We’ve all got our own personal bucket lists. You know the kind of thing! The things that you want to do and see before you die. For some people the list in incredibly long and for others it’s just a few specific things. There are also those who have different bucket lists for different parts of their lives. Things that they want to experience, things that they want to learn, etc. But there’s one thing that almost everyone should have a travel bucket list.
If you ask anyone about things that they want to do before they die, they will almost certainly have at least a few places that they have always wanted to see. This is, by far, one of the best things that you can have on your bucket list. After all, possessions tend to lose their appeal after a while, but when you take an incredibly trip somewhere, then you get to hold onto those memories forever.
Often the trips you take come to define you as a person. Many people go traveling somewhere exciting and come back permanently changed because of the experience. Those are the kinds of things that you really come to value more than anything else.
The question is, where should you travel to – what are the MUST SEE places that should be on that travel bucket list?
Let’s face it; the world is a pretty big place and, unless you’re extremely lucky, there’s not very much of a chance that you’ll get the chance to go and visit every single amazing place that it has to offer. That means that you’ve got some potentially tough choices to make.
A lot of the time what you decide will come down to the kind of person that you are and the kind of experiences that you want to have. But there are some places that everyone should visit at least once in their life; the kinds of places that are so remarkable that every single person on earth is going to find something extraordinary about them.
With that in mind, here are a few places that we feel that you need to have on your travel bucket list!
China
China is the kind of place that you could visit over and over again every year for decades and still never get to see everything that it has to offer.
No matter what you want out of a trip, China has something for you.
If you want to appreciate things like architecture then what could possibly be better than a trip to The Great Wall, one of the true wonders of the world.
Perhaps you’re more interested in soaking up the culture of a country that you’re visiting?
Few countries have a more vibrant and historical culture than China. With temples littered throughout the country, traditional festivals carried out all year round, and, of course, the food! While many westerners assume that they know about Chinese food, in reality, a lot of Chinese people wouldn’t even recognise the kinds of things that we tend to eat. The food is often far lighter and less greasy, with a focus on fresh ingredients and delicate flavours.
There’s so much to visit that you’ll probably want to pack in as much as possible. So something like a tour is going to be a great option.
Just be warned, you may well find yourself wanting to go back over and over again.
Africa
A lot of people have some pretty strong ideas that pop into their heads when someone mentions Africa. However, the reality is that many of these ideas are completely wrong.
People imagine Africa as a place of poverty and desert and little else.
But Africa is a huge continent with a great deal of incredibly diverse cultures. Sure, there are areas with problems but that’s true of just about every single place on earth.
Otherwise, Africa is filled with some truly incredible sights and sounds. Even those who are aware of this tend to focus on South Africa. There is no denying that places like Johannesburg are incredibly exciting centres of life and culture. But the continent has plenty to offer outside of those kinds of obvious destinations. Safety has also become a concern in Southern African in recent year. So although it is a wonderful place to visit, it is worth seeking advice before going.
Looking beyond South Africa is a great choice as a result, so potentially joining one of the many Morocco tours is a great way to see someone of the amazing things that North Africa has to offer.
From delicious food to shopping to the vibrant local cultures, it’s the kind of place that really benefits from you having someone who can show you the sights so that you don’t miss anything really important in all of the excitement and confusion.
Travelling to any part of Africa is not only a fantastic way to experience somewhere new and really get the most out of your next trip. But it can also undo a lot of the misconceptions that you may have previously have had about this part of the world.
New Zealand
There’s a reason that just about every single person who has ever visited New Zealand has fallen head over heels in love with the place. There are few places on earth with more gloriously beautiful natural sights than this enigmatic little country. What it might lack in size it makes up for beauty and culture. Whether you’re looking to enjoy the snow-covered mountains or prehistoric forests, or you want to immerse yourself in Maori culture, there are things for everyone to enjoy in New Zealand.
There is no doubt that New Zealand has some of the most extraordinary natural beauty and Landscapes on the planet. It’s the kind of place that really does need to be seen to be truly believed.
