6 Traveling Favorites
“What is your favorite beach town? Your favorite water sport? Your favorite European city?” We get asked questions like these quite frequently and love asking other travelers similar questions about their traveling favorites. Although every person’s experience will be a little different, it’s a nice luxury to talk with someone who has already done some trial and error in traveling. Hopefully, you can then learn from them and weed out a lot of good options for the most amazing ones! Although we are so grateful for the countless, amazing opportunities we have had to experience new adventures (some detailed on our vlog!), here are a few that stand out.
Image by Justin Walter
1. Favorite adventure activity: Dominican Republic’s 27 waterfalls
This was a hidden treasure we had not heard anything about before planning our trip to Dominican Republic. 27 waterfalls consist of a series of waterfalls and natural pools that gradually cascade one to another. After driving about 20 minutes from our resort in Puerta Plata towards the rainforest center of the island, we began our hike across several bridges to the 1st waterfall. Once there, we swam through and climbed our way up. We then jumped off and even went down natural limestone slides all the way back down. Apart from the four other tourists in our group, we did not come across another person the entire time. It felt like we had just happened upon this discovery in nature! There was no man-made course to follow; no rows of tourist to wait in line behind. Nothing to disturb you from the beauty and adventure.
2. Favorite overall city in the world: Rome, Italy
Although we have other favorites that are more specific, Rome encompasses the best of everything for us. It is walkable, has amazing history, architecture, charming street cafes at every corner, delicious gelato, and pasta or pizza at every single meal.
3. Favorite accommodations: Hilton Moorea, French Polynesia
To be fair, when you are comparing overwater bungalows in French Polynesia, you aren’t really giving other resorts a chance! We had high hopes and dreams for this resort, and it absolutely lived up to these and more. We were able to get a glimpse of the other resorts on the island as well and felt like the Hilton Moorea was the best BY FAR. This was mainly due to the location of the resort in relation to the reef and boat channel. The bungalows were luxurious and immaculate, and the staff graciously helped us with absolutely anything we asked for.
4. Favorite destination for its beauty: Amalfi Coast, Italy
With cliffs and mountains jutting out from the sea and almost vertical towns built upon them, the Amalfi Coast kept us enthralled the entire time we visited. The beautiful scenery, windy cliffside roads, and Italian music were a relaxing, perfect ending to an otherwise eventful trip.
5. Favorite historical sites: Egypt
Ready and excited to experience history (specifically of the Bible), we unintentionally set ourselves up for failure when we made Egypt our first stop. Everything else paled in comparison to the ancient structures from the time of Abraham. This, coupled with the best tour guide ever, made for an unforgettable experience.
6. Favorite US city: Chicago
Only a five-hour drive from our city, Chicago is an easy weekend getaway that we revisit at least once a year. We love the beautiful parks and fountains in the summer as well as the Christmas lights and snow in the winter. The architecture, high-rise hotels, museums, and sporting events are just a few reasons this is an ideal traveling favorite for our family.
We have had countless wonderful experiences and few bad ones. I don’t know that we have ever had an absolutely horrible experience anywhere. How is this possible?
First, we do research ahead of time so we know what to expect, and we align our expectations with what is being offered. Several years ago, we found a Caribbean all-inclusive for $19/per person/per night!!!!! Although we were somewhat concerned with the mixed reviews (most of which came from travelers that received a similar price), we jumped at the chance to see a new island for such an amazing price. Going into it, we kept in mind that the food might not be gourmet and the hotel room would be fine, not luxurious. Of course, we had an incredible trip. When we had realistic expectations, we were thrilled to explore a new country together for $266!
Second and ultimately, it all circles back to gratitude. When we are actively searching for the good in others, we can assume the best about the situation or predicament we are in. When we remind ourselves of the incredible blessings God has given us, it’s easy to have a fantastic time at every destination we visit and many traveling favorites.
What makes your traveling favorites list?
