Although I was on track to make it to 30 countries by 30 (darn pandemic), I’m beyond grateful that I’ve now been to 15 countries plus the US. I thought it would be fun to go through each country and share one beautiful thing out of all my travels that has left me in tears, in awe, or feeling speechless, ecstatic, wowed, or humbled. Basically the most emotional/beautiful experience in each place. Let’s get started and go through in alphabetical order!
Australia
This is my most-visited country outside the US even though it’s the farthest away–I’ve been there 4 times! And I’ll definitely go back even more because there are so many different landscapes to see. I’ve done a decent amount in Australia, including cuddling koalas and kangaroos and seeing the iconic Opera House, but hands down the most beautiful thing has been snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef. I mean, what could beat that? I feel like we don’t often think about the whole world that exists under the surface of our oceans, but when you dip your head underwater and see all the life happening, it is truly amazing. I was blown away by all the colors–the gorgeous blues of the water, the neons of the coral and fishies, even the black depths when the floor beneath drops off. More of the earth is covered by water than land, so the explorer in all of us will want to dive in, and there’s really no better place in the whole world to do so.
Read More:
3 Days in Port Douglas: A Sample Itinerary
A Call to Fins: Why You Need to Snorkel on Your Next Vacation
Belgium
Brussels was the 2nd stop on my first solo trip and it’s where I felt myself starting to master the art of being alone. It was pure joy getting to spend time with myself, doing whatever I wanted without having to consider someone else. Did I want to spend a couple hours sitting at a cafe drinking too much coffee and reading a good book? Did I want to buy too much Belgian chocolate and eat it while wandering around Grand Place? Did I want to sample too many craft beers and chat with the bartender, or not? I’ll let you guess the answer to all those questions 🙂
Read more:
Solo Female Travel in Western Europe
Costa Rica
I visited Costa Rica at the beginning of 2020, my 2nd time traveling alone. If my Eurotrip was all about learning the basics of solo travel and pushing myself to socialize more, I’ve come to see my time in Costa Rica as pushing myself out of my comfort zone physically. I ziplined, I Tarzan-swinged, I yoga-ed, and I signed myself up for surf lessons. All these things forced me to look inward and helped me gain confidence in myself. Catching a wave was a culmination of so many lessons I was learning–about trust, risk taking, falling, finding strength. I wrote pretty extensively about these experiences in the “musings” post below.
Read more:
On•the•Move Musings: 3/13/20
England
This is the country I’ve spent the most time in outside the US (I studied here for 2 months in 2014 and have visited again since). This pick may seem a bit ridiculous because I’ve done so many amazing things in England, but nothing else has brought me to tears like this did haha. Now you all know how much of a Harry Potter nerd I really am, but visiting Leavesden Studios was so incredible and emotional. I’m not talking just a single glistening tear, I’m talking multiple tears streaming down my face as the doors to the Great Hall opened. hahahaha, so embarrassing. This place is a must-visit for Harry Potter fans and will make all your HP dreams come true! (The photo below is not from Leavesden, however. It’s from Kings Cross Station in London.)
Read more:
Harry Potter Heaven This has lots of photos of the studio tour!
France
I’ve only been to Paris, so I can’t speak for all of France, but this was a tough decision! I almost picked the Eiffel Tower light show because that was breathtaking and so special. I also almost chose the Montmartre district because I was so fascinated by the streets and history and art there–it’s a whole vibe. In the end, I had to go with seeing a show at the Moulin Rouge! I don’t care if it’s considered touristy, it was SPECTACULAR (and it’s in the Montmartre district so you can see that area too). I was completely blown away by the performance and the costumes. It made for a beautiful, jaw dropping night! They don’t let you take photos inside, so you’ll have to go and see it for yourself 🙂
Read more:
On•the•Move Musings: 1/10/20 I love this post I wrote about my first impressions of Paris!
Iceland
I had been daydreaming about a trip to Iceland for about 7 years by time I made it happen. So many experiences wowed me–bathing in the Blue Lagoon hot springs, snorkeling in the freezing water between tectonic plates separating 2 continents, enjoying 11 pm sunsets thanks to the midnight sun. But I have to say, the thing I found most beautiful was Svartifoss, one of the many waterfalls in Iceland. There was just something so special about it to me–having to hike in and seeing its unique lava column formations coming from what seemed like out of nowhere. There’s a ton of beauty in the land of fire and ice, but for some reason this has stayed fresh in my mind, leaving me in awe for years.
Read more:
Strange in the Best Way: Iceland Through Stories and Photos
India
Ok, out of all these picks, this was by far the easiest to choose. The Taj Mahal. THERE IS NOTHING (manmade) MORE BEAUTIFUL IN THE WHOLE WORLD. I was and still am totally speechless–the stonework is so intricate and comes together to make something truly impressive.
