If you #1 resolution for the year 2018 is to travel more, then here are top destinations you can’t afford not to visit this year.
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Greenville, South Carolina
According to Forbes Magazine, Greenville, South Carolina is one of America’s Best Downtowns. Greenville features a unique, sort of floating, suspension bridge, and is set against the stunning Blue Ridge Mountains. In addition to this, Greenville features hundreds of restaurants, a thriving arts scene, several historic museums and sites, and popular annual festivals. An outstanding interstate service and excellent international airport makes access to Greenville quite easy.
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Grenada
Also referred to as Spice Island, Grenada remains as one of the best tourist destinations in the Caribbean. Grenada features uncrowded beaches, a lively local culture, preserved rain forests, and delicious cuisine. Grenada is a place where unblemished beauty meets warm locals that find joy in living a simple way of life. Spice Island, which was affected by last year’s hurricanes will attract a lot of luxury travelers this year since several hotels such as the Silversands Hotel will be opened this year.
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Cuba
Cuba is already a well-established tourist destination for travelers from all around the globe. Some fun things you can do here include: watching live music performances, visiting the University of Havana, eating delicious street food, admiring the outstanding architecture of Vedado, learning some salsa moves, and hanging out in Plaza Vieja.
Check it out: Why don’t visit Greece in 2018?
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Turquoise Coast, Turkey
With a glittering and sunshine-soaked blue seaboard, the Turquoise Coast in Turkey has been a favorite among tourists from Asia and Europe. The magnificence of this coast area has seen visitors flocking its bougainvillea-laden resorts and fishing villages. Turquoise Coast features aromatic bazaars, world-class cuisine, and ancient remains, all looking for your attention. Apart from this, the coastline, which unfurls like a coruscating ribbon between Antalya and Marmaris, is also ideal for sunbathing and swimming activities.
Read also: Explore Holiday Destinations from Doha!
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Israel
A trip to Israel wouldn’t be complete without exploring the historic sites of Jerusalem such as the Dome of the Rock, and the Wailing Wall. After enjoying these religious pilgrimages, you can go ahead to explore the Golan Mountains, which offer a great terrain for hiking. If you find heights a bit overwhelming, you can go down to the Dead Sea to experience this healing and beautifying waters. You could also relax at Tel Aviv, Israel’s technology center packed with delicious food and amazing nightlife experiences. The possibilities in Israel are simply endless.
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San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio, Texas is a stimulating place that has a lot to offer to anyone looking to have a good time. This city is plentiful in terms of culture, making it a source of pride for most Texans. As a tourist here, some incredible activities to indulge in include: exploring the San Antonio Museum of Art, taking a romantic River Walk, and visiting the San Antonio Missions Historical Park, the Alamo, or the Main Plaza. This year, San Antonio will be the host of numerous events including the Tricentennial Commemorative Week, which will bring free historic tours, candlelight vigils, free museum admissions, art installations, fireworks, concerts and performances. This makes 2018 probably the best year to visit San Antonio.
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Lyon, France
Enjoying great cuisine is not the only thing you can do in Lyon. You can also visit Museum of Fine Arts, probably the finest museum in Europe, enjoy a Gyropode Segway tour, tour the Roman Theatre of Fourviere, and explore the Basilica of Notre Dame de Fourviere. Music lovers can enjoy the Bex de Jazz, while shopping enthusiasts can purchase some great outfits at the Presqu’ile District of Lyon. There are also numerous castles around Lyon.
Read also: tips before visiting Paris.
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Cape Verde Islands
The Cape Verde Islands are what you get after blending African, Iberian, and Brazilian cultures with a place that is already blessed with stunning scenery and weather. Located off the west coast of Africa, the Cape Verde Islands are becoming their own remarkable tourist destination. The islands are widely known for music, a heritage that borrows from the nation’s different cultures. Cape Verde’s volcanic peaks offer a startling view of the archipelago’s bays and beaches. In addition, you will get to learn some history about Cape Verde in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Cidade Velha. This is the location where Vasco Da Gama and Christopher Columbus stopped as they explored Africa.
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Sydney, Australia
Exploring the Sydney Opera House is a must when you are in Sydney. But, there are many other things to do while here than its big-name sights. You can learn more about Australia’s ancient culture and traditions at the Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park. You can also admire some incredible native animals at the Sea Life Sydney Aquarium and Taronga Zoo. In addition to this, Sydney has more to offer in terms of authentic Asian foods.
If you are in Australia for a longer time, we recommend visiting Canberra as well!
