{"id":300,"date":"2020-01-01T03:55:00","date_gmt":"2020-01-01T04:55:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/countrycarewest.com\/?p=300"},"modified":"2025-11-05T13:38:44","modified_gmt":"2025-11-05T13:38:44","slug":"20-places-you-should-visit-in-2020","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/countrycarewest.com\/index.php\/2020\/01\/01\/20-places-you-should-visit-in-2020\/","title":{"rendered":"20 Places You Should Visit in 2020"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"antarctica\"
<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

2019 is now officially over, thank goodness, and since this is the start of the New Year I thought I would share some of my top travel picks for 2020. Some are obvious choices, others a little more unexpected but all are amazing places to discover for one reason or another. Also, these are in NO PARTICULAR ORDER. I don\u2019t want to see anyone complaining that one destination is ranked higher or lower than another one; they all have my love and admiration.<\/p>\n

\"Overberg
<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

South Africa<\/strong><\/p>\n

It\u2019s been a few years since South Africa has been the star
\nof travel media coverage, which is unfortunate. After making some incredible
\nheadway in travel and tourism, the nation took some steps backward making
\nplanning a trip there more challenging. What never changed are the many reasons
\nto visit, which is why I\u2019ve included it on my 2020 travel list. With new
\ndirect, non-stop options from the US and other points around the globe, getting
\nto South Africa is easier than ever, and once you\u2019re there you\u2019ll be spoiled
\nfor choice. If you\u2019re an urban explorer then cities like Johannesburg and Cape
\nTown won\u2019t disappoint thanks to their unique histories, great places to eat
\nand, in Cape Town, the natural beauty that is found everywhere. It\u2019s that
\nnature though which draws most first-time tourists to South Africa, and getting
\nout of the cities is absolutely essential for all visitors. The winelands are
\namongst the oldest in the world, and new hotels and restaurants are constantly
\npopping up to cater to the oenologically minded. Safari however is arguably the
\nmost popular natural experience to enjoy, and there are seemingly countless
\nways to enjoy the country\u2019s wildlife and at every budget level. South Africa
\nreally is the total travel package and is a trip no one soon forgets.<\/p>\n

\"Zion<\/figure>\n

National Parks<\/strong><\/p>\n

I feel as if I\u2019m running the risk of talking about the
\nNational Parks too much, but I can\u2019t believe that would ever be possible. Very
\naccurately called America\u2019s Best Idea, the 419 sites included in the National
\nPark Service system aren\u2019t only unparalleled in the country, but the world.
\nMost people only consider the 61 major National Parks, but the entire system is
\nmuch more expansive and if you do some research you\u2019ll probably realize that
\nthere\u2019s one closer to you than you may think.<\/p>\n

\"Santa<\/figure>\n

Rovaniemi, Finland<\/strong><\/p>\n

For whatever reason, remote destinations fascinate me and I
\nlove visiting them perhaps more than even the largest cities in the world. I
\nusually tend to visit Northern areas though when it\u2019s cold outside, but cold
\ndoesn\u2019t even begin to describe the Arctic temperatures I found in Rovaniemi,
\ndeep in Finnish Lapland. This huge region is mostly woods, lakes and streams,
\nbut it\u2019s also home to Santa Claus. In what can only be described as a brilliant
\nmarketing move, years ago Rovaniemi lauded itself as the official home of Santa
\nClaus, a moniker that stuck. You should visit Rovaniemi not only to see Santa
\nClaus, but also to spend time outdoors whether it\u2019s snowmobiling, mushing with
\nsled dogs or spending the night in a remote cabin learning about the Finnish
\nobsession with both sauna and nature.<\/p>\n

