The world is a big place filled with countless sights to see and cultures to experience. No matter how much you’ve traveled during your lifetime, you’ve barely scratched the surface of its potential. In fact, you could travel constantly for the rest of your life and still not see everything that this planet has to offer. Make the most of your mortal limitations with this introductory guide to the best places to travel to around the world.
Argentina
One of Latin America’s most tourist-friendly countries, Argentina is a land of stark contrasts. Known for both its natural beauty and rich cultural heritage, it occupies the bulk of southern South America and grades from tropical forests in the north to sub-antarctic tundra in the south. It’s also home to both of South America’s elevation extremes: At nearly 23,000 feet above sea level, Cerro Aconcagua is the continent’s highest mountain, while Laguna del Carbon occupies a lower elevation than California’s Death Valley.
Culturally, Argentina is a blend of old and new. Buenos Aires, its largest city, has a distinctive jazz scene and remains the epicenter of the increasingly popular salsa dance movement. The city’s well-preserved architectural record spans four centuries, and its unbroken stretches of impressive 19th-century residential buildings have earned it a reputation as “the Paris of the Southern Hemisphere.”
There are dozens of can’t-miss natural features in Argentina, but two particular spots stand out. Despite its rainforest setting, massive Iguazu Falls is relatively accessible. Although Niagara has a higher combined flow rate, Iguazu is both wider and taller than its North American counterpart. In the south, Tierra del Fuego is a wild, nearly uninhabited land characterized by towering mountains, barren plains and wide glaciers. The most impressive of these, Perito Moreno Glacier, is part of the third-largest freshwater repository in the world.
Italy
Few countries can claim to have histories as rich as Italy’s. Since pre-Roman times, the country has been a hotbed of cultural and technical experimentation. Rome, known appropriately as “the Eternal City,” retains hundreds of well-preserved examples of ancient and classical architecture. From the Coliseum to the Roman Forum, the modern city has grown around these old artifacts. They now attract millions of tourists from all corners of the world. The Vatican, an impressive artifact in its own right, is the spiritual heartland of Catholicism and the site of frequent large religious celebrations.
Italy’s north is dominated by several mountain lakes, including Lake Como and Lake Lugano, formed by runoff from the Alps. Skiers and sunbathers frequent these places year-round, hopping into neighboring France and Switzerland at will. In the south, the dormant volcanic cone of Vesuvius towers over Naples and the ruined city of Pompeii. The latter’s ash-caked buildings and eerily-silent streets serve as a potent reminder of nature’s power.
New Zealand
Among the best places to travel to around the world, New Zealand is one of the most remote: Its two islands lie nearly 1,000 miles from Australia, the nearest large landmass. The country’s tourism industry embraces this remoteness, playing up the country’s unique flora and fauna. Relatively young New Zealand may lack the rich history of Italy or Argentina, but its stunning natural environment more than compensates for this deficit.
The majestic Southern Alps form the backbone of the South Island, reaching elevations of over 12,000 feet and providing nearly endless climbing opportunities for intrepid visitors. Milford Sound, also on the South Island, is a breathtaking fjord frequented by cruise ships. Once you’ve had your fill of the great outdoors, head north to Auckland, the cultural capital of the North Island. Thanks to its stunning location on an isthmus between two bays, Auckland has one of the world’s highest per capita rates of boat ownership.
Life is too short to waste on repeat visits to the same tired tourist towns. Once you’re ready to spread your wings and start exploring, don’t forget this list of the best places to travel to around the world.
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