Another vote for the bottom of the Grand Canyon. I’ve backpacked down one of the less populated trails, hiked along near the bottom for a couple of days, and then climbed out. It was over 30 years ago, and I remember it like it was yesterday.
Very fun thread.
My top favorites: Capetown, Ngorongoro Crater (Tanzania), Santorini, Safari in Kenya and Tanzania, Victoria Falls
Close seconds: Kuwaii, Maui, Florence, Paris, Galapagos, Angkor Wat
Bucket list: Australia, New Zealand, Uganda or Rwanda to trek gorillas, not-yet-seen Greek islands and continuing the search for the perfect warm water beach
Fascinating: Vietnam
I’m a sucker for beautiful beach views so love some of the islands in the Caribbean and San Francisco/Marin.
We were only in Memphis for a day but it was an amazing one with a visit to the stellar Civil Rights museum and a delicious and somewhat unique dinner at a restaurant called Flight.
I was in Nelspruit, South Africa for a wedding about 20 years ago. I got to see nearby Kruger National Park, so I agree with those here that enjoyed that. I found the Afrikaners to be some of the most hospitable people anywhere. The beauty of the South African landscape surprised me. I didn’t get to Cape Town though. It sounds like I really should have made a special effort, based on the comments here.
Not as well traveled as others but:
Favorite cities: Sydney (S lives there), Valparaiso Chile (much better than Santiago and not far away, Washington DC
Favorite places: Hiking in the mountains, anywhere. Love the Rockies, Smokies, Andes. Alps are on the bucket list.
Headed to the Greek Isles (Cyclades) in 2 months!
Some of the posts are awesome. Some read like a passive lament of excess.
When I was a wee bairn, we used to go to the Otavalo market because it was near where we lived and we needed supplies, plus it was a good market. And it sucked to look like the tourists who came through on the monkey buses. It was hard enough to get stared at all the time, but when the buses left you could sometimes feel the extra antipathy in their wake.
But maybe the most beautiful thing was my neighbor walking with me the three blocks to show me the foundation of the building the Inca had to fill with gold to ransom Atahualpa from the Spanish.
It was impressive, because Señor F took the time, and shared with me something of his life, his culture. The beauty had little to do with the physical surroundings, and everthing to do with the people. Even at 9 I understood that.
I’ve traveled some since, extensively on bicycle and motorcycle, as well as credit card. Places without people are like pictures of architecture. You don’t know architecture until you move through it. You know a place only when you immerse into the culture that place produces. No enclaves, but unclean water, chicha, and a plate of rice with a fried egg on top. That’s 5 stars. And beauty beyond measure.
I should have put Japan down as a favorite place. We spent two weeks there during cherry blossom time when the kids were young and would love to go back without having to accommodate their agenda and their annoying food fetishes! What I liked best was that it managed to be both modern and old fashioned at the same time. They were years ahead of us in cell phone habits at the time, but there were still women riding the bus in their kimonos and at the traditional inns (ryokans) you felt like you were in old Japan (especially since no one seemed to speak a word of English). The gardens were gorgeous, the food (despite the kids) was fabulous, the historical/cultural things amazing.
Croatia is also on the bucket list.
We went to Uclulet (an hour-ish from Tofino) and loved it. Was still remote and cheap. And we saw whales!
Now that we aren’t bound to school schedules, we like traveling in shoulder seasons. Not many tourists, nice weather, better prices.
Lauterbrunnen (and the whole Jungfrau/Interlaken area) is magic. We went there a couple times in the early 70s when we were stationed in Germany. We camped everywhere – the only way to go with five kids.
I really enjoy reading about the places that people love to go. It gives you do many ideas, places you would never think of. There are people here who have traveled far more than me, and I realize that they have perhaps had more opportunity because they travel for work, are older and retired, or have made it more of a priority than I have, but I hope to make it a priority soon. Keep the suggestions coming!
Almost made it to Lauterbrunnen (Murren). Maybe next time.
- French Riviera, from Saint-Tropez to Italian border and up to San Remo, inland towns and Gorge du Verdun (French not so Grand Canyon)
- Big Island of Hawaii (never been to Kauai, Maui was a big disappointment)
- Paris, London and Prague
- Rio
- Key West
NYC obviously is the best but I live 15 miles away so it does not count.
Ngorongoro Crater (Tanzania) is indeed fabulous, and I remember loving Treetops which if you have watched “The Crown” is featured in the second episode. Also Serengeti during the migrations is amazing.
From what I saw of @MaineLonghorn’s photos South and East Africa are very similar in what they have to offer.
Tankiko, we love Maui. We toured whole island, took a helicopter trip, are at Fish restaurant, snorkels a lot. That said, I’ve been to the Keys multiple times. I’m glad to,answer any questions you may have about that area.
I’m in Midcoast Maine right now, annual trip. I’m on a cove, little island in view, as I write this. (Actually, two islands and a couple of the requisite lobster boats.) We’ve been lots of places, love many for so many reasons. But bucket list? More time in coastal Maine. I feel like “me” here.
This spring, I was supposed to drive from SF down through Big Sur. That’s phenomenal. Darned bridge washed out.
Just got back from Monterey/Carmel - even without Big Sur you can see some phenomenal coast and wildlife.
I love to travel so much…very few places that I have visited that I don’t love. @lookingforward , my husband and I just took a trip to Portland Maine and I loved it there. The food was incredible ! Last year this tim , we went to Nova Scotia and I loved it there too. I think I am craving a peaceful life somewhere that isn’t too warm 
Great thread!
Favorites: Venice. In the early morning before the hordes arrive, it’s magical. I know some people don’t love it. I love it.
NYC. London. Tuscany. The beach in Turks and Caicos that I still dream about.
So glad I went: Croatia, Bora Bora, Maine coast, Banff.
Not exactly ‘overrated’, but for me wasn’t as wonderful as I’d hoped: Fiji (though the people there were the nicest in the world), Austin TX.
Overrated for me: anywhere in FL. Barrier islands, SC.
Bucket list: Prague, Barcelona, Greece, South Africa. Y’all have written my list for me.
Underrated that I don’t appreciate even though I live here: Oregon and the Oregon coast. They make me yawn and I must remind myself how gorgeous this place is from time to time. 
I love Venice in the early morning. I read on TA that one needed to do that. So, we got up and were out by 7am one morning to go to St. Marks Square. On the way, we stopped by 3 of the stand up cafes for pastries and expressos. We loved those places. St. Marks Square was so quiet, maybe 20 of us, the pigeons were flying around. It was so quiet and wonderful. People miss out by not wandering around that time of day. By 9, here they come!
We were in Europe and Venice in March and April. It was nice and quiet and not filled with tourists at that time of year.
Must returns: Montecatini. Beaune (in the heart of Burgundy), and Lake Como, Lake Como, Lake Como, and did I mention Lake Como?
Istanbul and down the coast.
@preppedparent What do you like so much about Lake Como? I’ve never been there.