Normally the school will plan an excursion to Peñiscola for the beginning of the fall semester or for the end of the spring term. This beautiful city has some fame from the Castilla de Peñiscola where a season of Game of Thrones was filmed (The above picture was taken from the Castilla itself)! You can take a dip in the Mediterranean and soak up the sun, or, if beaches are not your thing, you can explore many of the stores along the strip as well. There are numerous affordable ice cream and gelato shops are along the strip that make for a refreshing treat on a hot day.

An hour drive outside of Valencia, the beautiful groundwater of Pou Clar are an incredible sight to share among friends. Bring some bocadillos and courage, because the waters here are just above freezing temperatures. With peaks to jump off of, beautiful hues of green and blue, and fish to swim alongside of, Pou Clar is a must visit during your stay in Valencia if the weather is warm enough.

Should you ever find yourself on the road to Cuenca, or wish to explore a bit further outside of Valencia, Las Correras are sight to behold. Located about 2 hours outside of Valencia, these waters have deposited calcium on the rocks creating a surface virtually impossible to slip on, much like a water park. Walk up the stunning rapids by foot, or contact an adventure company to go zip lining. Either way Las Chorreras were one of my favorite summer time activities.

If you are looking for a tropical getaway for a weekend, Palma, Mallorca, is your place. Mallorca is a Spanish island in between Ibiza and Minorca with Palma as its capital. It has everything you could want in a weekend trip: beautiful buildings, beaches, and opportunities to mingle with locals. You can get to Palma, Mallorca, either by flight from Valencia (~40 euros round trip) or by ferry (~55 euros round trip). I personally flew and it was the shortest and cheapest flight I have ever taken, but if the ferry will work better for your schedule, it's also available as an option.

Benidorm is a small city just south of Valencia right on the Mediterranean. To get to Benidorm, you can take a bus from any of the stations around the city directly there. Once you arrive, you will take a five-minute taxi ride to get to the coast. While there, you can either spend the day exploring the city, sunbathe and swim on the beaches, or take a submarine tour of the coast. Benidorm is close enough to Valencia that it could be feasible to stay just for a day!

For a fantastic hike through a picturesque gorge, head to Chulilla about 50 minutes outside of Valencia. This small town is located alongside a beautiful reservoir that dams a river, which cuts through the canyon. Cross hanging bridges and gaze up at mountain climbers and zip liners passing above you. Be sure to pack a lunch and plenty of water because this hike will take all day, but will leave you with a fantastic impression of the beauty of the Spanish countryside.