Places to go During Summer Vacation
by Lina Noshadi and Giselle Lam
Summer break is just around the corner, and with all the school work and tests coming to an end, it's the perfect time to rest and enjoy new experiences for two months. The best part about summer break is that you have an opportunity to travel and get to see magnificent nature and cultural sites you usually don't see at home. So if you don't know where to go this summer and don’t want to be stuck at home eating chips and watching movies, we have found some great places for you!
Switzerland - Lina
Switzerland is located in Central Europe and is a landlocked country bordered by Germany to the north, France to the west, Italy to the south, and Austria and Liechtenstein to east. Bern is the country's capital, and the main language spoken in Switzerland is German; however, there are parts of Switzerland that speak French and Italian as well. Lucerne, Zurich, and Bern are in the German speaking part of Switzerland, and Lugano, Bellinzona, and Locarno are the Italian speaking part of Switzerland. Geneva and Lausanne are the Italian side of Swiss.
Switzerland is known for its deep blue lakes and its green lush alps and mountains with stunning features like water streams and waterfalls. During the summer months, the weather has a comfortable temperature average of 68 F degrees - 77 F degrees.
The cities I recommend based on my experience last year during the summer are Lucerne, Zurich, Geneva, and Lausanne. Lucerne has lots of nice sites to see like Lake Lucerne, Chapel Bridge, and the Lion Monument. You can also hike up to the Alps, where they have several activities like paragliding, hiking, and my favorite, the Pilatus Rope Park at Frakmuntegg. If you're like me, you’ll love Zurich because you can get a ticket to go to the Lindt Home of Chocolate and the Cailler chocolate factory, where you can learn about the history of these chocolate makers and the best part, get free chocolate to taste! In Geneva, you can also get a chance to swim in the clear lakes of Lake Geneva and can go to the Musee d'Art Histoire (Art History Museum). In Lausanne, one of my favorite places to was the Le Musee Olympique, also known as the Olympic National Museum. Switzerland has many more attractions and wonderful cities to go to, but these are my favorites based on my experience. You should really take a look at Switzerland, as it's one of the most beautiful countries!
Egypt - Lina
Egypt is a transcontinental country, located in the Sinai Peninsula, where it is northeast of Africa and Southwest Asia. Its most famous waterway, the Nile River, is the longest river in the world and has an annual flooding which brings the dry and arid Egypt back to life with fertile soil and silt. However, the Nile River is starting to dry up from all of the global climate changes. The Red Sea is to the east of Egypt, and the Mediterranean is to the north. The Red Sea has much more salt than the average ocean, with the salinity levels averaging around to as high as 40 parts per thousand. The official native language in Egypt is modern standard Arabic (MSA); however, the majority of the population speaks Egyptian Arabic, also known as Masri. The temperatures during summer are hot, dry and arid, with average temperatures of 86 degrees F and temperatures exceeding 104 degrees F in the south. Although the weather in Egypt is relatively hot, the experiences and sites you see will definitely make up for it!
The main cities are the Cairo metropolitan area, which has a population of around 23 million, which is followed by the Mediterranean port of Alexandria and the city of Giza along the Nile. In these areas, there are many famous and popular tourist attractions such as the Pyramids of Giza, which are located at the Giza Plateau, near the west bank of the Nile river. In Cairo, there is a famous Egyptian museum, the Grand Egyptian Museum, where there are historic artifacts and treasures from Tutankhamun and others from the ancient times. Speaking of Tutankhamun, you can go see the site of his tomb and 60 other royal tombs at the Valley of the Kings located in upper Egypt across from the city Luxor and on the west bank of the Nile River. You can also go to Mahmya Island, where you can swim in the beautiful blue waters and even go snorkeling. It is located in the Big Guftun Island in the Red Sea, off the coast of Hurghada, Egypt. Lastly, my favorite place was the Siwa Oasis Salt Lakes, where the water is a beautiful clear, turquoise color. It has so much salt, much saltier than the Dead Sea, that it is hard to actually sink in these waters. You can easily sit on the water and float without any effort, which is perfect for people who can't swim. However, the downside is that you will be drenched and covered in salt by the end of it. It also takes a long car drive to get there, as it is extremely isolated and remote. With all these great sites to go to, the high temperatures that Egypt has during the summer would definitely make up for it!
Taiwan - Giselle
Taiwan is a country in East Asia. The main island of Taiwan, also known as Formosa, lies between the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Japan to the northeast, and the Philippines to the south. The People speak Mandarin there. The reason they speak Chinese Mandarin and not their own language is because the Kuomintang government, led by Chiang Kai-shek, moved from mainland China to Taiwan in 1949 and made it their official language. The Taiwanese value education, hard work, patience and humility. They have festivals where Buddhism and Taoism is celebrated and Chinese culture also mixes in. Family is the most important thing because in Confucianism, they value filial piety, which promotes respect for parents and elders.
Places to visit in Taiwan vary depending on whether you want a nice view or want to take a breathtaking hike up mountains. The first place to recommend is Taiwan 101. It is located in Taipei and has a great view of the city where you can see all the buildings. When you visit, you will see a giant ball dampener that keeps the building stable during strong winds and heavy rains. If the weather is right, you may even see the ball move. If you're hungry but don't know what to eat, you should visit their night markets where there are different varieties of food like meat buns, king crab legs, quail eggs, and more. There are also arcade games for fun, varying from claw machines to Taiwanese pinball. In addition, there are places like Cat Village where you can eat at cat cafes, feed the adorable cats, and have the enjoyment of walking around and finding all the great cats of the Cat Village. You can also go to the village of Shifen and release a giant lantern into the sky after writing your wishes for wealth, love, study, and more. Lastly, you can go to the National Place Museum. You can see all the amazing things that go on in there while it teaches you about the history and culture of Taiwan while showing you the amazing artifacts they have. While you're there, you should try the amazing dumplings they have. They’re juicy and delicious enough to fill you up for the whole day. Another place I recommend are the sand dunes in Taiwan. You can enjoy scenic hikes around the dunes and go bird watching. During summer break, you should really try making your way to Taiwan and discover all the amazing things Taiwan has to offer!
