“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.” – Marcel Proust
Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or you’ve yet to satisfy the wanderlust within you, there are so many wonderful ideas to consider when traveling. When it comes to traveling, there is so much to discover, experience and learn about the world around you and yourself. If you’ve been looking for some adventure or need a few tips for your next getaway, look no further! We’ve got 20 ways to make your next excursion out of this world!
Travel solo
Hang out with the locals, mingle with fellow tourists and turn strangers into buddies. Traveling solo will take you out of your comfort zone and open you up to new and exhilarating opportunities.
Visit a wine country that’s not in Napa or Burgundy
Capetown, Washington, Croatia, Walla Walla and Argentina may not immediately come to mind when you think of wine country, but you’ll be seriously impressed with these destinations…and their wine offerings! Wine regions across the globe are holding their own and getting heaps of praise from wine aficionados.
Go to a festival
A festival offers a new and unique way to experience a city or a country. Chances are you’ve heard of popular festivals like Oktoberfest, Burning Man, Coachella, SXSW and the Cannes Film Festival. There are always festivals taking place at any given time across the globe and there’s a festival to suit all types of personalities.
You’ll toss tomatoes at La Tomatina in Spain. Partake in a centuries old festival at the Sky Lantern festival in China, where you’ll watch your hopes and dreams take flight. You’ll dance the night away, discover new music and take in incredible art at Glastonbury (UK) and Austin City Limits (United States). There’s no limit to the number of festivals awaiting you!
Take a train tour
Embrace romanticism and nostalgia with a scenic train ride. Consider a ride on Mexico’s Tequila Express or a trip on the Amtrak to view the gorgeous fall foliage. The Darjeeling HImalayan Railway in India will take you through tea gardens, forests filled with maple, pear, cherry, chestnut and cardamom, while taking in views of the Himalayan mountains. The Douro Line in Portugal offers views of the Douro wine country on a steam engine train. In Norway, the Bergen Railway will enchant you with views of snowy glaciers and winding fjords.
Ride a horse
Hopping on a horse (or any other able-bodied animal) is an awesome way to connect with nature. If you’ve never had the opportunity to ride an animal, or you’re not sure how to work it into your plans, we have a few helpful suggestions to get you started:
— Ride an ostrich in Oudtshoorn, South Africa.
— Ride a camel through Timanfaya National Park in Lanzarote, Canary Islands.
— Gallop into the Grand Canyon on a mule.
— Explore Chiang Rai, Thailand, on the back of an elephant.
— Take a yak for ride in the Mongolian Gobi.
Take a hike on a glorious trail
Spend time in the great outdoors, trekking a legendary trail that will give you a renewed perspective on life.
— Walk from the Irish Sea to the North Sea on England’s C2C Trail.
— Take a 33.2 mile walk on New Zealand’s Milford Track.
— California’s John Muir Trail features over 210 miles of the mountain back country of Sierra Nevada, between Sequoia and Yosemite National parks.
— The Inca Trail leads you to beautiful Machu Picchu.
Climb a mountain
Give yourself a physical challenge and climb a mountain! Pico de Orizaba (Mexico), Mount Fuji (Japan), Mount Whitney (United States) and Mount Kilimanjaro (Africa) are just a handful of formidable yet doable mountains that you can climb around the world. Of course there are also lesser known peaks, with secure trails that you can easily climb in an afternoon.
Walk across a famous bridge
It may seem simpler to drive across a bridge, however bridges such as the Sochi Sky Bridge (Russia), Aiguille du Midi Bridge (France), Capilano Suspension Bridge (Canada), Kokonoe ‘Yume’ Grand Suspension Bridge (Japan), London’s Millennium Bridge and Austria’s Highline 179 are designed with the pedestrian in mind.
A walk across Iconic bridges such as New York’s Brooklyn Bridge, Sydney’s Harbor Bridge, and San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge will leave you in absolute awe.
Volunteer abroad
Volunteering abroad is an enriching and rewarding experience for tourists seeking to get more out of their travels. There are a number of charities and organizations around the world that are always looking for ready and willing hands. Helping others won’t only boost the spirits of those in need, it will also change your life in unimaginable ways.
— Habitat For Humanity has a number of opportunities in the United States and over 100 countries.
— The Peace Corps has options ranging from short stints to long-term two-year assignments.
— Projects Abroad is an excellent option for recent graduates and professionals who are taking a break from their career.
— Global Vision International has over 150 volunteer assignments that last up to 6 months.
Experience the wild life
Have a truly majestic experience and head outdoors to take in the wild life. Viewing animals in nature (especially endangered species) can broaden your view of the world around you and remind you that you’re part of something much larger than what meets the eye. It’s an awe inspiring experience that you’ll treasure for years to come.
