Traveling is a great way to experience and learn new things. It can open your eyes to new people, culture, history and of course new sights and sounds.
A slew of Darlington students recently experienced enriching travel adventures as they got to see different parts of the country.
Sixth graders went on a weeklong Florida adventure exploring historic St. Augustine and walking the grounds of Castillo de San Marcos, the oldest masonry fort in the continental United States. It was designed by Spanish engineer Ignacio Daza, with construction beginning in 1672.
They experienced hands-on discovery at Kennedy Space Center, spotted manatees near Crystal River, and explored Florida Caverns.
Seventh-graders traveled in the opposite direction, going through Virginia and North Carolina on a history and science adventure. Their trip included Pamplin Historical Park, the site of the Union army’s breakthrough of the Confederate defenses of Petersburg on April 2, 1865, during the Civil War. The students also visited Jamestown, Williamsburg and the Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kitty Hawk, plus dunes at Jockey’s Ridge State Park and a shark dissection at the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island.
Twelve-year-old Georgia Elrod, a seventh grader, said the trip was eye-opening in a number of ways.
“I enjoyed seeing new places,” she said. “It’s fun to visit places I’ve never been and to see and learn new things.”
Elrod said a standout memory for her was learning about Williamsburg and getting to see costumed actors present life as it was long ago.
“It was crazy to see how people lived in Colonial times,” she said. “To see the silversmiths and blacksmiths and all the different jobs people had. It was surprising to see how people made do at a time when there was no electricity or indoor plumbing or those kinds of conveniences we have today.”
The trip was a great primer, she said, since some of the material covered on the trip will be taught when she’s in the eighth grade.
Not to be outdone, eighth-graders embarked on an unforgettable journey across Georgia, immersing themselves in the state’s rich history, culture, and natural beauty. Their travels took them to iconic locations, including Warm Springs, Savannah, Macon, Pooler, Cumberland Island and the Okefenokee Swamp.
Addie Kate Cox, 13, was one of the lucky eighth-graders who got to experience those destinations.
She said aside from the great destinations, the trip offered a chance for her classmates to bond and get closer to each other. Whether they were rooming together or riding the bus together, the camaraderie was a highlight for her.
But of course, there were beautiful stops along the way.
“I really liked Cumberland Island,” she said. “We got to see wild horses, dolphins and got to walk on the beach. The views were so pretty there.”
She also enjoyed a ferry ride and even a ghost tour in Savannah and was very interested to learn about the history of the Air Force and WWI when they visited a museum.
This article was originally published in the Rome-News Tribune on Feb. 21, 2026.