\"Orlando<\/figure>\n

Orlando, Florida<\/strong><\/p>\n

It may seem silly to include the most popular tourist
\ndestination in the country on this list, but hear me out. Yes, the theme parks
\nhave added many new and fun features, but Orlando is on this list for
\neverything there is to do outside of the parks. While visiting Orlando in 2019,
\nI had the opportunity to explore more of the city itself, and I found some
\nreally lovely and fun spots everywhere I went. What might be most notable
\nthough is its food scene \u2013 much more dynamic than one would think. Home to one
\nof the largest Vietnamese communities in the country, the opportunities to
\nenjoy authentic Vietnamese cuisine is nearly unparalleled in the country. More
\nthan Southeast Asian delicacies though, many creative chefs have opened their
\ndoors in recent years, creating what is a surprisingly varied, dynamic and
\ndelicious foodie experience. <\/p>\n

\"Juist<\/figure>\n

Juist, Germany<\/strong><\/p>\n

Most people don\u2019t associate Germany with islands but, as I
\nlearned this year there are some fairly incredible islands just off the coast
\nof Germany, including Juist. To be clear, Americans may be surprised to learn
\nabout Germany\u2019s islands, but they\u2019ve been well known to European tourists for a
\nlong time, and with good reason. Juist in particular is a remarkably special
\nplace thanks in large part to the absence of any motorized vehicles That\u2019s
\nright, motorized transportation is not allowed on Juist, which means that the
\nonly way to get around is by bike, foot or horse-drawn carriage. Rather than be
\nan annoyance, it\u2019s a wonderful way to slow down and truly connect with the
\ndestination in a way that\u2019s normally impossible to do. Add to that great food
\nand beautiful beaches and this is one vacation spot for your travel to-do list.\n<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n

Emilia-Romagna, Italy<\/strong><\/p>\n

Italy is a perennial favorite destination for tourists from
\naround the world, but there\u2019s a lot more to the country than the most popular
\nspots like Rome, Florence and Venice. One of my favorite regions is one that I
\ncall quietly famous, Emilia-Romagna. Home to some of the world\u2019s most favorite
\nfoods, this is one of the best places to visit if you like to eat. Parma ham,
\nbalsamic vinegar, parmesan cheese, lasagna, ragu sauce and much more all hail
\nfrom this region. There\u2019s much more to enjoy than food though, including
\nlearning about Emilia-Romagna\u2019s impressive automotive history. Legendary
\nmanufacturers like Lamborghini, Ferrari and Ducati can all be found here, also
\noffering unique tours options for visitors. If you\u2019re like me though and enjoy
\na nice city to explore, there are a few to include, most notably Bologna. The
\nlargest city in the region, its history goes back to before the Romans and its
\nuniversity has been one of the most important in Europe for centuries. Yes,
\nhead to those famous cities in Italy but also be sure to explore other areas of
\nthe country, like Emilia-Romagna.<\/p>\n

\"Four<\/figure>\n

Nevis<\/strong><\/p>\n

I was on Nevis to spend some time at the incredible Four
\nSeasons Nevis \u2013 as idyllic a retreat as one come hope for. I discovered a lot
\nmore than a luxurious resort though, I very quickly became entranced by the
\nisland itself. Although Nevis is not a large island, the landscapes do vary
\nwidely but no matter where I found myself it was always beautiful. There are
\nplenty of spots throughout the US, Mexico and Caribbean if all you want is a
\nsunny beach. If you\u2019re like me though and want an experience that feels unique,
\npersonalized and even adventurous, then Nevis is one of the best options.
\nThanks to the small size of both the island and the Four Seasons Resort Nevis,
\nnothing feels prepackaged or formulaic because, well, it\u2019s not. This is not
\nyour massive industrial-style resort experience, this is a calming and
\nrestorative travel experience that is unlike many others in the Caribbean.<\/p>\n

\"Austria\"
<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

River Cruising<\/strong><\/p>\n

An equal opportunity traveler, I enjoy mixing up how I
\nexperience the world, which is why I like the occasional cruise \u2013 including
\nriver cruises \u2013 to see new to me spots. Unlike their ocean-going cousins, river
\ncruising is a much more individual and intimate experience. The ships are smaller,
\nwith anywhere from 100-200 people on board, and the access to the towns and
\ncities along the rivers are much more convenient than deep-sea cruise ports.
\nThe most popular river cruises are found along the waterways of Europe, but you
\ncan find fun river cruises all around the world including in Egypt, Myanmar and
\nChina.<\/p>\n

