What’s on your travel bucket list for the final months of 2019?
Whether it’s a short getaway to feel the adrenaline rush from visiting a city, an adventurous holiday with the fittest of your friends and family, a romantic honeymoon with a lover, a relaxing trip to wind off the years stress, or maybe a solo cultural and gastronomic trip, this mind-blowing 5 popular holiday destinations of 2019 will be worth your every buck!
1. Grand Canyon, United States
The Grand Canyon is one of the world’s most spectacular natural wonders and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Popular for its majestic size and its breathtakingly sophisticated colorful landscape, this world wonder comes close to 6 million years of age. And with some rocks at the bottom of the canyon dating back to 2,000 million years, the thick sequence of ancient rocks exposed in the walls of the canyon are so well-preserved for it’s age, its mind-blowing.
You can hike the canyon bottom if you’re adventurous, or opt to ride a mule. Hiking the Bright Angel Trail to Indian Garden or even just part way down will give you a better perspective of the size of the place! Apart from that, you can choose between rafting or hiking the trek from rim to rim.
2. Queenstown, New Zealand
If you’re looking for a holiday that involves heart-pumping adrenaline rush and adventure amidst jaw dropping snow-capped peaks and unrivalled scenery, Queenstown should be your next holiday destination! It is a paradise for both thrill and zen. From bungee jumping, alpine heliskiing, zip-lining, jet boating, white-water rafting, hiking and skiing, to cruising through nearby Milford Sound, sample South Island pinot noir from one of the region’s 75 wineries, the list of adventures that await you is indeed endless!
Apart from that, you will also enjoy morning strolls around town, exploring the exquisite dining and arts scene, exploring vineyards and bars.
3. Fukuoka, Japan
If you’re a frequent Japan visitor, or you’re yet to tick it off your bucket list, we urge you to go beyond the much visited Japanese cities like Osaka, Tokyo and Kyoto and discover the encyclopedic list of adventures that await you in Fukuoka! From ancient temples and shrines with historic pedigrees, the ruins of the 17th-century Fukuoka Castle, Japanese gardens in Shinto shrine that is home to over 6,000 blossoming plum trees in spring, picturesque canals of Yanagawa, to the hustle and bustle of one of Japan’s largest cities packed with captivating deep history, cosmopolitan art, exciting shopping and natural beauty in every corner.
Sitting on the east coast of Japan, Fukuoka is a dream destination for seafood lovers. It has one of the best food scenes in the country. No trip to Fukuoka is ever complete without trying their classic Hakata ramen – an original tonkotsu ramen and prized for its mouthwatering fatty pork broth and freshest seafood.
4. Florence, Italy
Visiting Florence is like taking a time-machine back to the Renaissance era. It is a gigantic outdoor museum exhibiting centuries’ worth of art masterpieces and architecture, living pieces of the city’s wealthiest and prime days.
The vibe in Florence is like no other. Apart from the magnificent art, strolling through the streets feels like a movie. For instance, you get a buzz from walking through the iconic Ponte Vecchio, with high-end jewelry shops on both sides, the tranquility at the Italianesque Boboli Gardens created by the Medici family in the 16th century is the sweetest escape you can get from the crowd, and overlooking Florence from the heights of Piazzale Michelangelo during the golden sunset is the most romantic sight you will behold.
5. Santorini, Greece
Known as the ‘supermodel’ of the Greek islands, Santorini is more than just an astonishing panorama of its iconic white-washed buildings, blue roofs and pretty domed buildings. This little Greek wonder of a town hosts approximately 1.5 million tourists annually, as its phenomenal sea-drowned caldera, romantic crimson sunsets and volcanic-sand beaches are just a few of the many things that continue to seduce travellers all around the world.
Header image credits: Pinterest | Max Lawton via Unsplash | Leon Liu via Unsplash | Mark Tegethoff via Unsplash |
MARK ADRIANE via Unsplash
