I absolutely love to travel. Whether it be domestic or international or even within my own state, as long as I'm visiting a new place, I'm satisfied. Over the years, I've traveled to many different places. Some have been fun experiences, others not as fun, but all have been experiences none-the-less. When I travel, I not only learn about the place that I've traveled to, but I also learn new things about myself and about the people I am with. Plus, it's so much fun to get away from the stress at home and take a mini-break from my life. I've been to big cities, small ski resorts, national parks, among other places, and each place gave me a different adventure. So, here are my top ten travel destinations!
10. Naples
No, not the one in Italy, but arguably almost as beautiful. Located deep in Southern Florida, Naples is home to pristine beaches and world-class shopping. I had an amazing time in Naples, where I also traveled to the Everglades. It isn't a far drive, but the Everglades are totally worth it. It's the complete opposite of suburban Naples. Alligators and tropical birds might be visible in Naples, but the Everglades boasts more natural scenery. Nevertheless, Naples is the perfect place to relax on the beach or even rent a boat and sight-see for dolphins and manatees.
9. Las Vegas/Grand Canyon
When I went to Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon, I went when I was 6 years old, so I never experienced it as the "Sin City" that it is acclaimed for. However, this doesn't mean that it wasn't fun! My family and I stayed at the beautiful MGM, where we saw and pet lions and viewed a magic show one evening. The days were spent by the resort's pool area, which literally looked like a jungle from the perspective of my 6 year old self, and the nights were spent exploring Las Vegas. I might not have gone to any casinos, but I did see the Bellagio's fountains and Mirage's volcano. The Grand Canyon was the complete opposite of Vegas but so beautiful. I loved exploring the desert with my family and seeing the burnt colors of the rocks that have been there for millions of years.
8. San Diego
When I went to San Diego, I didn't go for the beaches. Or the surfing. Or the Laguna Beach star spotting. I went for a service trip, where I traveled to a city named El Cajon, which is just about 20 minutes east of San Diego. I volunteered at a center for developmentally disabled adults, called St. Madeleine Sophie' Center. It was one of the best experiences of my life, literally. I had the most fun getting to know the adults at the center and bonding with the other volunteers. However, the trip wasn't all work! A group of volunteers and I went to Mission Beach for the day and a boardwalk near the downtown.
Me and some surfers on Mission Beach!
7. Washington, DC
I've been to Washington, DC twice and both were completely different experiences. The first time I went was in high school for an International Relations program at Georgetown University. During the day, I attended classes and lectures at the university and at night, my friends and I ventured down into Georgetown to shop, eat and explore. We even spent our last night jumping into the fountain at the university! The second time I went was just this past summer to visit my friend. We explored different places everyday. Some days it was Dupont Circle and Foggy Bottom, while other days we went the National Mall and Smithsonian. This city has so much to offer not only in the downtown areas, but even in surrounding Virginia and Maryland! One day, we even went to Annapolis, which is one of the most beautiful coastal towns ever! I loved everything about it, from the Sperry and fudge shops to the hundreds of sailboats in the Chesapeake!
6. Lake Tahoe
Last year for Spring Break, I went to Lake Tahoe with a group of friends to go skiing and it was amazing! It was the first time I had gone skiing out West and definitely won't be the last. From the breathtaking views of Lake Tahoe to the rugged mountains, California skiing has yet to be beat. I skied at Heavenly Ski Resort, which was so cool because half the mountain is in California and the other half is in Nevada. So when skiing the California side, I saw Lake Tahoe and lots of snow, but while skiing the Nevada side, my view was all desert. It was weird but awesome! I know I'll be going back very, very soon!!!
Me skiing on the Nevada side!
5. Poland
Because a lot of my family lives in Poland, I often go back to visit with my immediate family. Though my family is from a small city about 2 hours outside of Warsaw, I always travel all over. Poland has so much to offer. My favorite city is hands-down Krakow because it's one of the few untouched cities in Poland that has architecture and artifacts preserved from times as early as the first few centuries. From mountains to the lake district and bustling cities, Poland has it all!
4. Seattle
Just like when I went to San Diego, I didn't go to Seattle for fun. I went on a service trip, where I volunteered in various homeless shelters, a tent city, soup kitchens, food banks and even a nursing home. However, just like San Diego, it wasn't all work! The afternoons were spent exploring Seattle. I went on ferry rides across Puget Sound, explored rocky beaches, visited Snoqualmie Falls and even shopped the infamous Pike Place Market, which was actually maybe one of the most unique places ever. It was 3 floors of both underground and above-ground venders, where anything from hemp clothing to fresh fish could be bought. Right now, Seattle is one of my favorite cities ever and I want to visit again soon! It is a perfect mix of urban bliss and wilderness exploring. Plus, this is the place where I first learned how to make homemade sushi, yum!
3. New York City
Need I say more? New York has so much to do and see that I don't think I could even choose a favorite place, though Central Park is definitely up there. I love the city and everything about it. The shopping, food, architecture, art, museums, UN...just everything. It really is the concrete jungle where dreams are made.
2. Wyoming (Yellowstone National Park & the Grand Tetons)
My family and I roadtripped out to Wyoming last summer and boy, was it an experience! We drove over 30 hours, going through the Badlands, Bighorn National Forest and Black Hills. We saw Mount Rushmore and even the Corn Palace. But the best part of the whole trip was visiting Wyoming. We camped and hiked and it was better than any hotel I've ever stayed in, though the cold weather at night made me miss heating a little. I want to go back to Wyoming, ASAP!
My family and I on top of the world in the Grand Tetons. One of my fav pictures ever.
1. Los Angeles
It might not be a concrete jungle where dreams are made of or even Sin City, but it's the city where dreams come true. I stayed in Beverlywood, an adorable neighborhood in Los Angeles, just outside of Beverly Hills. My mom and I went to visit our good friend and we all had the most fun ever! We went to Santa Monica (my favorite boardwalk), Venice Beach (my favorite beach), Paradise Cove (my favorite restaurant and tanning location) and a ton of other places! Even Hollywood, while it is true that it is a tourist trap and really dirty, has the wax museum, which my mom and I spent hours in even though it was only a 20 minute walk-through. I love Los Angeles and dream of living there in the very near future.
What are your favorite travel destinations?
xoxo Kasia
