If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
In 2012, I was blessed to travel to five countries, one Canadian province and six US States that I had not been to previously:
- South Africa
- Zimbabwe
- Zambia
- Botswana
- Swaziland
- Newfoundland, Canada
- Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming, USA
As I have shared in past posts, I enjoy travelling on business, for mission trips and on family vacations.
In 2012, I travelled 84 days on business plus 24 days personally (including a 2.5 week African missions trip) for a total of 108 days and over 140,000 miles in the air! Add to this some days away from home and up the mountain with our family, and you can see why I love it when I get a few weeks straight at home.
The updated map at the bottom of my Travel Tracks page shows that I have now been blessed to visit 22% of the countries in the world. As noted on that page, Lord willing, I hope to someday visit 50% of the world’s countries. I also hope to see the remaining two provinces and three territories in Canada and the ten remaining states in the United States.
Travel can be educational and I experienced, witnessed and learnt many new things in the past year while visiting new places and meeting new people. Experiences like riding elephants in Africa and seeing nature’s wonders by witnessing the awesome geysers in Yellowstone National Park. It is one thing to read about elephants or geysers and another to ride elephants or stand next to a field of geysers, experiencing them first hand.
Beholding the pure joy on children’s faces while they show you their school work at an orphan care centre, or meeting a man like Pastor Henry who, along with his wife, have 4 children of their own and have adopted 17 girls and 10 boys, is amazing. I have tried to capture and share some of these wonderful experiences in my blog. Check out some of my travel-related blog posts for more insights.
With respect to the countries, provinces, territories and states that I haven’t been to yet (see the map on my Travel Tracks page), where would you recommend that I travel next?
Where did you travel in the past year? Do you have any exciting trips planned? Please share your best travel recommendations!
I like New Zeeland!!, so maybe u can go there?
Thanks for the recommendation Lori. New Zealand was not previously on my “travel wish list” but it is now. I appreciate your input.
Have you ever visited The Stone Door in Beersheba Springs, TN? I was a seasonal ranger there a few years past and the views there during the fall season are spectacular. Combine that with the Native American history and that makes for a nice backpacking/camping trip. The park itself is name South Cumberland State Recreation Area. There are over 80 miles of trails on just one side of the part (the north side). On these trails you can find, The Stone Door, Greeter Falls, Ranger Falls, Horsepound Falls, Suter Falls, Savage Falls, and plenty of overlooks offering great views into the gorges that the locals (me being a local so I know) call Gulfs. If you are into camping and spending time in nature I would definately look into this area.
Sounds fascinating Roger. Working as a seasonal ranger must have been a great experience for you. I have not visited Beersheba Springs yet. Take care.
We have really enjoyed going to Mackinac Island in northern Michigan, only 4 vehicles on the island, those are all emergency vehicles. It is like a step back in time to the horse drawn vehicles. Also, they have bicycles or foot for transportation. There are a great many historic sites and also they have the buildings where people are living and working like they did in the old days. The way they used to make tools or had to cook, any of the things we now take for granted, are extremely interesting. There is the historic Fort overlooking the staits of Mackinaw, in which, they have all different demonstrations and performances. The butterfly house has thousands of beautiful butterflies and was my wife’s personal favorite. Transportation to the island is via ferry from either St Ignas or Mackinaw Michigan. The whole experience is like a peaceful step back into time.
Cool. Thanks for sharing John. Michigan is one of the 10 US states that I haven’t been to yet. I hope to get there sometime.
Hello Arthur, please try Palawan beaches in Philippines ( http://www.palawanelnido.com/ ) and don’t missed this http://www.puerto-undergroundriver.com/ in particular.
Regards,
Rudy, the photos on the website links you provided look absolutely amazing! I was in the Philippines once on a short business trip but obviously missed some great parts. My wife spent a whole summer in the Philippines on a missions trip when she was in high school. Obviously, there are some great beaches and an underground river that I would love to visit sometime.
Do you like to mountain climb? There are some great places to do this in Colorado. I climbed one 14,000 footer, Mt. Columbia in the Collegiate Peak region near Bueno Vista. http://www.ask.com/wiki/Collegiate_Peaks?qsrc=3044
http://www.ask.com/wiki/Buena_Vista,_Colorado
(in my younger years) and the experience was priceless. And, I’d definitely recommend white water rafting down the Arkansas River http://www.ask.com/wiki/Arkansas_River?qsrc=3044
There are also some excellent hiking trails past old mines in the San Isabel national forest area.
http://www.ask.com/wiki/San_Isabel_National_Forest
which is located not too far from Buena Vista
The mountains are only about 11,000 – 12,000 and a bit easier to climb.
If you haven’t done so, next time you visit the Colorado Business Unit, be sure to drive thru Rocky Mountain National Park http://www.ask.com/wiki/Rocky_Mountain_National_Park?qsrc=3044
and Estes Park.
Those are some great suggestions – thanks Cindy. I have spent a fair amount of times in the Rocky Mountains, mostly the Canadian part. Have often looked at some of those 14,000+ footers and thought that I should climb one sometime. Great to hear that you have done it!