Hello, my fellow travelers! In this post I listed my top 10 travel destinations, why I loved them, and some of the highlights. For El Salvador, a less popular tourist destination, I even included a full length itinerary so that you know what to expect. Safe travels, matey!
- El Salvador
- Why I loved El Salvador: I take Spanish in school and traveling to El Salvador was a wonderful immersive experience where I learned about Hispanic culture.
- Highlights: Lago de Coatepeque, Santa Ana Volcano, San Salvador City Tour, Ruta de las flores, Suchitoto, and a coffee tour
- Full length itinerary (including travel tips!): Link
- Tanzania and Zanzibar
- Why I loved Tanzania: I was fascinated by the diverse and unique animals that I had only seen in picture books before. The first roots of human civilization were in Africa, and I was intrigued by the history present in Tanzania. I also wanted to learn more about the culture and lifestyle of African tribes.
- Highlights: Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, Stone Town in Zanzibar, Mount Kilimanjaro, Olduvai Gorge
- Paris
- Why I loved Paris: I loved the wealth of art and culture that Paris hosted. It was a beautiful place with tons of places to visit and great crepes!
- Highlights: Visit the Notre Dame Cathedral, Musee du Louvre, Eiffel Tower, Jardin de Tuileries, Sacred heart basilica, Arc de Triomphe, Versailles Palace, macaron making
- India
- Why I loved India: There was so much history there, which interested me especially because my ancestors were from India. There were also vibrant colors, spices, and sounds.
- Highlights: Eating Indian food, spending time with my family, visiting the Taj Mahal, celebrating Holi, Ganges river, Red Fort
- Greece
- Why I loved Greece: Greece had beautiful architecture and an amazing landscape that consisted of beaches and sky blue water.
- Highlights: Acropolis (Athens), Santorini, Delphi, Crete beaches
- Italy
- Why I loved Italy: There was so much to see, from the stunning landscape to the historical ruins. Plus, the food was insane!
- Highlights: Pompeii, Sistine chapel, Leaning tower of Pisa
- New Zealand
- Why I loved New Zealand: The landscape was BEAUTIFUL. Also, I had recently watched The Lord of the Rings and was shocked to find that a lot of it was filmed in New Zealand!
- Highlights: Milford sound, Queenstown, ziplining, volcano at White Island, Hobbitstown
- Puerto Rico
- Why I loved Puerto Rico: Puerto Rico has amazing artistic and cultural heritage. It was a great place for me to practice my Spanish. Also, the beaches were beautiful.
- Highlights: San Juan, El Yunque National Forest, Old San Juan, El Morro Fort
- Washington DC
- Why I loved DC: As a Northern Virginia Native, DC is just a half an hour drive north. It’s a great place to go to see historical sites and famous museums.
- Highlights: White House, Capitol, Library of Congress, Spy Museum, African American History Museum, Lincoln Memorial, National Gallery of Art, Smithsonian Museum
- Virgin Islands (St. Croix)
- Why I loved St. Croix: My dad grew up in St. Croix, and a lot of his family is still there. It was great to spend time with my relatives while also exploring the beautiful (and warm!) Island with spectacular beaches and wildlife.
- Highlights: Snorkeling, Buck Island Reef, Rainbow Beach, going on a boat
This is great. Love the short write up for vacation ideas for teens! Thank you!