In the age of quarantine and canceled holidays we have often found ourselves day dreaming of our favorite destinations. Below is a list of our Top 5 travel destinations and just a few of the reasons why we think you should add them to your travel wish list. Don’t worry! We will post a blog on each location in the near future to give you more details and tips to help you plan your future holiday.
1) Lake Garda, Italy
Lake Garda, in Northern Italy, is the beautiful location that Mr.Explorsmith and I decided to tie the knot so it is safe to say that it holds a very special place in our hearts. But don’t be fooled, it is on the list of our Top 5 favorite travel destinations for multiple reasons. Not only is it Italy’s largest lake but it has a much more dramatically stunning shoreline and variety of activities compared to its more well-known neighbor, Lake Como. Lake Garda’s landscape changes drastically from flatland in the south to wide rolling hills in the middle to impressive cliff sides as the lake narrows in the North, which is in part due to its proximity to Italy’s famous Dolomite region (another top location to add to your travel list). The scenery is incredible and as you can drive around the entire lake in about 2-3 hours (depending on the season) you can easily enjoy a variety of diverse landscapes all in one day.
If you are a hiker, road cyclist, mountain biker, water sport enthusiast or adventure traveler, the cities in the Northern part of the lake are a perfect base to reach numerous hiking and mountain bike trails, canyoneering, via ferrata, rock climbing and perfect winds for kitesurfing, windsurfing, and sailing.
If you are not looking for an adventure, the towns around the south of the lake are perfect for tourism, sunbathing on the water, eating amazing food and of course enjoying a glass or two of the local and delicious white wine, called Lugana. (my husbands favorite wine) ☺
Each town around the lake offers a unique feel and numerous photo opportunities and no matter where you stay you can count on friendly Italian hospitality - many Germans visit Lake Garda so most places also speak German, especially in the North. All and all, Lake Garda offers a variety of activities for everyone. The amazing shoreline offers remarkable views no matter where you are and in our opinion the lake is less ‘touristy’ and gives you a more authentic Italian feel when compared to the well-known Lake Como.
TIP: Fly into Milan and rent a car and drive to the lake. There are so many beautiful places to see that you will be happy to have a car. Just remember when you book a hotel to find a place that has parking of some sort...WARNING: some roads can be very narrow. Milan Malpensa Airport has more flight options and is about a 2 hour drive from the lake but we usually fly into Milan Bergamo Airport, it is a smaller airport but closer to the lake with only about an hour drive.
2) Utah, USA
What can I say about Utah...It’s a hiker’s paradise. For us, it’s a dream travel destination mainly due to the number of both State and National Parks, scattered throughout the state, all with unique and amazing sights and landscapes. It offers two of our favorite activities, hiking and mountain biking plus a lot more. The National Park system in the US was described by author Wallace Stegner as "The best idea we (Americans) ever had. Absolutely American, absolutely democratic, they reflect us at our best rather than our worst." They are all well managed, each having its own website to help you plan your visit and they all have multiple resources and facilities throughout the park once you are there.
Utah is a year-round destination with beautiful skiing resorts to discover in the winter and deserts to explore in the spring, summer and fall. The spring is our favorite time to visit because the weather has just started to get warm and dry, making long desert hikes more enjoyable. It is also a great base to get to other beautiful parks in Arizona, Nevada and Colorado.
When you need a break from hiking or if you are looking for a more relaxing escape, Utah also offers many remote desert retreats and hot springs to unwind and regenerate or bring that special someone for a romantic getaway.
If you're looking for an amazing road trip filled with hiking in dramatic desert landscapes, you should definitely consider Utah!
TIP: Some of our favorite spots in Utah include: Zion National Park, Arches National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park and Canyonlands National Park. If you have time, plan to visit more than one!
3) Thailand
Thailand is on our list because it not only has amazing sights and history throughout the country, but it offers both adventure and relaxation. The country is very tourist friendly and an Asian country that in our opinion can be very reachable and less intimidating to non-seasoned travelers. There are many cheap options for inter-country flights right out of Bangkok which makes traveling to Chiang Mai (northern Thailand) and islands like Phuket (southern Thailand) very easy. If you are lucky to have two weeks to play with, you can explore multiple areas of the country and experience some of the best that Thailand has to offer.
