As I sit at home during extended lockdown, I can’t help but recall some of the wonderful adventures I’ve been fortunate enough to have thus far. Sure, I’m kind of bummed I can’t go anywhere right now. I had to reschedule my April trip to the UK to the end of August. Yet, I hope staying home will help us all overcome the COVID-19 crisis more quickly. While we wait, remember we will travel again! In the meantime, here are 27 photos to fuel your wanderlust and perhaps give you some ideas for the future.
Heian Shrine, Kyoto, Japan
Wash your hands at the Heian Shrine, dedicated to the first and last emperors who ruled from Kyoto. The temple was built to commemorate Kyoto’s 1100th anniversary since it’s founding as the capital.
Geishas in the Gion District of Kyoto, Japan
Gion is a historic area of Kyoto, home to wooden machiya merchant houses, now filled with tea shops, restaurants, shops and more. Cherry blossoms line the streets in spring, and geishas are most commonly seen in this district.
Early Morning Hike Near Dongducheon, South Korea
An early morning mountain hike was shrouded in fog which gradually lifted to reveal beautiful surroundings.
WaiΚ»Δnapanapa State Park, Maui, Hawaii
Near Hana, this state park offers volcanic black sand beaches and rugged coastline.
Rome from a Vatican Window
The Vatican Museums can get extremely hot, so they tend to throw open the corridor windows. I hung my head out for fresh air and a nice view.
Venice, Italy
View from the Ponte dell’Accademia. You can see the Basilica Santa Maria della Salute on the right. Sending thoughts and prayers to all of Italy for a quick recovery from the coronavirus!
Gulf of Arzachena, Sardinia
Gorgeous beaches, crystal water, fine wine, and pasta- what’s not to love about Sardinia?
Paris, France
Ah, Paris! My most favorite of all cities! The Eiffel Tower looks marvelous in the twilight.
Paris Catacombs
A must see when in Paris! These catacombs are one of the few still containing the bones.
Copenhagen, Denmark
A canal boat tour is a great way to see Copenhagen!
Nærøyfjord, Norway
Hallingskarvet National Park, Norway
For me, Norway captures the essence of wanderlust. The Right to Roam is part of the Norwegian culture and also their 1957 Outdoor Recreation Act. It means you can hike and camp on pretty much any open land. These two images captured that perfectly to me- fjord kayakers putting in at a sheep pasture, and campers with a million dollar view off the Oslo to Myrdal train route.
Ross Castle, Killarney, Ireland
My favorite castle! It sits on Lough Leane, in Killarney National Park.
Ring of Beara, Ireland
The Ring of Beara is rugged, wild and beautiful! Ireland is full of stark, dramatic landscapes worthy of Game of Thrones, Middle Earth or Narnia!
Washington, DC
Not exactly an exotic destination, but still a must for US citizens and visitors alike.
Anna Ruby Falls, Helen, Georgia
Helen is a quaint, Bavarian style town in the mountains of Georgia. It’s also surrounded by miles of trails and waterfalls.
Honeymoon Island, Florida
Located in Dunedin, Florida, Honeymoon Island State Park has over four miles of beach. You’ll often find it empty, perfect for a quiet stroll.
Cloud Gate, Chicago, Illinois
Step under the famous Chicago landmark for a trippy view!
Matthiessen State Park, Illinois
Matthiessen and Starved Rock State Parks’ landscapes are pretty unique in Illinois, with cliffs, waterfalls, and caves.
Devil’s Lake State Park, Wisconsin
My favorite place to camp in the state! Not only is the lake great, the rock formations and rock climbing are stunning! There is an island in the lake, perfect for beaching yourself. My first time at the park, we were awoken in the middle of the night by a terrible screaming sound. It freaked us out! We stopped by the ranger center the next day, and they suggested a few critters that might make such a noise, but we never did identify it… the devil of Devil’s Lake perhaps?
Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, Wisconsin
There are 22 islands in the Apostle Islands chain, located in Lake Superior. The sea caves are pretty amazing, many only accessible by kayak or other small craft.
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Michigan
I love the Michigan dunes, but Sleeping Bear takes the cake! The dunes reach 450′ high, sliding into Lake Michigan. When we visited, there were warning all across the park about scaling some of the dangerous inclines. There’s actually a rescue team for all those tourists who go down and can’t get back up! Visit, but don’t be one of those!
Yosemite National Park, California
Half Dome is visible from Glacier Point, where you can hike down Four Mile Trail for other stunning views. I love Yosemite!
Ocho Rios, Jamaica
Sail away! Jamaica is full of gorgeous beaches, unique adventures, waterfalls, mountains, rum and so much more!
Trunk Bay, St. John, USVI
Trunk Bay has an underwater snorkeling trail, with plenty of colorful fish and coral. St. John is a fun, laid back, island, and easily accessible by ferry from St. Thomas.
Darkwood Beach, Antigua
I’ve never been so hot as I was in Antigua! Hot, hot, hot! The sand burned, so run for the water. In the distance, you can see Montserrat, the volcanic island.
So, where are you planning to visit next? What do you want to see the most after lockdown?
26 comments
Arrrr I want a vacation so bad! These photos didnβt help distracting me from my no-travel depression hahahaβ! They are so beautiful!
Hang in there Chelsea! We might not travel this month, but will again soon!
What a wonderful idea. I canβt wait to get back to traveling and these beautiful pics sure fanned the fire.
I’m right there with you- I can’t stay home much longer!
The photo from the Vatican window gave me all the feels! My first trip abroad was to Italy π loved this idea for a blog post!
Thank you! Love Italy, and wishing them the best during these hard times.
Well this definitely makes me want to travel. Venice has always been high on my list, and Japan. I keep thinking about the first trip I’ll take and whether it’ll be somewhere new or somewhere familiar that I miss. Still undecided but I hope it’s soon
I know, it’s hard to pick the next trip! I think ours will be to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, we’ll see.
Loving the positivity! We’ll hopefully get through this!
Trying to stay optimistic! Thanks!
I am supposed to be going to Yosemite in a month and will be devastated if it gets cancelled! Great post π
Thanks Erin! I hope your trip to Yosemite goes off without a hitch!
I loved travelling virtually through your photos! Trunk Bay looks incredible, how I wish I was snorkelling in that water now. There’s definitely a few places here that I need to add to my bucket list.
Thanks Sophie! I know, my destination bucketlist is ever growing too!
Looking through my old travel photos has become one of my favorite things lately! Thanks for sharing yours!
Agreed! I had especially great vibes after looking through old photos from Hawaii!
Wow, you have been to some awesome places! I would love to go yo Japan and Korea. We went to Venice in 2017 and loved it I cant wait to go to Italy again.
Hopefully you threw your coin in the Trevi Fountain to guarantee that return trip! π
DC looks so cool at night! I loved my time there!
Michelle, the full moon really made DC special that night! It was right after a lunar eclipse!
Great photos and a lot of great travel destinations ? I canβt wait to be able to travel again!
Counting the days as our lockdown was just extended…
This was such a great and diverse list. I have been to a few of theses places. Been to DC but not at night. That was really cool. Wisconsin looks interesting. Never really had a desire to go there but your pictures made me consider it. Thank you for sharing so many of your amazing experiences. Definitively provides some inspiration!
Thank you!
Ohhhhhh I need a beach holiday pronto! Thanks for these amazing shots!
I do too! Soon I hope!