While some areas are starting to open up after months-long COVID-19/Coronavirus quarantine, my home in the San Francisco Bay Area is still a long way off from reopening. While I fully support continued safety precautions and social distancing, it doesn’t make it easy! Being stuck in one place for so long has got me climbing the walls, and every nature documentary, blog post, and Instagram photo of the outside world just makes my wanderlust worse. But while I can’t physically travel anywhere right now, I can still wander virtually, and that’s what this post is all about.
When quarantine is getting on my nerves and I just want to get out of the house, or my fibromyalgia has me in too much pain to get outside and walk the dog, I can still see the world through my computer with virtual tours. I don’t have fancy headsets or anything like that - all of these videos are designed so that anyone with a computer (or smartphone) can explore some of the most beautiful places in the world. Each of these places is worthy of being on your bucket list, and although you likely can’t get out to see them just yet, you can still get a taste of what they’re like right here and now (and you don’t even have to put on your hiking boots to do it).
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We're all stuck inside during the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic, but that doesn't mean we'll never be able to travel again. Now is actually the perfect time to daydream about all the wonderful places you'd like to visit once we're allowed to travel!
I've compiled a list of one thousand different places across the globe to see before I die. From cities and cultures to all of the most beautiful natural wonders, this list is designed to inspire you - you can use it as your own, or add or subtract to it. The world is an amazing place. Take a moment (or longer) to appreciate all the incredible places around the globe: Australia really is where the Wild Things are.
From the more famous animals like kangaroos, koalas and crocodiles, to the unusual and fantastic quokkas, bilbies, wombats and echidnas, to their deadly array of snakes and spiders, there’s no shortage of fascinating creatures in Australia. With such a diverse ecosystem comes the need to protect it, which is where animal sanctuaries and even some zoos come into play. Here are the four best ecotourism options for animal encounters along Australia's Eastern coast. Uluru is one of the most spellbinding places in Australia. Also known as Ayers Rock, it’s located in the very heart of the desert, towering above its surroundings and drawing visitors in from all over the world.
Every year, thousands of people attempt the dangerous climb, contributing to erosion of the stone and pollution of local water resources. The rock itself is 95 stories tall--taller than the Eiffel Tower--and at least 35 people have died undertaking the steep, hot climb (Parks Australia). In addition, Aṉangu, the traditional owners of Uluru, have repeatedly asked visitors to respect their law and culture by not climbing the sacred site. Signs have been posted for years respectfully asking tourists not to climb, and now the Australian government, which jointly manages the site, is instituting a ban on climbing Uluru beginning October 26th of this year (New York Times). Nevertheless, the argument over whether or not people should be allowed to climb Uluru rages on. Waterfalls, rainforests, and, of course, the ocean are all part of what makes Cairns a must-see for any trip to Australia. While Cairns is of course best known for its access to the Great Barrier Reef, it’s also known as the gateway to Queensland's tropical north. With so many incredible things to see and do, Cairns is sure to surpass all your expectations, leaving you planning your next visit the second you leave.
The catamaran glides through the water with ease; I sit outside on the upper deck to watch the blue mountains behind us slide into the distance. We had risen early that morning to catch the shuttle from Cairns to Port Douglas, but the brisk sea breeze is more than enough to shake the sleep from our eyes.
Uluru, at Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, is a spiritual site and one of Australia’s most famous landmarks. I've written two posts about how to visit Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park and my experiences here, and now I'm happy to share with you some of the best hikes Uluru has to offer.
While some areas of Uluru are off-limits due to their sacred nature, there’s still so much to see and so many hikes to take that you won’t be left wanting.
Note: This post may contain affiliate links. This means that when you click on one of those links and make a purchase, I will earn a small commission, which costs you absolutely nothing. This commission helps supplement my income to ensure I can continue the upkeep on this blog and make your experience here a better one! I only recommend products and services that I absolutely believe in, and would purchase for myself. For more info, see my affiliate disclaimer under my about section.
Sydney is one of my favorite cities in Australia, and I cannot recommend visiting here enough. If you're planning a trip to this wonderful port town and wondering where you should go to make the most of your time there, look no further. I've got you covered.
Note: This post may contain affiliate links. This means that when you click on one of those links and make a purchase, I will earn a small commission, which costs you absolutely nothing. This commission helps supplement my income to ensure I can continue the upkeep on this blog and make your experience here a better one! I only recommend products and services that I absolutely believe in, and would purchase for myself. For more info, see my affiliate disclaimer under my about section.
Out of all the cities I’ve visited in Australia, Brisbane (pronounced "bris-bin") takes the cake. It might even be my favorite city ever--although my love of London and, of course, my nearby San Francisco certainly gives it a run for its money.
I could wax poetic about how vibrant it is, how thriving its art scene is... but honestly? The first thing I noticed was how clean it was. Seriously. I’ve visited cities where I’ve had asthma attacks immediately after stepping off the plane, where I couldn’t go outside unless I was wearing a mask, and as much as I love San Francisco, it’s not a place that I’d ever call clean. Brisbane doesn’t smell. Or at least, if it does, it doesn’t smell like that odd mix of grime-smog-urine-gasoline-ooh, food! That smells delicious! Nevermind it’s gone again that you so often find in other cities. What I’m trying to say is that I’m not a city dweller; as much as I like living near cities, I couldn’t ever live in one. Or, at least, that’s what I thought up until I visited Brisbane.
Note: This post may contain affiliate links. This means that when you click on one of those links and make a purchase, I will earn a small commission, which costs you absolutely nothing. This commission helps supplement my income to ensure I can continue the upkeep on this blog and make your experience here a better one! I only recommend products and services that I absolutely believe in, and would purchase for myself. For more info, see my affiliate disclaimer under my about section.
Hi! If you follow me on Instagram, you'll know that I'm actually in surgery right now! This is a scheduled post, because I didn't want to leave y'all hanging. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy this post, and I appreciate you hanging in there with me! :)
Just a quick boat ride away from the Great Barrier Reef, and a car ride away from a magnificent rainforest, Cairns is the ideal stopping point for anyone looking to tour northern Queensland. |
Hi, there! Call me Kris. I’m a world traveler, author and artist working to showcase the world's beauty and inspire you to find your confidence to see the world!
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