\"Hong<\/figure>\n

Hong Kong<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hong Kong has sadly been in the news a lot lately for all
\nthe wrong reasons. In spite of those images we\u2019ve all seen on TV though, it
\nremains a fantastic destination to visit whether you have a day or a week. At
\nfirst blush, Hong Kong seems little more than a flashy city full of people. But
\nonce you delve a little deeper, then you start to discover the real city that
\nlies just beneath that shiny veneer. The best way to better understand Hong
\nKong is through the city\u2019s favorite pastime, eating. Whether it\u2019s 3-star
\nMichelin restaurants, or some of the best dim sum in the world, you won\u2019t walk
\naway hungry or disappointed. Also be sure though to explore the city, visiting
\nLantau Island and even the newish PMQ, a cultural hub showcasing some of the
\nbest emerging creative minds in the city.<\/p>\n

\"Peru
<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Machu Picchu<\/strong><\/p>\n

Let me just say straight up that no, I didn\u2019t do the
\nfour-day Inca Trail hike. I have massive problems with both my knees and spending
\nfour days in pain and suffering was not high on my to-do list. No, instead I
\nvisited the famous ancient city like thousands of others, by taking the luxury
\ntrain to the weird mountain town of Aguas Calientes and then a short bus ride
\nup to Machu Picchu itself. This new world wonder surprised me in a lot of ways,
\nmost notably how beautiful almost every part of it is in person. All we tend to
\nsee is that ONE iconic photo overlooking the long forgotten mountain outpost of
\nthe Inca, but there\u2019s so much more to it than that one angle. Spending a few
\nhours exploring it I developed an appreciation not only of how it looked, but
\nthe skill it took to design and build. There are many fantastic Inca sites to
\nexplore in Peru, but it\u2019s really only at Machu Picchu that you begin to
\nunderstand the true genius of this sadly long lost civilization.<\/p>\n

\"Direwolves<\/figure>\n

Game of Thrones in Northern Ireland<\/strong><\/p>\n

When I was planning my return to Ireland with Tourism
\nIreland, there was one experience I knew that I didn\u2019t want to miss, a day
\nliving out my Game of Thrones fantasies in Northern Ireland. I\u2019d seen photos of
\nthe special tour for quite a while, but it wasn\u2019t until I found myself in
\nCounty Down, Northern Ireland when I finally had the chance to participate. Winterfell
\nTours offers a number of different ways to learn more about the Game of Thrones
\nfilming locations, from spending a few hours at Winterfell, Castle Ward, to
\nexploring more sites around the county. Game of Thrones isn\u2019t for everyone, I
\nget that. But this experience in Northern Ireland is so much more than visiting
\nspots where they filmed the fantasy series. It\u2019s about learning the history of
\nthe county and experiencing its gorgeous natural landscapes. If, along the way,
\nyou happen to meet a direwolf and throw an ax, then all the better.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n

Portugal<\/strong><\/p>\n

My only regret with visiting Portugal is that it took me so
\nlong to first visit what is an extraordinary destination. It\u2019s not that I
\navoided Portugal, far from it, but the stars just never aligned until I joined
\na river cruise through the Douro River just a few weeks ago. To be clear,
\nPortugal is a very unique and distinct destination that is thankfully unlike
\nany other spot  in Europe. I think I
\nthought it would be like Spain, but that\u2019s certainly not true. The people are
\nthe nicest I\u2019ve ever met in Europe, the food is incredible, the cities vibrant
\nand alive and the natural beauty incomparable. Whether you decide to take a
\nriver cruise or explore on your own, just make sure to explore sooner rather
\nthan later.<\/p>\n

