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Where in the World?

Favorite Destinations

By J. J. Scott

My wife and I are frequently asked, "What is your favorite place?" We usually answer, "Wherever we are." The world is an amazing place with fascinating things to see and do. We have visited over 100 countries, some many times, so picking one favorite place is impossible. We have favorites, actually too many favorites. Here are 10 favorites, but not in any special order, and not necessarily the top ten.

The Adirondacks: We feel fortunate to live in close proximity to such a wonderful wilderness area with mountains, lakes and rivers. And it isn’t all wild land, there are notable museums such as the Adirondack Museum in Blue Mountain Lake, The Wild Center in Tupper Lake, and the Sagamore estate near Raquette Lake. Our personal favorite: River rafting on the upper part of the Hudson River. http://visitadirondacks.com

New York City: There is always something to see and do in the Big Apple, including great museums, free tours of Central Park and with Big Apple Greeters, plus things people do not usually associate with New York City such as a sailboat cruise in New York harbor at sunset. Personal favorite: Attending a Broadway musical. www.nycvisit.com

Alaska: With glaciers, Denali, Northern Lights, Inside Passage, Cross Bay Ferry, wildlife, incredible scenery, and wildlife, what's not to love? Alaska is one of those places that captures the heart.  Personal Favorite: A helicopter ride to Mendenhall Glacier and then hiking on the glacier. www.travelalaska.com

Egypt: The pyramids are amazing but so are other Egyptian ancient sites including Luxor, Valley of the Kings, and Mount Sinai, where Moses received the Ten Commandments. Visitors can take a middle of the night camel trek up to the top of Mt. Sinai to see the sun rise. Personal favorite: Snorkeling near Sharm el Sheikh on the Sinai Peninsula. www.touregypt.net

Greece: Athens is a city built upon ruins, but other intriguing ruins are found in all parts of Greece including Delphi and Knossos on the island of Crete. The beautiful islands are great for visiting by cruise ship or ferryboat. There are many places to just wander around, look at the scenery, and ponder the past. Personal favorite: Watching the sunset in Santorini from Rocabella Hotel. www.gnto.gr

New Zealand: NZ is one of the world’s most tourist-friendly countries with exceptional scenery including glacier-clad mountains and geysers, plus Moari culture. Personal favorite: Driving from the South Island to the North Island, staying in small-town motels especially our night in a 1950's Bristol Freighter perched on a hill facing the sunset. www.newzealand.com

Thailand: The country is an eclectic mix of beaches, cultural villages and historic sites, plus Bangkok is a great jumping off point for Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. No matter how many times we go to Thailand there is always something new to see and do. Personal favorite: An Elephant trek in the Chiang Mai area. www.tourismthailand.org

Rome: The Italian city offers ruins of ancient Rome, Vatican City with the Sistine Chapel, plus great side trips to Pompeii and Naples. It is where we take our grandchildren for their one foreign trip with us mainly because it is an amazing history lesson. Personal favorite: Walking along the Appian Way on the very stones trod upon by Roman rulers and saints. www.romaturismo.com

Kenya: The Great Migration of two million wildebeests, gazelles and zebras across the Serengeti is an amazing spectacle, especially when accompanied with the other wildlife including hippos, giraffes and lions. Personal favorite: Catching a glimpse of a newborn gazelle in the tall grass. www.magicalkenya.com

Easter Island: Beside the mysterious moai and being one of the most remote destinations in the world, it is, as I see it, a microcosm of our planet. On Easter Island it is easy to see the disastrous effects caused by environmental abuse and warfare. Personal favorite: Exploring the island in a rental car. www.visit-chile.org

I left out many incredible sites, such as the Great Wall of China, Red Square, Angkor Wat, Galapagos Islands and Machu Picchu. Plus, there are wonderful experiences such as houseboating on the Backwaters of Kerala, India, and attending Carnaval in Rio.

So much to see and do, so little time! St. Augustine is credited with saying: "The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page."

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