15 on 15 - Travel Destinations Edition

The 15 on 15 has been revived, and so I am now happy to present, albeit a little late, my top 15 travel destinations. These are the top 15 places I would choose to visit if I were lucky enough to be provided free round trip airfare and accommodations to anywhere in the world. (This month's 15 on 15 proposal explicitly excluded fictional locations [like the Beach Boys' Kokomo]. I'm also choosing not to include any off-planet destinations, for two main reasons: (1) presently, one cannot travel commercially off-planet [unless you're willing to shell out $20 million to the Russian government to see the International Space Station]; and (2) Honor wouldn't accompany me.)

And now, the list:

15. Easter Island - Because I want a head like the heads you see on Easter Island. Seriously, those giant head statues (moai) are cool. I also want to send my mom a post card from there. Back in 4th grade I was in a geography bee and was asked, "In what body of water would you fine Easter Island?" My mom, who heard "East Ireland," was shocked when I confidently replied the Pacific Ocean - and even more shocked when the moderator announced, "Correct." She realized her mistake a few seconds later, but it's something I still tease her about to this day.

14. Sonoma County/Napa Valley, California - Ah, wine country. I've been there once, but not when I was of legal drinking age. So I think a return visit is definitely in order. Aside from taking part in plenty of wine tasting (honestly, the road trip idea from Sideways is fantastic), I'd probably want to take a trip on the wine train (great food) and maybe even a ride in a hot air balloon.

13. Grand Cayman - Possibly my favorite Caribbean island. Grand Cayman boasts such attractions as: Stingray City, a sandbar where snorkelers and divers can feed stingrays; a sea turtle farm; and some of the best beaches I've ever been to. It's also the home banks that cater to the rich and powerful - a tropical Switzerland, if you will. Hmm, maybe I should join a tax firm that sends its attorneys to Grand Cayman. Honestly, you can hardly go wrong with a Caribbean island. But this one stands out in my memory as being really nice. And they have an awesome mascot - a pirate turtle! The currency exchange rate isn't really favorable to American tourists though.

12. Paris, France - Ah, Paris. The city of light, the city of love. You can stroll the banks of the Seine. You can have lunch in a charming outdoor cafe. You've got the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame, Versailles, the Louvre... in short, there's a lot to see and do. Plus, you can easily take a few days to escape the city and venture into the countryside. There are castles in the Loire valley, or if you head further south (and east), there's the French Riviera.

11. London, England - I spent a summer in London a little over a year ago and loved it. There are plenty of sights and attractions and I barely scratched the surface while I was there. It's a bit crazy to navigate the city at first, but that's also part of the city's charm. If I go back, there are a few things on the top of my to-do list: take in a Shakespearean play at The Globe; ride the London Eye; tour Parliament; trek out to Windsor Castle; go to the theatre; ride the top of a double decker bus (stupid terrorists...); and of course, hit up a few pubs. Note: check out the sidebar (if you haven't already) to see photos of my stay in London.

10. Rome, Italy - I would love to get back to Rome someday. I did get to see some of the city back during high school when the Latin Club organized a summer trip to Greece and Italy. In addition to Italian food (and gelato!) , there's the rich history of the Roman Empire to take in. When I was there you couldn't actually walk around the Forum, so hopefully I'd get the chance to do that. It would be a lot of fun to just wander around the city, Roman Holiday style. And with a little extra time, I'd want to branch out and see other spots in Italy as well. The Italian countryside is very scenic, and I think it would be awesome to check out Tuscany. There's also Florence to consider, as well as Pisa and Venice - two cities I've never visited but would love to explore. But I'd still want to keep Rome as the home base of operations.

9. Prague, Czech Republic - I've only been here while staring at Scrabble tiles, and as vexing as that situation is, I'd love to see it for real. Prague is one of the most popular travel destinations in Europe, and everyone I've talked to recommends it. I hear it's incredibly picturesque, even by quaint European city standards.

