Need travel suggestions for 18yr female who likes art, nature, swimming, and gaming.

Question

This is going to be my first vacation where I get to go somewhere far and unusual. I live in North Cali so preferably somewhere at least out of state. I plan on bringing a 17 yr old friend and parents. My ideal vacation would be somewhere rich with art and culture, beautiful landscape, opportunity to swim (pool or beach, doesn't matter), and a resort/hotel that offers amentities that please my inner nerd (arcades, theaters, etc..). The last being something I can sacrifice if the latter were really great. I also like adventurous activities and good food. I'd love it if anyone would provide some suggestions, especially if based on experiences. I've been looking for literally months. I'm staying away from cruises though- I do NOT like overcrowded places unless it's exceptionally worth the wait. Lastly, I like to get a lot for my money, so a place that nitpicks every penny out of you isn't my cup of tea.

Answer 1

This is going to sound really strange (I'm actually surprised that I'm writing this!), but...here goes...what about Las Vegas? I took a road trip from SF down the coast, across Arizona (Grand Canyon, Painted Desert, Sedona), Las Vegas, Death Valley, Mammoth Lakes, Yosemite, SF. I was truly in awe of Death Valley. I have never seen such unusual land formations and colors. In Las Vegas we stayed at the Belagio Hotel which has fabulous glass art by renowned artist Dale Chihuly, a great casino, fantastic pools, shows by Cirque de Soleil, a breath-taking fountain and light display and wonderful restaurants. You could certainly fly to Europe - Monaco comes to mind. All inclusive resorts on a Carribean Island offer much of what you are looking for (I can give details if you are interested). And as for cruises, unless you get deathly seasick, I wouldn't write them off so quickly. I've cruised extensively through the Carribean and Alaska. The land/cruise tour in Alaska was truely an experience to remember. Finally, you can travel to NJ, stay in a resort in Atlantic City (casinos,shows, good restaurants) and visit Philadelphia (1 hr) and/or NYC (2 hrs, 15 min) for more cultural pursuits. Hope this helps.