Top 5 Must-Visit Destinations: My Favorite Places Traveled Around the World
In 3 weeks, I was supposed to be on a plane to Auckland for a 3 week adventure of traipsing across New Zealand and eating elevensies, second breakfast, and anything I could possibly get my eyes on. I should have been visiting Hobbiton and Isengard and luscious green pastures. But having just canceled my plane ticket, I can say that’s not going to happen. Am I upset about it? Of course I am, how could I not be? But in the end, it’s better to be safe. I have the rest of my life to visit New Zealand and frolic through streams and breathe in the fresh mountain air. I mean, I don’t need to be in New Zealand to eat Second Breakfast or Afternoon Tea, I’ve been doing that for months now. Just ask my jeans, they can tell you the tale.
Since we’re all currently stuck at home, dreaming about the travels we want to embark on or reminiscing on the travels we’ve done, I wanted to share my favorite places with y’all. So, let’s go on an adventure across the world. Though, mostly it’ll be the United States, because let’s face it, I’m a college student and I don’t have the money for plane tickets.
Alright, lets begin. *cracks knuckles*.
5. Los Angeles
Alright, call me basic, but I love Los Angeles. I loved everything about it. Except maybe the traffic. I will admit that I didn’t mind the traffic too much, but I also didn’t drive it everyday to and from work. I only did it for a few days, but I can see how someone would find it frustrating. The Last Bookstore is one of my favorite bookstores and if you’re in the area you should 💯visit. Spending the day in Santa Monica was *chefs kiss*. The Santa Monica farmers market is fun and full of fresh vegetables, fruits, and baked breads. There’s eggs and meats from farms. Georgia and I bought strawberries, raspberries, and fresh pressed juice and ate them for breakfast as we walked along the beach. And yes, we did eat all of those berries because why not? And then we walked down to Santa Monica Pier and had ice cream and more fruit for lunch. Spending the day walking from Santa Monica Pier to Venice beach is wonderful. Though, bring a good pair of walking shoes with you. I had the blisters to prove you’ll need them. And sunscreen. You’ll want that too. Just look at us, as red as a couple of cooked lobsters.
And while eating fruit, walking the beach, and looking at expensive houses is fun, driving up the coast is better. One day, we drove up the Pacific Coast Highway. There is nothing better than driving up the freeway, the wind blowing through your hair, music blasting on the radio. Stopping to take pictures and watch the waves crash in. We even pulled over to watch people surfing and were treated to dolphins playing, jumping in and out of the water without a care in the world. What I wouldn’t give to be one of those dolphins right now.
4. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
Butterbeer. I think that’s all I need to say. It’s literally one of the only things I ate. Lunch? Butterbeer. Snack? Frozen Butterbeer. Dinner? Butterbeer ice cream. The list could go on and on, but I think we’d better talk about other things. Like Bertie Bots Every Flavor Beans, Fizzing Whizbees, Chocolate Frogs, Butterbeer. Wait.
The best part of it all though, was just getting to walk through the world we grew up reading about. It was magical to pretend we were in Hogsmeade on a trip from Hogwarts, shopping for school in Diagon Alley, watching a wand choosing ceremony, or accidentally wandering into Knockturn Alley. There were kids (and lets be honest, a fair share of adults too) running around in their little robes, waving wands and jumping in excitement when it worked before running off to the next spot to work their magic. Even waiting in line for rides here is fun. Every part of the experience is filled to the brim with magic. There is no detail left unthought of or untouched. Walking into Diagon Alley for the first time is a magical feeling and it’s one I want to go back to visit time and time again.
3. New York City
This is the city I’ve visited the most and one that I keep being drawn back to. There is nothing quite like the hustle and bustle of NYC. Nothing like the dirty streets, the smell of trash, the rats in the subway stations. You can walk down the street and see almost anything. You could come up with any crazy, unbelievable story and tell me you saw it in NYC and I’d believe you. It’s what I love about it. Central Park is a burst of nature in an otherwise jungle of glass and concrete. The pizza is delicious and cheap. Though, thats about the only cheap thing you can find. It’s a mix of cultures and people that mix together to make a kaleidoscope of clashing colors that somehow works.
