Hilton Head

    Hilton Head, South Carolina topped our list. From sandcastles to water sports, Hilton Head definitely has a lot to offer. Hilton Head is a resort town located in Beaufort County, South Carolina. With a popular attraction being the beach, Hilton Head has 12 miles of beachfront on the Atlantic Ocean.
    Dunbar students enjoyed jet skiing and playing in the warm water. It is a fun destination to enjoy with family and friends. Another popular activity is seeing Broadway plays at the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina.
    The arts excel at Hilton Head. They have the Hilton Head symphony orchestra that performs at the First Presbyterian Church. Another main tourist attraction is the Main Street Youth Theatre. They put on approximately four to five plays each year. Moreover, Hilton Head does hold a number of events each year including community festivals and parades.

Florida

    In second, came in Florida. Florida has definitely been a popular place for years. An approximate 60 million visitors visit the state each year. Florida was actually named the top destination state in 2011.
    Even with its excruciating temperatures, tourists never can get tired of its fun attractions including Walt Disney World.
    Being the largest vacation resort in the world, it is a major spot for tourism, consisting of four theme parks and more than 20 hotels in Lake Buena Vista. Furthermore, popular attractions include Universal Orlando Resort, Sea World and Busch Gardens.
    Considering the fact that Florida has the largest coastline, beaches are also a very popular place among tourists. Many popular beaches include Fort Lauderdale, St. Augustine and Daytona Beach. Who wouldn’t enjoy going to the beaches to get a nice tan.

Mission Trips

    Next on our list was not necessarily a “place” but it was more of a favorite thing “to do.” Over the last summer many people enjoyed spending their time going on mission trips. A mission trip is not simply a vacation, but it is exactly what it is; a trip with a specific mission. Dunbar students would volunteer their time to go to different parts of the world to help people. These mission trips ranged Guatemala to Minnesota and from Costa Rica to Haiti. Dunbar students spent countless hours helping others. They distributed necessities to the local people and were able to connect with them on what they were going through. As a result of the mission trips, teens were not able to just travel, but they were able to reflect on what is going on the world.

California

            In fourth place came California. Whether Dunbar students were in San Diego or Hollywood, California was also a popular place to be. With more than 1,100 of coastline, the beaches were a must “go-to.” Whether you were building sandcastles or simple strolling along the coastline, with the good weather, there are many perfect way to spend your day. Furthermore, Universal Studios Hollywood was a place where tourist enjoy going to. Being one of the oldest and most famous Hollywood movie studios still in use, Universal Studios is a fun theme park to visit for the day. With its heart-pounding rides, and water parks, you may never want to leave. With its nice beaches and attractions, there was definitely not a down moment there.

Kentucky

    Lastly, the number five spot was Kentucky. Many Dunbar students just stayed in state and enjoyed what Kentucky has to offer. Being the Horse Capital of the world, many students enjoyed going to the horse park with their families and seeing the horses that Kentucky is known for. With the hot weather this summer, Dunbar students also enjoyed going to the pool and hanging out with their friends. Going to the mall was another a common activity. Many students did not stay confined to Lexington. They went up to Louisville for the day to shop or to see a variety of attractions offered there. The Steamer Belle of Louisville and the Riverboat Spirit of Jefferson are fun, exciting cruises that people enjoy going on. Being the oldest operating Mississippi style steamboat in the world, the Belle of Louisville is a great way to explore Louisville’s Waterfront Park.