Grab a camera and visit lemurs in Madagascar. Glacier park is known for sightings of bighorn sheep, grizzly bears and great horned owls. Namibia has magnificent elephants, cheetahs, zebras, lions and rhinos. India’s Kanha preserve is known for their remarkable Bengal tigers.
View a live volcano
Add some heat to your trip and visit a smoldering, sizzling live volcano. Get up close and personal to the Earth’s fiery center at Mount Arenal (Costa Rica), Eyjafjallajökull (Iceland), Stromboli (Italy), Mount St. Helens, Washington (United States) and countless volcanoes in Hawaii that offer breathtaking, once in a lifetime views.
Visit a castle
If it’s a fairy tale you’re searching for, you may just find it at one of the many castles across the globe. Scotland’s Edinburgh Castle and Glamis Castle, Prague Castle, Ireland’s Blarney, Leeds Windsor and Bodiam and Portugal’s Palácio da Pena are a just a fraction of the slew of castles you can visit around the world.
France is fraught with castles to tour and Transylvania boasts some of the most astonishing castles in europe.
If you’re in the United States you can also wet your feet with smaller scale castles such as North Carolina’s Biltmore and California’s Hearst Estate.
Take a drive up the coast
Grab your sunglasses, put on some good tunes and head out for a drive up the coast. You don’t need much to make the most of this trip and with so many options on so many different continents it’s hard not to make at least one of these drives once in your lifetime.
Tip: Make sure to stop at a few local shops along the way and experience the local food and scene. Stop into a shop and bring home a little something to remember your trip!
— Australia’s Captain Cook Highway.
— Croatia’s Adriatic Highway.
— Outer Banks National Scenic Byway of North Carolina
— Florida’s connect-the-Keys Overseas Highway.
— California’s Big Sur.
— Canada’s Cabot Trail.
— Route 6A, Old King’s Highway.
— Corsica’s D81.
Be a game show contestant
If Los Angeles is on your bucket list, why not make it a trip to remember and get tickets to the Price is Right? Tickets are free and all contestants are eligible to “Come on down”!
You can also choose to watch one of the several talk shows, sitcoms and late night talk shows that require a live audience. You’ll get the opportunity to see how these shows come to live while getting in some quality entertainment. You can get tickets to The Voice, Jeopardy, Dancing With The Stars, The Big Bang Theory or Wheel of Fortune.
Another wonderful way to spend an afternoon in Los Angeles is to book a VIP at Universal Studios and the Warner Brothers Lot. You’ll get to experience all of the behind the scenes action without the long lines and the crowds.
Visit a local market
No, we’re not talking about the local farmers market. Bustling, vibrant markets are filled with sights and sounds that you won’t experience back home. The people, the action, the incredible amount of goods available in one place– you’ll experience a rush like you never have before!
— Thailand’s floating markets.
— Tokyo’s tuna markets.
— Argentina’s antiques markets.
— Istanbul’s Egyptian Spice Bazaar.
— Holland’s flower markets.
— Seattle’s Pike Place Market.
— Pasadena’s Sunday flea market at the Rose Bowl.
Ride a famous subway line or a trolley
You won’t be thinking of your daily commute with one of these rides. Paris has over 300 stations on their metro line and that’s just the start of the many historic subways that you can add to your must-see list. London’s Underground is renowned for their iconic signage and New York City’s A train will make you feel nostalgic for the days of jazz.
Cross a border on a bicycle, on skis or on foot
Consider an entirely new to way to country hop! Remaining active on a trip is a great way to see the sights around you, while keeping your heart rate up. Grab your passport and check out one of these thrilling ways to cross a border:
— Bicycle between Glacier National Park and southern Alberta.
— Take a water taxi from southern Belize to coastal Guatemala.
— Ski with an international pass between Zermatt, Switzerland, and Cervinia, Italy, under the crest of the Matterhorn.
— Zip line between Andalucia, Spain, and Algarve, Portugal.
Visit where your great-grandparents grew up
If you grew up hearing tales about the tiny village in the country where your great-great-great-grandparents grew up, now is the perfect time to plan your next adventure to explore your roots.
Take a cooking course
Indulging in the local cuisine is one of the best parts about traveling, however there’s something so satisfying about getting your hands dirty while learning how to make regional dishes. Make sushi in Japan, pasta in Italy, gubbrora in Sweden, dumplings in Shanghai and mouthwatering barbeque in Texas. Just think of all the wonderful recipes you’ll impress your friends and family with back home!
Be a high roller
Visit a casino and see where your luck takes you! You’re sure to find intrigue and excitement at one of these many captivating, high stakes locations:
— The Bellagio in Las Vegas features mesmerizing, ornate, larger than life decor.
— Visit Main Street in Deadwood, South Dakota where the saloons are filled with local historic charm
— Head to the south of France and experience exquisite decadence at the glamorous Casino de Monte-Carlo.
