By Skylar Mostoller, G10
After COVID struck the world, borders to multiple countries were closed and many still have travel bans in place. The sudden spike in cases in March were the cause of these shut-downs, and prevented many people from being able to come home, to move from where they are, or even simply visit friends out of the country.
With many countries still on lockdown, people are wanting to take a break from the same old routine and the same old places. Many will want to take a vacation somewhere and see something new that amazes or surprises them. So, here’s a short list of interesting and unique places that you might want to visit once travel bans are lifted!
5. ICELAND
Iceland is a beautiful Nordic country just 1,629 kilometers away from the coast of Greenland. Despite its name, in reality only around 11% of land is covered in ice — the rest is covered in grassy plains. The country is LGBTQ+ friendly and is known as the most peaceful nation in the world. This country averages 1-2 degrees Celsius in the winter, not increasing by much with an average of 12 degrees in the summer. Pack winter clothing if you’re preparing to travel here!
There are around 63 towns and villages within Iceland’s seven regions, which means that there’s plenty to explore when you visit.
One of the highlights of the country is the aurora borealis. Auroras are the product of the sun hitting the gases in the air, creating beautiful natural light shows over the night sky. These are commonly found in the northern and southern hemispheres and with the naked eye, we can only see the greens and yellows. If you plan to see these beautiful lights, be sure to pack a camera or bring your phone in order to see the true colours.
If you’re not one to go adventuring out into the icelands and instead want to relax, they have something for you too! The Blue Lagoon is a geothermal spa with a large lagoon made from underground hot springs. The citizens say that the lagoon gives beneficial properties for both hair and skin. Even if you don’t decide to bathe in the lagoon, the built-in spa, restaurants, and skincare shops are always open for you to use.
The country also has beautiful places to go sightseeing – for example, the Hallgrímskirkja. This church is the largest and most notable landmark in Iceland. It reaches an astounding 73 metres and climbing to the top of it gives you an amazing view of Rejkjavik – perfect for amazing photos and selfies. In front of the building is a statue of the first European to discover America, Leifur Eiriksson. It’s said that he found it in 1,000 AD, about 500 years before Christopher Columbus did!
And lastly, for the thrill-seekers, are the geysers. Just a 50-minute drive from Rejkjavik is the Strokkur Geysir, the most popular fountain geyser in the country. It’s highly active within its area of the Golden Circle and is surrounded by boiling mud and over 100 other smaller geysers. The Strokkur is highly active and shoots water every few minutes. Right by the geysers is the Geysir Center that holds exhibits and presentations year-round about the geysers and their history. Visitors can even go and boil eggs with a professional chef in the mud surrounding the geysers.
4. KYOTO, JAPAN
This beautiful city is full of the history of traditional Japan, including architecture, cuisine, and just the aesthetic of walking around is something that anyone can enjoy. The city is also known as the city with 1,000 temples, including Adashino Nenbutsu-ji, the temple with 8,000 statues.
First things first — for photographers, if you want to get a beautiful panoramic view of Kyoto, go to the Kyoto tower. From the top of it, you can see all of Kyoto, all the way out to Osaka. The best time to go is during a sunset and you can see all the lights turn on across the city. Feel free to look through the telescopes and take as many pictures as you like while underneath the night sky.
For those of you who want to get up close and personal with a monkey, take a visit to the Iwatayama Monkey Park. It’s an uphill climb and monkeys are absolutely everywhere. Swinging through the trees, chasing each other across the ground, stealing items from visitors – just be sure that you don’t let them have access to any outside food or drinks. Speaking of feeding them, for a small price, you can buy a bag of nuts and apples to feed them as they go along! Don’t leave it in your bag, because the monkeys will be sure to raid it for any kind of food.
A big fan of anime and manga? The Kyoto International Manga Museum might be a pitstop for you. With manga dating back to the 19th century, any fans of Pokemon, Sailor Moon, or any of the likes will feel nostalgic while walking through these halls. There’s even live artists there that create manga right in front of your eyes, and for a certain price, you can have a portrait of yourself made.
Finally, for those who just want to take a scenic walk through a beautiful park, Maruyama Park is the perfect place for that. Smell the cherry blossoms as you walk the paths and sip on a cup of tea as you watch the cranes float in the ponds. And if you stay for long enough, the evening allows the weeping cherry tree to be lit up, making the scene even more magical.
