Picking a travel destination can be as tough as picking a dessert from a menu ~ everything just looks great!! With so many wonderful places around the world it can be a challenge trying to figure out where to go and what to see.
I chose Egypt (twice!) because it was my dream to be an Egyptologist. For my first trip to Europe, I picked Prague based on pictures my parents shared from their European adventures. And for my 2nd trip to Europe? I spent weeks going back and forth between Spain, Italy, Poland, and Austria before finally deciding on Austria (signed up for the Rick Steves’ Best of Munich, Salzburg & Vienna in 8 Days Tour).
Sources to Inspire
Wanting to travel but not sure where to go? Check out the following for inspiration!
Rick Steves’ Europe ~ When it comes to European travel, Rick Steves is considered one of the best sources of information. For over 30 years, public television has aired the series Rick Steves’ Europe and today, the company’s social media sites are filled with thousands of videos and pictures.
Rick Steves’ Europe website and YouTube channel.
Lonely Planet ~ Lonely Planet has a playlist on its YouTube channel featuring 140 destination guides. These short videos provide a glimpse of various countries and cities and once you are done watching all 140, your travel bucket list will be overflowing!!
Go Traveler ~ This YouTube channel is a hodgepodge of travel videos from various shows that have been featured on public television.
Your Local Library ~ Most local libraries have an incredible amount of travel books, e-books, and DVDs that people can borrow. Don’t have a library near you? Check out a used bookstore where one can find travel books for a few dollars. (A childhood memory of mine is going to the library and renting travel VHS tapes!)
Two other sites I visit for inspiration are National Geographic Expeditions and Smithsonian Journeys. Both have picture galleries and videos that will feed your travel wanderlust.
For those with a Facebook account, there are some amazing travel groups on the site. I am currently a member of “Utah’s Mighty 5 Road Trip”, “Visit All 50 States!”, and “US National Park Travel”. These groups are filled with wonderful posts of travelers sharing trip ideas, itineraries, helpful tips, and amazing pictures. For my recent European trips, I have being going to the “Rick Steves’ Europe Group” for ideas and information.
When picking a destination, one needs to prioritize safety. Not all destinations are safe and while a place may be on your bucket list, life and health are more important!
If you need some guidance in determining if a destination is safe, the US Department of State provides a comprehensive profile of each country/region and the current safety level.
Fellow adventurers ~ What are some of your favorite travel sites? Share your thoughts in the comment section!
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