Natural beauty isn’t all New Zealand has to offer the discerning traveller though.
Who could pass up the opportunity to visit the locations that were used in filming the Lord of The Rings trilogy?
Not only is New Zealand one of the most fun and exciting places to visit but it’s also one of the easiest. It has an incredibly well-developed infrastructure that makes travelling to and from it a total breeze!
Japan
If you want to discover one of the most innovative and exciting countries in the world, then you have no excuse not to put Japan on your travel bucket list.
Often considered to be the home of technological advancements, Japan certainly doesn’t disappoint in that regard, with the incredible sights of Tokyo making you feel as though you’ve practically stepped into the future.
On the other hand, Japan is also a country that is deeply rooted in its traditions. The ways in which the old and the new combine and work together in Japan is part of the reason it’s such a truly unique and remarkable place. So whether you’re interested in the incredibly beautiful Buddhist temples or you’d rather soak up the modern, fast-paced culture of twenty-first century Japanese life; there’s something in this extraordinary country to make you happy.
Not only that but, similar to China, you’ll get the chance to experience the traditional versions of food that you may have only had in their westernised forms.
Italy
There’s a reason that Italy is so high on many people’s list of places to visit: Everything about it just screams beauty.
From the stunning architecture to the breath-taking art, to the scrumptious food, and the beautiful people!
There are few places that are more in tune with their own cultural identity than Italy. After spending some time there, you’ll find yourself wanting to be a part of it.
The sheer sense of romance and excitement that exudes from every corner of Italy’s many amazing cities are enough to leave a lot of people feeling utterly breathless.
If you’re looking for somewhere to take a romantic trip, then there’s nowhere better in the world. What could possibly be more romantic than taking a gondola ride through Venice with your partner?
Or perhaps you’re more artistically minded. In which case there is no shortage of galleries and museums filled with some of the most beautiful art in the world.
With remarkable natural sites, historic landmarks, bustling markets, and one of the best and most exciting opportunities to indulge in nightlife in the world, Italy is the kind of place that has something for everyone.
Of course, there are few places in the world that serve more incredible and delicious food.
The places that you travel to will often become incredibly personal to you. So much so that they might even become a genuine part of who you are. They help you not only learn about the world around you, but also teach you something significant about yourself as well.
Every person’s bucket list should be filled with incredible countries to visit all around the world. There are so many extraordinary places to visit that there was no way this list could possibly fit them all in. But hopefully, it’s given you a sense of how diverse and incredible the world really is. The world is out there, and it’s waiting for you. All you need to do is take the leap, reach out, and grab it.
If these haven’t inspired you – then perhaps it is worth taking a look at some of the wonderful locations KiddyCharts have travelled to giving you further inspiration:
- Our trip to Mauritius should have been enough to inspire you to visit. And perhaps you would add it to your travel bucket list too?
- Florida is somewhere that many families would love to visit. Why not check out what we thought of it, and finally:
- Not somewhere that anyone would think of taking the family to first off. But Den Bosch is The Netherlands would DEFINITELY be somewhere we would recommend. So do take a look.
That’s all we’ve got for you today. But do subscribe for more travel fun, and our wonderful free printables!
Come back soon. *waves excitedly*
Helen
Helen
Helen is a mum to two, social media consultant, and website editor; and this site is (we think) the only Social Enterprise parenting magazine!Since giving up being a business analyst when juggling travel, work and kids proved too complicated, she founded KiddyCharts so she could be with her kids, and use those grey cells at the same time.KiddyCharts has reach of over 1.1million across social and the site. The blog works with big family brands (including travel) to help promote their services, as well as offering free resources to parents of kids under 10.It gives 51%+ profits to Reverence for Life, who fund a number of important initiatives in Africa, including bringing running water and basic equipment to a school in Tanzania.Helen has worked as a digital marketing consultant (IDM qualified) with various organisations, including Channel Mum, Truprint, Talk to Mums, and Micro Scooters. She loves to be creative in the brand campaigns she works on.Get in touch TODAY!