I love the sounds of honking, shouting of people on the streets, the ambiance and chatter the city brings with it. It’s fun to look out over the city and imagine what everyone is doing, each life different than the last one. If you ever find yourself in NYC there are three things you MUST do. One, visit Strand Bookstore. If you like books, you’ll love this store. I could spend hours here, getting lost between the shelves. Two, get a cookie from Levain Bakery. You’ll thank me when you do. I mean, just look at that thing. Three, eat at Shake Shack. They built one near where I live and it’s a miracle I don’t spend every cent of my pay check there.
Ask me about my first trip there sometime. it’s a fun one. I mean, I thought it was funny when it was happening, though my mom didn’t think it was. But I think I’ll tell a much shorter story from my 3rd trip to the city. You’ve got more important things to do than listen to me ramble on. Picture this: it’s my first day, I’ve got my unlimited metro card in my pocket and I’m ready to take on the turnstile, hoping my metro card will work. Now also picture this: my first stop at the Statue of Liberty and I’ve lost my metro card. I’ll tell you this time and time again: I’ve got maybe one functioning braincell remaining and most the time it’s just floating away up there, not doing anything. Anyway, what was I to do but walk around the island looking for it, hoping it hadn’t blown into the water. When I tell you I’ve never been as relieved as I was when I saw a metro ticket in a puddle of water hanging on the edge of the island for dear life, believe me. Reaching through the fence, fingers barely reaching it, I grabbed it and shoved it in my pocket, not going to let the wind take it a second time. I spent the rest of the trip holding on to that thing for dear life because I was not going to pay for another one or pay for an Uber back to the hotel. Those things are expensive and I’d rather spend my money on dirty water dogs and pizza.
2. Blue Ridge Mountains
The Blue Ridge Mountains are beautiful. You can stand on top of a mountain and look out and feel like a Hobbit on a great adventure to save the world. And feel about as small as one too. I spent a week here driving through the Blue Ridge Parkway, camping, and hiking. Spending the day hiking, eating ramen for dinner and ice cream from the camp store is as wonderful as it sounds terrible. Camping is one of those things that you hate to love. You hate it in the moment, but love it once you’re back home. Then you do it all again just to question your sanity when it’s pouring down rain and your trying to get a fire started because it’s the only way to cook your dinner. It’s terrible and I love it.
If you ever have the chance to visit the Blue Ridge Mountains, you should! The waterfalls, the forest, the views. It’s beautiful and worth every step, bump, bruise, or cut you get along the way. However, I would like to point out you can experience it without any of those things. I just say that because that’s what happened to me because I’m a hazard to myself and anyone in a close proximity. In fact, the photo of Georgia and I you see up there? That was taken moments after Georgia slipped on a rock and nearly impaled her leg on a stick. Bleeding and in pain, I made her sit for a picture because we were at Twin Falls and we were going to get a photo. Then we had to hike miles back and hope she’d be fine. Spoiler: she was. I think she’d agree with me that walking under a waterfall and across logs used as bridges was worth it.
New Zealand (South Island)
New Zealand was my favorite place from the moment I stepped out of the airport. I know I was lamenting not being able to go at the beginning of this post, but I’ve been before. Last year I went on a study abroad trip to the South Island. I spent almost every penny I had and for three weeks lived off nothing but the free breakfasts, occasional free meal or snack and a ramen cup every now and then. And guess what? I would do it all again in a heart beat if it meant I got to visit again.
I learned about the Maori culture, learned a little of their history and language. I learned about the environment and their tourism industry. I went ziplining, saw Kiwi’s, saw the area they filmed Isengard, hiked, went stargazing, and saw more rainbows than I think is normal. I walked around Queenstown, stopped to watch a rugby match at a little park I found. The people are friendly and open and I love their accents. Kaikoura is the best place to go whale watching and I found a little café and had my favorite cup of hot chocolate and wandered around a bookstore.
And while I had the time of my life, I also went with 29 other people I met once before getting on a plane. I made friends and had fun while I was there, but it’s difficult to share a room with 3, 4, 5 other people or do everything you possibly wanted. The worst part was that I was the only one who cared that Lord of the Rings was filmed in New Zealand. I had no one to freak out about walking through forests that looked like Lothlórien. I can’t wait to go back with family and properly have a freak out as I visit any filming location I can!
So, tell me! What are your favorite places to travel? Do you have any crazy travel stories?