\"Newfoundland<\/figure>\n

Canadian Maritimes<\/strong><\/p>\n

I have spent a fair amount of time exploring Canada and
\nalmost never have I had a bad experience. But not all parts of the country get
\nequal attention by international tourists, which is one reason why I want to
\nhighlight the provinces that comprise the Maritimes. Specifically, over the
\nlast several years I\u2019ve had the great opportunity to explore two Maritime
\nprovinces, Newfoundland & Labrador and Nova Scotia. Made famous by the
\nultra-luxury hotel on Fogo Island, Newfoundland has had its fair share of press
\nlately, but there\u2019s so much more to the province than a nice hotel. Whether
\nit\u2019s St. John\u2019s or taking a coastal road trip, the scenery, food and people
\nwill quickly endear you to the province. Many of those qualities aren\u2019t endemic
\nto Newfoundland though, they\u2019re part of the overall Maritime experience, as I
\nlearned this year spending a week in Nova Scotia. Those same kind and very
\ncurious people made the trip remarkable, accentuated by natural wonders like
\nthe Bay of Fundy and a surprisingly high level of great food. So skip some of
\nthe more flashy provinces and instead plan to spend some time along the
\ngorgeous Atlantic seaboard of Canada.<\/p>\n

\"Xishuangbanna
<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Golden Triangle<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ever since my first trip to Thailand many years ago, I have
\ntruly loved this part of the world. Also traveling around Laos and Myanmar,
\nthat love has only grown over the years and was expanded upon last year when I
\nvisited the Chinese side of the Golden Triangle in Xishuangbanna or just Banna.
\nThanks to its spot in extreme Southeastern China, Banna is completely unlike
\nany other spot in the country. Located adjacent to the Golden Triangle,
\nneighboring countries of Myanmar, Laos and Thailand are very close and, other
\nthe years, that\u2019s meant a fluid border with a lot of cross-cultural sharing.
\nExploring more of the region, the buildings all look Thai, the smells are Thai
\n\u2013 everything about the place screamed Chiang Mai instead of China. It was an
\nodd sensation, one that I never expected but one that I dearly enjoyed.<\/p>\n

\"Pula<\/figure>\n

Istria, Croatia<\/strong><\/p>\n

So much of the travel love in Croatia seems to go to
\nDubrovnik, that I thought I should highlight a lesser-known area of the country
\n\u2013 Istria. This region found in the northwest portion of the country is as
\nunique an area as you can imagine. It\u2019s actually shared by three countries,
\nCroatia, Slovenia and Italy, and has a rich history and culture all of its own.
\nIn fact, if you ask residents where they\u2019re from, they\u2019re most likely to say
\nIstria first and Croatia second. There are many great towns and cities to visit
\nhere, but two I recommend are Rovinj and Pula. Each city has its own unique
\nappeal and no matter what you do, make sure not leave Istria without sampling
\nsome of the famous olive oils and truffles cultivated around the peninsula.<\/p>\n

\"Hiko
<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Extraterrestrial Highway, Nevada<\/strong><\/p>\n

Otherwise known as Nevada State Route 375, this is a 98-mile
\nstretch of road that starts at the intersection of U.S. 93 and the
\nExtraterrestrial Highway and continues west to the intersection of the Highway
\nand U.S. 6. Thanks to the fact that Area 51 rests along the highway, this area
\nhas long been known for alien sightings and a fierce belief in life from other
\nworlds visiting the remote Nevada desert. Over the years the road has developed
\ninto what it is today, one of the quirkiest but also one of the loneliest
\nstretches of road in the country. Visitors should go to admire the desert
\nlandscapes, enjoy fantastic blueberry pie at the Little A\u2019Le\u2019Inn, visit (sort
\nof) Area 51, and spend the night at a haunted hotel in Tonopah, Nevada.<\/p>\n

\"Abu<\/figure>\n

Egypt<\/strong><\/p>\n

I vacillated over whether or not to include Egypt, but I
\nthink that it\u2019s such an important country to visit it simply has to be on this
\nlist. The first modern tourist destination, the wonders of Egypt have called to
\ntravelers around the world for generations. And with good reason, the monuments
\nand sites so well preserved aren\u2019t just nice to behold, they are world wonders
\nin every sense of the term. Traveling through Egypt, the entire experience from
\nCairo to Aswan was much better than I had expected, but the real highlight of
\ncourse was visiting the Great Pyramids of Giza. Located close to modern day
\nCairo, these massive monuments to power have been amazing visitors since the
\nmoment they were first built, popping up even in Ancient Greek and Roman travel
\nguides of the day. Standing there immediately in front of them it was hard to
\nmentally reconcile the fact that I was actually there. Having seen them in
\nbooks, magazines and movies all of my life, it was hard to consider the fact
\nthat I was there at that moment in time. Since tourism is so low right now,
\nthere weren\u2019t many other tourists around me, creating a special and rare moment
\nof privacy, allowing for some introspection and time to fully grasp the
\nimportance of the moment.<\/p>\n