3. QUEBEC CITY, QUEBEC
Quebec City is the oldest walled city within North America. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage site and sits right at the top of the Cape Diamond. The city is reminiscent of a traditional European town with its architecture – the pathways, grandeur cathedrals, and open cafes.
For thrill-seekers who want to experience something exciting to do, the Montmorency Falls Park is open to you. With hiking trails, playgrounds, bike paths, and more, this park is bound to have something to interest you. The actual falls are about 272 feet tall, almost one and a half times the size of Niagara Falls. Think that’s not enough? There’s a double zipline that goes from the top of the falls to cross the cove of the falls all the way to the La Baronne viewpoint.
More interested in unique architecture and history? The Notre-Dame-de-Québec Basilica is a large church that’s been at the heart of Old Québec since 1647, despite being rebuilt multiple times. Historical paintings and treasure cover the church from head to toe, showing pieces that date all the way back to the French-colonial period. Despite the magical interior, the crypt beneath it is bound to send shivers down your spine. It’s the resting place for over 900 people, including paste governors, archbishops, and cardinals. Some visitors recommend going during mass, while others recommend just going on the tour for the actual building and the crypt.
Another place that you can visit that’s a major part of Québec’s history is the Citadel. It’s the largest British built fortress in North America, and it’s been active since 1850. It used to house British soldiers and Canadian artillery, but that’s since changed. Now, since 1920, it’s housed the only Francophone infantry contingent of the Regular Candian Armed Forces.
Old Québec is a smaller part of the city that rests on the banks of the St. Lawrence River. This is where the Citadel and Notre-Dame Basilica are. The winding streets are filled with romantic cafes and the old European inspired architecture. Watch your feet for loose stones as the streets are entirely made of cobblestone bricks.
2. TANZANIA
It’s time to turn up the heat and talk about Tanzania. Tanzania is in East Africa and has a multitude of different landscapes for tourists to enjoy – from grasslands filled with animals to the snow-topped Mount Kilimanjaro. This country is home to the famous Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater, both of which are categorized as must-see destinations if you come to visit.
Mount Kilimanjaro is about 5,895 metres tall and is known as “Tanzania’s Most Iconic Image.” The mountain has its own national park at the base of it, but unlike any other parks, it’s not visited for its wildlife or safaris – it’s visited because people want to climb the mountain. The mountain has patches of rainforest across it, home to elephants, monkeys, eland, and leopards. The alpine area at the top of the mountain is where most visitors would find an array of predatory birds.
The Serengeti is the second largest National Park in Tanzania and attracts over tens of thousands of tourists every year. There are nearly 500 species of birds that live there and the space is famous for the annual wildebeest migration. The migration has over a million wildebeest and hundreds of thousands of zebra and gazelle migrating. It’s known as one of the most impressive natural events and it’s the primary target for any tourists. Do you want to see it? Then come by the Serengeti in May or early June!
The Ngorongoro Crater also holds much wildlife within its reserve. The crater is volcanic and holds a permanent water supply which leads to thousands of animals to stay there instead of migrating. It’s over three million years old and it was one of the world’s tallest mountains before it exploded and collapsed into the crater we see today.
- PERU
For the final destination on the list, we have the country of Peru. Located on the west coast of South America, the country has a wide range of beaches at your disposal. For example, the Ballestas Islands; sandy beaches and beautiful hillsides with colonies of sea lions, penguins, and different birds to view.
Peru is home to a variety of species, mainly the very colourful birds, including Macaws, with many of them living within the rainforests. The Amazon stretches into Peru and the Peruvian part of the jungle is one of the most diverse, especially the Manu National Park. The park is home to over 1,000 birds and over 200 mammal species. You can even ride down the river in a boat and learn more about the jungle through volunteers teaching you about the wildlife as you pass by.
A famous place to visit is Machu Picchu – a large mountain home to ancient Inca ruins. This trek is for those who are fond of an adventure as it takes four days to reach the top. Taking the Inca Trail, you can pass by deserted villages, fields, and run into a few groups of llamas. Or, if you’re not too into that, there’s the Salkantay Trak where you can ride on horseback and get an even better view of the ecosystems and is less populated.
Ever wanted to meet a bear? Well, now you can meet spectacled bears in the Chaparri Conservation Area. It’s a managed reserve covering grassy hills and rock walls. It has a wild population of endangered species including the spectacled bear and other animals that were saved from illegal captivity. If you want to, you can even stay a few days at their lodge to take time to explore the network of trails throughout the park and meet all the wildlife that they reserve takes care of.
