What is “DR?” It is the Dominican Republic! I hold this memory as one of my most fondest. In 2015, I spent my 16th birthday in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. I shared this vacation with my family, my best friend, and two other families I have grown up with. With 13 friends and family, I spent my birthday week surrounded by an amazing group of people and beautiful weather.

What is there to do in the Dominican Republic you ask? Tan. Lots of tanning. Oh, and if you are staying at an all-inclusive hotel, it is food extravaganza. For this trip, we stayed at the “Hotel Riu Bambu.” My family and I favor certain hotel chains, and Riu hotels is one of our favorites. All inclusive hotels are an experience worth trying if you never have- some love them, others prefer Hawaii (I am not judging.)

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These are a few pictures from the trip that show some of the things we did in our 7-day stay. For my 16th birthday, we went dune-bugging on a long-muddy trail. It was an excursion where we drove dune bugs along the way to a coffee bean farm and even swam in a crystal clear underwater cave. At another point along the trip we even partook in some snorkeling even with my great fear of the ocean! I had many first-time experiences during this vacation and I will always remember the memories I had there. It was an unforgettable trip, worth sharing.