours teach so much that I could go on for days. In short, everything you learn on tour will somehow translate into your life.

Any tips for future travelers?
Yes. I can’t say it enough, but DO NOT be a packrat. I'm one of these kids who brings too much on purpose so that I know I won't be missing anything. I expected that everyone would be just like me, so I brought tons of clothes and shoes and stuff. However, I didn't even wear half of the clothes that I brought. When they say that all you need are basic pieces, they mean it. Shorts, shoes, and t-shirts…that's all! Oh and definitely bring a backpack.

Are you still in touch with other travelers from your tour?
Yes. As a matter of fact, after I spent Christmas vacation snow-skiing in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, I flew cross-country to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to visit with two of my best friends from the tour. We still talk on the phone nearly every other day. I know that the friendships I made were friendships to be cherished for life.

Do you have plans to travel again with Explorica?
I would do it again in a heartbeat. Explorica is definitely a great company to travel with. The trips are well-organized and fairly-priced, and the memories I made were worth every penny!