If you're looking for adventure, travel to the North where hiking, zip lining and elephant sanctuaries are plenty! But please remember to be responsible and look for a sanctuary that takes care of the elephants. Camps that let you ride an elephant are NOT sanctuaries and whether you see it or not, they are mistreating their elephants.
If you’re looking for a beautiful beach where you can relax or party, southern Thailand is the place for you! No matter what type of beach holiday you are looking for there is an island that will suit your needs and it goes without saying that they are all stunning!
No matter where you are you can find beautiful temples all with special and one of a kind sights and after a long day of exploring and sightseeing don’t underestimate the happiness that an authentic Thai meal can bring you. Whether that be street food or a sit-down restaurant, Thai food is a great reason to visit Thailand! (and Thailand is great for vegans too)
Lastly, once you are there, Thailand is super affordable. A small budget can go a long way in hotels, food, activities and messages so take advantage and enjoy yourself!
TIP: When planning your trip, plan to travel to both a city in the North and South. Bangkok has a lot to offer but to get the full feeling for Thai culture it’s important to step outside the city and experience all that Thailand has to offer.
4) Norway
Norway, a Scandinavian wonderland with dramatic fjords, gorgeous hiking trails, amazing nature and some of the happiest people in the world. There are numerous places to visit depending on whether you want to walk down small streets in a cute town taking in Scandinavian culture or be completely alone in a cabin on the edge of the water taking in the gorgeous views without a neighbor in sight.
Depending on the time of year you decide to visit, you can experience two very different
natural phenomenons, the midnight sun during the summer nights or the northern lights during the winter months. Both equally beautiful and unique. If the northern lights are on your bucket list and Norway is too far to travel, Iceland is a little closer to reach from the US, so check out our travel tips for Iceland HERE. Norway is truly a year-round travel destination offering a variety of activities from sightseeing, hiking, skiing, boat rides, dog sledding, fishing and cultural festivals. The country is English friendly and very easy to travel around using public transport so you can decide to visit one city or many if you have more time.
For the adventurer, hikes such as: Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock) and Kjeragbolten in the south, Segla in the north and Ryten and Kvalvika Beach in the Lofoten Islands offer a variety of distance and difficulty levels and each has their own incredible view. The country is made for the outdoor enthusiast but still offers a lot of culture and history giving you some other options if you do not want to spend your entire vacation hiking every day...that being said, once you see the views Norway has to offer you might just become a hiking enthusiast during your trip.
TIP: You will want to visit Norway more than once so plan you visit accordingly with the season. Some hikes are more difficult or not possible during the months with snow and ice so make sure you look to see what trials are open and what equipment you will need during your visit.
5) Sardinia, Italy
An Italian Island that sits in the middle of the Mediterranean between Italy and Spain with crystal clear water. For a small island, Sardinia has so much to offer. The island is surrounded by some of the clearest blue water that we have ever seen and the coastline is dotted with large beaches and secret coves that you can explore by boat. It is a beautiful place for a sailing holiday, with little islands to discover in the north and south and with the water being as clear as it is, you could spend the whole day snorkeling, scuba diving or just floating and soaking up some sun. No matter where you decide to dock your boat in the evening you can always find delicious Mediterranean food and of course wine. A fan favorite from our trip with friends was the local beer, Ichnusa.
If a sailing holiday does not interest you and you prefer to keep your legs on land, the interior of the island is packed with mountain hiking trails, coastal trekking routes and cycling routes with varying difficulties. No matter what skill level you can be sure to find an amazing view.
Even during the high season Sardinia still feels authentic. The island is a hidden gem in the Mediterranean and the perfect option to get away from the atmosphere of some of its neighboring islands that are packed with tourists once the weather gets warm. The island also has numerous historical sites, like the Giants of Sardinia, and a rich culture so no matter if you want to relax, have an adventure or learn more about another culture, Sardinia has an activity option for you.
Lastly, if you like a little cultural variety during your holidays you can easily take a trip to Corsica, a French island to the north of Sardinia, reachable by ferry or boat. Corsica is a much smaller island but also offers hiking and cycling routes followed by delicious seafood in cliffside towns.
TIP: If you have time, we really recommend taking a boat or ferry to Bonifacio, Corsica and stay the night. It’s a beautiful town built on the side of a cliff and has a lot of shops, restaurants and historical sites to explore. Don’t forget to make a reservation for a restaurant in the port to enjoy an amazing seafood dinner.