Italy - Giselle
Italy is the tenth largest country in Europe, and is surrounded by France, Switzerland, Austria, and Slovenia. The capital of Italy is Rome, which has many magnificent sites to visit. In the north, Italy has a harsher climate with cold winters and hot summers, while the center has milder winters and longer summers. The south has warmer, drier temperatures, with a colder, dry eastern coast. Italy is commonly known for its amazing foods. It is popular for its pasta, pizza cheese, and meat, as well as desserts like gelato, tiramisu and cannoli. Some dishes I recommend are spaghetti alla carbonara and bistecca alla fiorentina.
People in Italy of course speak Italian, but they have several dialects like Sicilian, Neapolitan, and Venetian. While in Italy they have so many amazing things to do. You can explore Rome's Colosseum, visit the Vatican, ride the gondolas in Venice, hike the Amalfi Coast, or experience the Duomo di Milano, a massive Gothic structure located in Milan that can hold up to 40,000 people. This place has taken nearly 600 years to complete and it is breathtaking. It also believed to contain one of Jesus’s holy nails from his crucifixion.
There are several unspoken rules in Italy that you should keep in mind. First, you should always cover your shoulders and knees in churches and religious settings as a sign of respect, so no tank tops or shorts in these locations. Second, make sure to keep your stuff safe, as there can be many pickpockets in tourist areas. As a part of this warning, you should keep your documentation with you at all times. There are also things to keep in mind when going out to eat: dinner hour starts at 8:00 pm and it is not the practice to tip heavily in Europe. And don’t forget: you can’t take shells off the beaches because it is considered illegal.
Las Vegas - Giselle
Las Vegas is a perfect place to visit if you want a change of scenery without traveling too far. Located in southern Nevada, it is easily accessible from Los Angeles with a four-to-five-hour drive or a quick one-hour flight. Once you arrive, the city has a bunch of family-friendly activities, from world-class concerts and stunning architecture to thrilling roller coasters and museums.
One great spot for families is the Museum of Illusions, with mind-bending exhibits and the famous Vortex Tunnel where the illusions trick your mind into seeing the impossible. For those wanting to experience nature through beautiful desert landscapes, Red Rock Canyon sits just outside the city. Back in town, AREA15 stands out as a really fun entertainment district where you can take amazing pictures. In AREA15 you can see the Meow Wolf’s Omega Mart, which is a surreal place with great art. There’s also the John Wick Experience, which is based on the movie franchise featuring props and artifacts from the films. There is also Liftoff, an outdoor skyline where you can go to a lounge that rises up 131 feet and shows you 360 degree views of the area.
Finally, no trip is complete without visiting the newly-famous Sphere at 255 Sands Avenue, where you can catch a concert or book the interactive "Sphere Experience" tour. And of course, all the hotels have plenty to see and experience, both inside and out. There are so many places to go in Las Vegas as they have beautiful architecture and jaw-dropping concerts and performances, as well as amazing food, but these are a few suggestions to make your stay better!
Wyoming - Lina
Wyoming is a state in the U.S., bordered between Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, Colorado, Utah, and Idaho. Its main cities are Jackson Hole and Cheyenne, with their beautiful and breathtaking features that nature offers to you. Wyoming has lots of wildlife that range from bears like black and grizzly bears to coyotes and grey wolves and foxes. They also have elk, bobcats, American bison, mountain goats and mountain lions, moose, and much more.
During the summer, the average temperatures range from 75 degrees to 89 degrees F, and during July, the hottest month, temperatures can average around 86 to 92 degrees F. To drive, it takes at least 17 hours, which is a lot. Most people divide up the drive over two days. But for an easier alternative, taking a plane there only takes 2 hours.
The most popular destination is Yellowstone National Park. With some of the world's most magnificent natural wonders, the park has much more to offer than any normal park. Here, there are hot springs formed by water heated from underground magma. They can reach scorching temperatures of about 200 degrees F. Because of this, it is forbidden to swim in or touch them. Similarly, Yellowstone National Park has over 500 geysers, which are powered by a massive volcanic caldera underground. These geysers make up about half of the geysers in the whole world. These geysers take 90 minutes to boil the water underground in the chamber and then be able to create a spectacular spew of boiling water. The most popular geyser to see is the famous Old Faithful, which erupts roughly 29 times a day, with each eruption lasting 1 ½ to 5 minutes. It can reach a massive height of 100 to 180 feet in the air. Bring your snacks to watch and enjoy the show nature has offered you. However, you can't bring your pets to the geysers. If you like alpine hiking, you can take a nice hike in Grand Teton National Park. You could also go to see the nearby Devils Tower National Monument, made of crystallized igneous rock, where it is rumored the “scratches” on it come from a huge bear. Wyoming is truly a great place to visit, especially if you are someone who loves nature.
Now that you know more about all these great places, hopefully you can visit one of them this summer or sometime in the future. Traveling to new places gives you memories that last forever. You get to see amazing sights, try awesome foods, learn new traditions, and just have fun! We hope you can visit one of these places and that you love it as much as we did.
