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Viva Las Vegas!

Despite its image of being the fast-paced city of showgirls, casinos and gambling, what happens in Vegas doesn't necessarily have to stay there. Today, Las Vegas has become much more family oriented. While gambling might not be an option for teenagers, the casinos offer plenty of other options to keep everyone entertained. Cirque du Soleil and the Blue Man Group are among Las Vegas' many shows located right in the casinos. The Roman-themed Caesar's Palace even has its own designer-brand shopping center. Of course, Las Vegas isn't all about the casinos. Outside of the city, Red Rock National Park offers some of the best hiking and rock climbing in the country. That's right parents: Vegas isn't just for grown-ups anymore.

-- Alex McDilda, Roanoke Catholic

Taking a bite out of the Big Apple

Ahh -- the city that never sleeps. Although it sounds pretty intense, in New York there's little time for sleep, and with a coffee shop on practically every block, it's not a problem. With so much to do in one city, it's hard to see it all. While many people enjoy sightseeing at places such as the Statue of Liberty, Central Park and Times Square, New York City offers a cultural experience that is difficult to find anywhere else. Whether it is a Broadway show or a trip to SoHo and Greenwich Village, there always seems to be something new and different to see. Even the food in New York provides an exposure to new experiences such as real New York pizza or a tiny Thai noodle bar. New York City has it all.

-- Alex McDilda, Roanoke Catholic

A teen's view on Walt Disney World

Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla., is "the happiest place on Earth," but you're wrong if you believe it's just for little kids. Disney has the perfect mix of rides that make you young at heart. There are mild rides like "It's a Small World," which is a slow, indoor boat ride, showcasing and celebrating the world's different cultures. Disney also satisfies the thrill ride enthusiasts with coasters like "Space Mountain," a twisting, indoor coaster full of surprises because it's completely in the dark. However, the World doesn't just offer rides. It offers parades, fireworks, special events, shopping, characters and dining. If you're a teenager who is looking for a "supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" vacation and love eating and shopping with a Mickey Mouse twist, then Walt Disney World is for you.

-- Courtney Pierce, Home School

Hola from New Mexico

From the moment the plane touches down, everything feels different. There's no humidity. It's dry. Really, really dry. It is hot during the day but can get fairly cold at night. People have lived there for thousands of years. At Bandelier National Monument, people can experience how life was for early Pueblos as they climb up ladders into dwellings set into the rocks. Then, they can visit a modern Pueblo village and watch a corn dance. For American Girl lovers, learn what life might have been like for Josephina (a doll representing a New Mexican girl from the early 1800s) living on a rancho. Exploring the capital city, Santa Fe, is also fun and has plenty of historical sites to visit. The rest that New Mexico has to offer is spectacular views (there are plenty of mountains) and speeding 75 miles per hour on a highway. Adios!

-- Caroline Cromwell, Patrick Henry High School

Greece of past and present

The mention of Greece brings to mind ruined temples or battered monuments, shadows of the past that represent nothing more than memories of an early Western civilization. Indeed, the history of Greece is enough to attract anyone to this country. The Parthenon in Athens, the ruins at Delphi, the beehive tomb of Mycenae and the remnants of Corinth are probably some of the most breathtaking ruins in the world. You can visit the Thermopylae Pass, where 300 Spartans held off hundreds of thousands of Persians, or run on the ancient Olympic track. However, there is a lot more to Greece than history. The city of Athens has world- class restaurants, hotels and parks, and it is clearly a modern metropolis. The southern Greek isles are beautiful tropic islands that rise out of the bluest seas in the world, a Mediterranean vacation spot matched by none. In the north, an overlooked geological wonder astounds thousands of visitors annually, the cliffs of Meteora area. The area is a group of rock towers with spectacular monasteries built high among the boulders. Plus, you will not have to worry about being kidnapped or robbed because Greece has a nearly nonexistent crime rate. Greece has as much to do involving history as it does involving today.

-- Zack Printz, Hidden Valley High School