\"Senglea
<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Malta<\/strong><\/p>\n

The quirky island nation of Malta in the Mediterranean has a
\nlong and important history, but it\u2019s one not many people actually know a lot
\nabout. Long considered by Europeans as a sunny getaway, others from around the
\nworld are learning about this small country not just for its beaches and
\nturquoise blue waters, but also for its art, architecture, cities and
\nincredible history.<\/p>\n

\"Amarillo<\/figure>\n

Non-Coastal America<\/strong><\/p>\n

I\u2019ve explored a lot of my own country in recent years,
\ntravel experiences that I didn\u2019t know I needed. These trips though were perhaps
\nmy most important of the year as they brought into focus the realities of the
\nUS in 2019. As it turns out, things aren\u2019t nearly as bad as those of us who
\nlive along the coasts think and driving across America was one of the most
\ngratifying experiences of my life. While I have had the opportunity to visit
\nmany different parts of the country, the most memorable adventure was driving
\nthe entirety of Route 66. More than enjoying the kitschy appeal of decades long
\npast, the most important aspect of the drive was meeting new people along the
\nway. Turns out the country isn\u2019t the seething cauldron of anger that the news
\nmedia would have us believe, far from it. No, instead I found people living
\ntheir lives just like anyone else, and also taking pride in the communities
\nthey call home. It\u2019s important I think for everyone, American or not, to leave
\nbehind them the glittering cities along the coastal edges and instead delve
\ndeeper into the US, to learn what really makes us tick and to have a lot of fun
\nalong the way. Cleveland, Detroit, St. Louis, Oklahoma City, Albuquerque and
\nmany other cities are all fantastic places to spend some time exploring, and
\nthey\u2019ll teach you more about what it means to be American along the way.<\/p>\n

\"Penguins
<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Antarctica<\/strong><\/p>\n

If any continent lures travelers with the promise of special
\nmoments, it\u2019s Antarctica. Hard to reach, hard to travel around it\u2019s one of the
\nlast few truly adventurous trips still available to us in the modern era. And
\nmy own trip to Antarctica did indeed deliver those unique moments in spades.
\nAside from the impossibly cute (and slightly dirty) penguins though, it\u2019s the
\nseemingly impenetrable landscapes that impressed me the most. After hiking up a
\nsnowy switchback path to the top of a hill, I was met with one of the most
\nimpressive scenes I\u2019ve ever witnessed. The icy waters extended into the horizon
\nand all I could see were vast quantities of rock, ice and water. It seemed to
\ngo on forever and I have never felt smaller in my entire life. Standing there
\non the bottom of the world, it was an important moment to help quantify the immensity
\nof the planet. It\u2019s a fact that we modern travelers tend to forget. In an age
\nwhen I can hop on a nonstop flight and be in Hong Kong tomorrow, it seems as if
\nthe world has never been smaller. But we forget just how massive this beautiful
\nplanet is and how many unique experiences there are to be had.<\/p>\n

The post 20 Places You Should Visit in 2020<\/a> appeared first on LandLopers<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

2019 is now officially over, thank goodness, and since this is the start of the New Year I thought I would share some of my […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":302,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[10],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/countrycarewest.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/300"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/countrycarewest.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/countrycarewest.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/countrycarewest.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/countrycarewest.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=300"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/countrycarewest.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/300\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":340,"href":"http:\/\/countrycarewest.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/300\/revisions\/340"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/countrycarewest.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/302"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/countrycarewest.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=300"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/countrycarewest.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=300"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/countrycarewest.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=300"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}