Traveling is a fun hobby for many, and students at Sparkman have been around the world. We’ve listed the Top 10 places for students to travel and experience. Hopefully, you will want to travel to these places after reading this!
- The Bahamas
The Bahamas, located in the Caribbean, is a fun destination that never disappoints for a family vacation. It’s no wonder the local economy depends heavily on tourism, because there are so many fun things to do, eat, and visit. Among the most popular attractions are the pristine beaches. Bahaman beaches are known for their pretty water, making them an ideal beach spot for hanging out and taking Instagram-ready pics. There are also water parks, like Aquaventure Water Park, that offer fun for the whole family. You can keep the Caribbean vibes going in your hotel with all-you-can-eat room service at select hotels, plus on-site, fun activities for all ages.
2. California
The “Golden State” of California has the largest population of any state, with nearly 40 million residents, and is the third largest state by area. It’s well known for the Hollywood film industry and the Silicon Valley technology hub. California also has the famous In-N-Out food spot. Smith explains a day in California, “I shopped at Hollywood Mall, it was very fun and I saw a bunch of tourist sites,” junior Amiyah Smith said.
3. Cancun, Mexico
Cancun is a top tourist city in Mexico known for beautiful white sand beaches and a super “lit” nightlife. The aqua blue water beaches alone make it a top vacation spot, but the many luxury, all-inclusive resorts seal the deal. While some like to relax at sea, others in the group plan fun excursions like ziplining, snorkeling, or even visiting theme parks like Xcaret or Xplor.
4. Dubai, UAE
Dubai is a city in the United Arab Emirates. It’s famous for its landmarks, such as the Burj Khalifa, the Museum of Future, and The Atlantis. “It was extremely hot, a lot of people were busy, and a good, welcoming environment,” junior Peyton White said. “The food was very different from American food, in a good way. A good dish from Dubai that I remember was called Emirates. It was very different and tasted very rich,” White said. Something else cool about Dubai is the money! Having different money you don’t get to see or spend every day is also cool.
5. Florida
Florida, located in the southern US, is a top family travel and vacation destination. Florida is famous for many things, like Walt Disney World, Universal Studios and Legoland. The weather is mostly nice and sunny if you plan to go at the right time, which would be summer, fall break, or maybe even during the colder months for Christmas. Tourists are highly recommended to try Florida’s local restaurants, which have lots of great local restaurants that are only located in Florida. You could try like King Crab Orlando, or stores and malls like The Florida Mall, which we don’t see here.
6. Honduras
Honduras is a country in Central America, known for its stocks like coffee, tropical fruit and sugar cane. Some fun things to do in Honduras to occupy your time: visit Mayan ruins or see the beautiful beaches. “The culture is completely different. The houses in Honduras are bigger and wealthier, and lots of people have big houses. The clothes people wear for special events are different for their culture, and they also have a special day in October dedicated to their independence. A side fact, the view is very pretty from where I stayed and very pretty to look at,” senior Jillian Castro said.
7. Japan
Japan is a country in East Asia and is very safe for travelers. Japan is famous for having the perfect blend of modern, up-to-date activities while also keeping ancient traditions. There are plenty of things to do to keep you busy, like exploring Japanese culture, visiting museums, or going to the interactive digital art labs at TeamLab Installations. “To go deeper into things that kept me busy, I shopped and got to ride go-karts in the street. Some side facts are that they have a very cool culture and are 100% safe, like kids could walk to school themselves,” sophomore Emma Bonds said.
8. Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is a city in Nevada that is famous for its bright, flashy lights at night. It lights the city up while also being famous for having luxurious hotels and other fun tourist attractions. Like the Neon Museum, The Strip, or Mandalay Bay Beach. And lastly, it is also famous for casinos. But it does mean it isn’t the ideal family trip.
9. New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a city in Louisiana known for its tasty foods such as gumbo, crawfish and jambalaya. New Orleans is also known for the New Orleans way of celebration for Mardi Gras and the famous “Bourbon Street”. New Orleans is full of free spirits with live music, friendly people and good vibes. A fun fact for tourists is that New Orleans is known as the birthplace of jazz. Due to the fusion of African, European, and Caribbean music while also carrying one of the strongest accents or the accent they carry.
10. Thailand
Lastly, Thailand is a country in Asia. Thailand is the only Southeast Asian nation to have never been colonized. You should travel to Thailand for its diverse offerings, including things such as the beautiful scenery, friendly and welcoming people, and its affordability. They have tons of things to be recognized for, like having big malls and great food. They have delicious dishes such as tom yum goong, mango sticky rice, or khao pad. “Something cool about Thailand is that you drive on the opposite side [of the road] and people mostly ride motorcycles or very nice cars. They’re also cheaper,” junior Francesco Di Nardo said.
