We all have a bucket list of destinations that we need to see before we kick the can! Mine seems to be growing although I tend to cross a couple of destinations off each year. It’s funny how travel is contagious. The more traveling you do, the more traveling you want to do. For this post, I asked a fellow travel fanatic and writer, David Charles, to highlight his YOLO vacation destinations. Like David, I agree that the Grand Canyon is a YOLO destination. That’s why I included my picture from my first visit in 2012. Let’s see what he can share with us about awesome, bucket list vacation destinations. Take it away David.
YOLO vacation destinations
“You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.”
Mae West was definitely on to something when she shared the sentiment of living life to the fullest. If you’re like most people, you probably have a bucket list – a list of things you’d like to do before you die. However, according to life list experts (yes, they do exist!) there is the risk of trying to accomplish too much. With the entire world to choose from, how can you narrow the list down? Here’s a list of some places you might want to visit before it’s too late. Whether you visit all of these places or just one, your life will be forever changed and enriched by the experience.
Easter Island
Easter Island, about 2,000 miles off the coast of South America, is one of the most remote islands on the planet and home to almost 900 monolithic stone heads known as moai that have sparked wonder and debate over their origin, construction and meaning. The island is a cautionary tale of the effects of overpopulation and the depletion of resources.
The island’s history is debated, but historians believe that Polynesians landed around 800 AD and depleted its natural resources, leaving the land practically barren, but what these ancient people left behind has made it one of the most beautiful and beguiling places on earth.
The Louvre
Home to spectacular works of art, including the Venus de Milo and the Mona Lisa, the Louvre Museum in Paris is one of the most important art museums in the world. The fortress-turned-palace-turned-museum features almost 400,000 priceless artifacts to wow visitors. You may know many of the works from your art history class, but you must see these works in person to truly appreciate them.
Just remember, Paris is one of the most expensive cities to visit, so if you need to call in a favor from a friend if you find yourself short on cash, Trans-Fast might be a good option. If you’re wondering how long does it take to transfer money, they can definitely help!
The Galapagos Islands
The beautiful and bizarre world of the Galapagos Islands is truly ‘a little world within itself’ as Charles Darwin once said. The place where the infamous scientist would develop his natural selection theory hasn’t changed much in the nearly two centuries since his visit. The Galapagos Islands are a melting pot of marine life, birds, and plants. Book a cruise to explore the region, or be sure to visit the islands, which are located off the coast of Ecuador.
Old Pompeii
The everyday activities of ancient Roman life are forever preserved under the volcanic ash of Mount Vesuvius. With a history reading like a Greek tragedy, Pompeii was once a rich city with thousands of inhabitants whose lives would end suddenly in 79 AD, when the volcano on which the city was built erupted. The thrill of visiting Pompeii is that the most mundane aspects of everyday life have been preserved – graffiti on the walls; loaves of bread in the ovens; men, women and children walking along the streets. Adding an extra dimension to the experience, visitors can also glimpse the plaster casts of some of the victims in their final moments of life.
The Grand Canyon
Even if you’ve seen it before, the Grand Canyon never gets old. As one of the seven wonders of the natural world, it doesn’t take long to understand its magnificence and beauty. Spanning over 227 miles long and 18 miles across, the canyon is a 6,000-foot-deep chasm offering a vacation like no other. Take a hike down to the bottom and take in a striking mosaic of colors and forms that can put any museum to shame. Add to the mix the Native American ruins, waterfalls, and desert scenery for a postcard-perfect adventure.
**This post was written by David Charles, a freelance writer and consultant, who regularly writes on a range of topics including ultimate travel destinations.