Top Ten List
- jengelhardt00
- Oct 4, 2023
- 4 min read
COML 509 - Week 6 Assignment
This past summer term, I took COML 521: Travel Writing and it sparked my love of travel again. I haven’t been out of the country since late 2019 and I am currently planning my return to Europe next summer. For this week’s blog post, I have opted to dive into some of the places that are still on my travel list (in no particular order).
Ten Places I’d Like to Travel
1. Stockholm, Sweden
Stockholm is the capital of Sweden and its most populous city. It stretches fourteen islands and is one of the safer cities in Europe. Some of the highlights are visiting the Vasa Museum, Royal Palace, and ABBA Museum. I spent a few days in Malmo, Sweden in late 2019 and I have been eager to go back to Sweden to explore more cities especially Stockholm.
2. Reykjavik, Iceland
Reykjavik is the capital of Iceland and located on the southwestern part of the island. With direct flights from Seattle, it would be a fun escape for a few days. There are several activities to do including taking in the unique architecture, visiting the lagoons (Sky and Blue), whale watching in the summer and seeing the Northern Lights in the winter.
3. Split, Croatia
Split is located in the eastern part of Croatia and is the second largest city, behind Zagreb, the capital. In Old Town, there are several things to do and see including visiting Diocletian’s Palace and climbing the Bell Tower of St. Domnius Cathedral and visitors are also able to take day trips to Hvar and Krka National Park. I am a fan of the Below Deck franchise on Bravo and one of the seasons was in Split and it just looked so beautiful. I’ve been to Dubrovnik and really enjoyed my time there so I’d like to go to explore Split.
4. Naxos, Greek Islands
Naxos is one of the Greek islands and the largest of the Cyclades. It is a good combination of beautiful beaches and scenery and ancient sites. I visited several other islands in 2018 and our ferry briefly stopped in Naxos port (where I snapped the photo above) and I thought to myself if the port looked that beautiful, what would it look like to actually visit the island so it was added to the list.
5. Australia - Sydney & Melbourne
So technically this is two locations but I figured it was easier to combine the two places in Australia on my list into one. Sydney and Melbourne are the two most populous cities in Australia and are similar, yet different in some ways. Sydney is famous for the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge and Melbourne is much more unique. One of the things on my list to do when I visit Melbourne is to to go Phillip Island, where there are penguins and a koala sanctuary.
6. New Zealand – North and South Island
Many people will say there are pros and cons to visiting either north or south islands in New Zealand but I say “why not do both?” South Island is one of the more popular places to visit and has a lot of activities for adventure seekers. North Island is home to Auckland and has geothermal wonders and Hobbiton from the Lord of the Rings.
7. Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is a port city located in South Carolina and has retained quite a bit of the historic, southern style architecture. It is becoming quite a place for foodies but also has activities like museums, golfing, and day trips to Sullivan’s Island.
8. Savannah, Georgia
Savannah is ~100 miles from Charleston and they have some similarities in the architecture and culture. There are several tour opportunities throughout the city including walking tours historic cementries and Jones Street, and a trolley tour.
9. Tallin, Estonia
Tallin is the capital of Estonia and located on the Gulf of Finland in the Baltic Sea. There are numerous activities to do including visiting Old Town with medieval architecture, taking in the beauty of the Alexandar Nevsky Cathedral, and visiting Toompea Castle.
10. Santa Claus Village, Finland
Located in Rovaniemi, Santa Claus Village is said to be quite the holiday experience, but also welcomes tourists year-round. The Artic Circle goes right through the town center and visitors are able to stay in glass resorts, snowmobile through the forest, and sled with a team of huskies. It is also one of the prime locations to see the Northern Lights, which I think would be amazing to see. Christmas is one of my favorite holidays and I came across Santa’s Village a few years ago and added to it my travel list. I am also part Finnish (very small percentage) and it would be great to connect with some of my family’s heritage. Welcome to Santa Claus Village | Arctic Circle, Rovaniemi Lapland
Great list, Jessica!
Estonia is always a place I've wanted to visit. As a young girl, my family had a band from Estonia participate in a traditional Native American ceremony, and we fell in love with their music. It's always been a dream to travel there to see their inspiration firsthand.
Hi Jessica,
I loved this list! As a consequence of being an army brat, I love to travel and explore new places. Several of the spots you listed are also on my travel bucket list (Sydney, Melbourne, New Zealand, and Naxos). I've only been to Charleston and Savannah, but both were really fun. I was a kid when I went to Chareleston, so I don't remember much, but Savannah is absolutely gorgeous. The architecture is incredible and feels like a mini New Orleans.
Hi Jessica,
I love this list! I am definitely adding all of these to my dream travel list as well. I had no idea that Santa Clause Village, Finland even existed. Christmas is also my favorite holiday so that sounds like an absolute dream. I hope you get to go to every single one of these places. Also, I love the call out to Below Deck. Croatia does Yacht week so maybe if you time your visit right, you can even go on one and live the yachtie life for a day.
Connecting with your Finnish heritage in a place like this must indeed feel special, considering your ancestry. Experiencing the Northern Lights in such a festive and cultural context can truly be a magical and memorable event. It's wonderful to hear that Christmas is a favorite holiday of yours, and Santa's Village in Rovaniemi seems like a perfect fit for someone who cherishes the spirit of Christmas. Enjoy your future travels and the rich experiences this unique destination has to offer! 🎅✨
Hi Jessica,
What a fun list! I hope you get the opportunity to check these off one-by-one. Some of these locations have also been added to my desired list. I have heard many great things about Sweden from friends, and would absolutely love a Northern Light show in Finland. I like that you added some locations in the U.S. too. Those southern states are definitely easier to plan a vacation for, but will still be a great time. Wishing you safe travels in the future!
- Sophia