Read more:
Incredible India: 3 Weeks Through Stories & Photos
On•the•Move•Musings: 12/7/19
On•the•Move Musings: 12/20/19 The 2 “musings” posts were written and shared live from India, so I think they offer an interesting perspective.
Ireland
Ok, the Irish countryside is so frickin photogenic with its shades of green and its moodiness, but drinking a Guinness in Ireland is a form of ecstasy. If you get a chance to combine the two, say by touring the countryside and stopping into a village pub for a pint, there’s really nothing better.
Italy
Having only spent a few days in Venice, I know I haven’t even come close to uncovering the beauty of Italy. But… gelato. Do I need to say more? I think I had gelato like 5 times in the few days I was there (and I always got the 3 scoop cup because Italy is for indulging). 🙂
Japan
Goodness this was a tough one to choose. I thought about how safe I felt in Japan, safer than I’ve ever felt anywhere in the world, including the US. I thought about ancient tea ceremonies and temples. I thought about Tokyo and how it felt to look at the biggest city I’ve ever seen, sprawling and incomprehensible. But in the end, seeing the delicate, fleeting cherry blossoms won my pick for Japan. They are the definition of beautiful.
Read more:
Japan for First Timers: Everything to Consider Before You Go
Exploring the World’s Biggest City: Tokyo Photo Diary
Mexico
I struggled a bit trying to decide on my pick for Mexico because my travels there have sadly only been to resorts. I definitely have plans to fix that in the future–attending a Day of the Dead celebration is at the top of my bucket list–but in the meantime I went with this beautiful sunset in Puerto Vallarta. Sometimes even travelers need a vacation!
Netherlands
I can’t say this pick is beautiful in the traditional sense of the word, but it was moving, important, emotional, and shouldn’t be missed–visiting the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam. It’s hard to explain how it felt to be standing in the same rooms she did, knowing what she went through and how her life ended. Travel opens you up, brings you in contact with people different than you, with histories you weren’t taught in school. I can’t help but feel if we all traveled a little more, if we met each other and shared our stories, the world would be a more peaceful place.
Nicaragua
I went to this Central American country in 2014 with my cousin on my very first backpacking trip. The whole experience was special, but my time on Isla Ometepe was definitely the most beautiful. The view alone was like something out of a dream, a jungle paradise, but it was more than just the view that captured my heart. Ometepe is a volcanic island in the middle of a lake, and at the time of my visit, cell signal & wifi was nonexistent (not sure if that’s changed in the years since). Because of that, I had to live in the present moment more than I had in years–I was completely off grid and it felt amazing. Our days were spent biking around the island, swinging from trees into natural pools, eating organic food, and actually connecting with the people we met. No one could hide out on their computer or cell phone, and it made for days full of fun and conversation and nights full of partying and laughter. It was the definition of travel magic.
Scotland
Edinburgh was a vibe. I definitely experienced moments of travel magic like I talked about above, and images of gold glitter float through my head. But there was a very specific beauty to my time there that is going to be hard to put into words (and is probably slightly personal to me and my likes). I think after reading about my pick for England, you know how much of a Harry Potter fan I am. J.K. Rowling wrote a lot of the series in Edinburgh, at least the very start and very end of it. When I was walking around the city with the knowledge that she’s seen the same things I was seeing now, I was struck by how that made me feel. How I can see a street or a cemetery and nothing comes of it. But someone else can see the same thing and it gets into their core, inspiring them to create something new that has the potential to change the world (in J.K.’s case, Harry Potter). It was a trippy feeling, one I don’t think I’m describing particularly well, but it was like I was glimpsing how life becomes art, one of the true joys of travel.
Read more:
I Didn’t Want to Leave Edinburgh
USA
California is drop dead gorgeous but nothing has left me speechless and feeling so small like the Grand Canyon has. You think you understand what it means when people say something is big, but it’s hard to truly comprehend until you’ve seen this beast yourself. The actual geology of it is mind blowing as well. Photos don’t even come close to doing the Grand Canyon justice!
Read more:
Here’s Why You Should Visit the Grand Canyon in February (with photos)
How To Spend 4 Days Adventuring Through Arizona
Wales
Wales is the country I’ve spent the least amount of time in, only about half a day, but that was still long enough to uncover some of its beauty thanks to Snowdonia National Park, full of mountains, trails, and vistas of green. Look at little baby Allison in her element, happy to be exploring somewhere new and beautiful!
Thank you so much for reading and letting me relive these moments! I hope I’ve inspired you to go exploring when you safely can, to find unexpected beauty some place new, to surrender to the journey.
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