There’s truly no place like home–and then there is no place like the rest of the world. Sometimes, we need to go away to discover that home is where we are meant to be and the Yosha Snyder Group knows that traveling opens new horizons for everyone. When planning your next vacation, consider some of these amazing places both in the United States and around the world.
The National Parks
Whether you want to visit the waterfalls of Yosemite in California, the Road to the Rising Sun in Glacier, the sweeping vista of Yellowstone, or the stone mountain of Acadia, the National Park system in the United States was the first of its kind in the world. Yellowstone, founded in 1872, was the first, and today, we have 63 parks all across the contiguous United States and Alaska and Hawaii. In most cases, you can stay in the parks. While each park has different availability for lodging, remember reservations open a year in advance and fill up quickly.
The Amalfi Coast
Italy is hot right now, and it makes sense with the food and the wine and the beautiful views. If you are tempted to plan a trip to Amalfi in the summer, the weather is beautiful, but the crowds can be a little daunting. Try visiting during the shoulder season if you can. April, May, September, and October will find fewer crowds which mean it will be easier to get hotel reservations. If you go, put a boat tour around Capri on your bucket list. Hike the Path of the Gods. Visit a lemon orchard and try homemade limoncello. Hire a driver to take you to the hidden vineyards that are tucked into the hillsides. Spend a day in Sorrento and make a reservation to eat dinner at Ristorante O’Parrucchian.
Preikestolen
If you find heights intriguing, add Preikestolen, or the Pulpit Rock, in Rogaland, Norway to your travel bucket list. One of the most popular destinations in Norway (over 300,000 visitors made the trek last year), this rock formation juts 1,900 feet above Lysefjord. BASE jumpers use the edge of the rock to propel through the air. You don’t have to do this; the 2.4-mile hike will be enough of an experience. The trail was actually modified for climbing ease by Sherpas about ten years ago.
The Big Apple
Whether it’s the bright lights of Times Square, the lure of the theater district, the shopping in Chelsea or Soho, the food in the East Village, or Lady Liberty in the harbor, New York City has something for everyone. The city has done a lot in the last decade to make the city accessible for everyone. Citi Bike has rental bikes all over the city, and many major thoroughfares have dedicated bike lanes. Museums are in every corner–whether you want to go to the Upper East Side and visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art, go to the Whitney near the meatpacking district, or view a tenement house in Soho, there are options for all interests and budgets. You should always consider buying a timed ticket to the 9/11 Memorial and Museum as a must-see destination. And if you feel a need to relax after the hustle of the big city, try spending a few hours at the spa on Governor’s Island. The view of Lower Manhattan will recharge your battery.
Machu Picchu
Imagine being a thriving city at the top of the world and then being lost until the 20th Century. That’s the famed Inca settlement of Machu Picchu. Getting there is half the fun. Most people will fly into Lima, Peru, and then travel on–either by plane or bus–to Cuzco. Once in Cuzco, Machu Picchu is a train ride away. But some people will want to hike there on the classic Inca Trail instead of taking the train. Be prepared for two to three days to travel the 26 vertical miles.
The Safari
For those who dream big, there’s nothing bigger than Serengeti. Fly to Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, and then travel with your safari guide to Serengeti National Park. Whether you want to glamp or stay in a lodge or a fixed tent site, there are options for all budgets. Be prepared to see the Big Five (elephant, lion, rhino, Cape buffalo, leopard). This protected park covers over 12,000 square miles, and the Great Migration happens every fall and spring as the animals move back and forth between Tanzania and Kenya in search of food. The view of miles and miles of two million wildebeest and zebra is unparalleled. When you finish–if you have time, fly to Zanzibar for a little rest and relaxation. Zanzibar, off the coast of Tanzania in the Indian Ocean, is one of the most beautiful islands in the world.
The Rhine
If the idea of traveling intrigues you but moving from place to place is exhausting, try a riverboat cruise down the Rhine River. You never have to move hotels because the hotel moves with you. See the tulips blooming in Holland, navigate the canals of Amsterdam, or visit the fairytales castles of Germany. Luxury at its finest, any of the rivers of Europe offer options to experience Europe in a relaxed manner.
No matter how old you are, it’s never too late to put together a travel bucket list. As you gather experiences, you might find that some of your original goals change. But keep your options open. Home will always be there, and the Yosha Snyder Group plans on being there, too. Happy trails!