8. Switzerland - Ah, the land of cheese, banks, and cuckoo clocks. And don't forget Lake Geneva. The country is nestled in the Alps, so I'd be looking to hit the slopes at least once while I was there. Since Switzerland borders Germany, France, and Italy, you can get a flavor of many different aspects of Western Europe. In fact, Switzerland is like the heart of Western Europe, if your heart were isolationist and neutral. Okay, that made no sense. Moving on...

7. Reykjavik, Iceland - No, this isn't on my list just because I like the city's name. That's only part of the reason. Seriously, I've heard Iceland is really nice. The country abounds with natural wonders from volcanoes to glaciers. There are also wildlife sightseeing tours. If you visit during the summer months you can experience the land of the midnight sun. Alternatively, Iceland is a prime location to check out the Northern Lights (aka the Aurora Borealis). Bonus trivia: Reykjavik is the world's northernmost capital, and hosted the epic 1972 World Chess Championship between Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky.

6. The Greek Isles - Greece is cool, but I'd wager the Greek Isles are even cooler. The Mediterranean is beautiful in general, and the Greek Isles are home to especially breathtaking vistas. I don't really know enough about any specific islands, so I'm listing any/all of them as a potential travel destination.

5. Tokyo, Japan - The world's largest city. I'm not even sure I can articulate my fascination with this destination. Japanese culture in general is intriguing, and Tokyo is pretty much the center of that. I don't know what I expect to find visiting Tokyo, but I know a number of people who've been and really enjoyed it. I imagine it's something of an alternate reality New York City, but with more technology and shorter people. As those comical T-shirts quip, "I'm huge in Japan." Okay, so I wouldn't be huge. But at least I'd probably be able to see over most people for a change.

4. China - Yes, it's a huge country. But I don't know of any particular city that I would choose to visit over any other. There's cosmopolitan Shanghai, the "Forbidden City" of Beijing, bustling Hong Kong... I'd like to see them all. And then there are more things to see that aren't a part of those cities - like the Great Wall and Tibet. Plus, there's the undeniable impulse to reconnect with some of my heritage.

3. Hawaii - The only other U.S. destination to make my top 15. In retrospect, there are probably some great American cities that could bump Easter Island off the list, but that was a much more entertaining entry. Anyway, there's no place in the U.S. I'd rather visit than Hawaii. A lot of that is probably because I've never been there. There are a couple different islands to sample, and there's natural beauty aplenty. I'd also want to check out Volcano National Park. Maybe I'd even get to see my distant cousin* croon "Tiny Bubbles." And it has the whole tropical appeal, with beaches and tropical drinks. In fact, if Honor and I ever decide to drop the whole law thing I've suggested moving out to Hawaii to open a tropical drink stand. (Oh yeah, the natives would hate us.) If this plan is successful, everyone reading this blog is invited - first round's on the house.

2. Australia (Or New Zealand. Or Australia.) - Really, I'd like to see both Australia and New Zealand. And in a perfect world (why not? after all, we're already suspending disbelief to consider the benevolent random stranger handing out free travel vouchers, right?), they'd be part of a package deal. New Zealand is renowned for its scenic landscapes (and sheep - though admittedly, that's much less of a draw), and just seems like a really cool place to visit. I've wanted to visit Australia for about as long as I can remember. Maybe it's the whole southern hemisphere/standing upside down thing. Or the kangaroos and koalas. And duckbill platypuses. All the Aussies I've met (mostly students in London two summers ago) have been very friendly. So put another shrimp on the barbie, mate, and I'll meet ya down under.

1. Tahiti - This was a tough call, but Tahiti narrowly edged out Australia. I think the tropical aspect is what carried the day (especially given the fact that the South Bend winter is steadily approaching). Lush vegetation, sandy white beaches, the blue green sea lapping at the shore... it's relaxing just to think about it. Plus, there are nice coral reefs to snorkel or dive. And while I'm dreaming of such a getaway, I'd like to get a catamaran and sail around French Polynesia to hit some of the smaller surrounding islands and find those less accessible spots.

No honorable mentions this time around - in part because I'm feeling lazy, and in part because there are just so many great travel destinations out there to choose from. If you're looking for ideas, I'd suggest checking out lists by Derek, Brooke, and Craig.

* Yeah, so he's not really my cousin.