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Raleigh, North Carolina
With numerous free attractions and an unexpectedly walkable downtown, Raleigh is a fascinating and yet, affordable tourist destination. While here, you can visit historic places such as the Cary Heritage Museum, the Haywood Hall House, the Museum of Natural Sciences, the Museum of Art, Pullen Park, William B. Umstead State park, and the Yates Mill County Park. Some other fun things to do here include treetop adventures, food tours, chocolate factory explorations, and pottery classes.
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Lisbon, Portugal
With excellent seafood, world-class restaurants, and a good reputation for style, culture, and art, Lisbon remains to be a top tourist destination in Europe. Some stunning things to do here include: tram riding, enjoying the nightlife of Bairro Alto, experiencing sandy beaches, walking through Alfama, and pleasuring yourself in different Portuguese traditions.
Read also: 32 Cheapest Travel Destinations in the World
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Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain
Over the past few years, independent tourists have been increasingly vacationing in Lanzarote. Awaiting you in Lanzarote is a developed infrastructure that enables you to locate fairly-priced lodgings, food and car rentals. Lanzarote thrives in its uniqueness as it features stunning beaches of Orzola, Parque Nacional de Timanfaya’s moon-like topography, and the wineries of La Geria. Those that visit Lanzarote also get the chance to explore Cesar Manrique’s architectural designs, enjoy jaw-dropping views, and follow fascinating hiking trails around Lanzarote.
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Switzerland
Being the second happiest country in the world, Switzerland definitely has a lot to offer to anyone looking for a fun vacation. The country is best known for its stunning nature, with mountain ranges ever where you look, colorful towns, pristine lakes, waterfalls, and traditional Swiss villages. The splendid environment in Switzerland makes it ideal for activities like hiking, swimming, snorkeling, and train riding.
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Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a family and cultural tourist destination, where you will be spoilt for choice in regards to what fun activities to indulge in. In Tampa, you can visit its numerous museums, restaurants, botanical gardens, and popular sites like Lowry Park Zoo, Busch Gardens, and the historic Ybor City neighborhood. On top of this, you can tour the Tampa Bay History Center, take a walk in Tampa’s romantic parks, explore the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts, and take time to enjoy the great beaches.
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Malta
Located between Tunisia and Italy, Malta subsists at a crossroads, a factor that makes it an ideal tourist destination. In fact, Malta’s capital, Valletta has been named Europe’s Capital of Culture for the year 2018. While in the country, you will get a chance to study its mysterious prehistory, view where St. John’s Knights defended Christendom, and retrace the footsteps of St. Paul. With almost all year-round, Malta offers a perfect holidaying mood. This means that if you are a sports craze, you can indulge in outdoor activities of your will.
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Serbia
Serbia has the potential of fulfilling every traveler’s desires. This country features over 15 peaks that are 2000m above sea level, offering a great environment for hiking enthusiasts out there. In addition to this, Serbia has five major national parks, which are characterized by epic mountain sceneries. The city of Belgrade has proved itself as a place that can party. The atmosphere here is fun and youthful while the nightlife is nothing but incredible. Besides this, Belgrade has other great things to offer such as the Kalemegdan Fortress, the Military Museum, and the Orthodox Churches.
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Malawi
Located in southeastern Africa, Malawi has luxuriant sights that make the place ideal for anyone looking for a fulfilling travel experience. Malawi is Africa’s best-kept secret as it is characterized by an infectious warmth that never fails to fascinate. There are a lot of fun things to do in Malawi including snorkeling and boating in Lake Malawi, viewing ancient treasures in the Museum of Malawi, and taking a true safari in Liwonde National Park. In addition to this, the rich culture and beautiful landscapes make Malawi an amazing place to visit.
Check out: Offbeat Destinations for Summer Vacation
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Nagano, Japan
Being a land of chilled soba noodles, a perfectly powdery slope, and steaming onset hot springs, Nagano is slowly growing to become an international travel destination in Japan. Nagano, with its numerous museums, restaurants, and castles, truly showcases the Japanese traditions. Some of the things you can do here include: visiting the Nagano Temple, Lake Kagami, the Togakushi Shrine, and the Sanada Treasure Museum. You could also take a walk through Matsushiro, shop at Midori Nagano, ski at Shiga Kogen, among other things.
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Banff, Canada
There are very few destinations in the world that would have a similar appeal to that of Banff, located in the Canadian Rockies. Whether your passion lies towards snow-shoeing, skiing, mountain hiking, or kayaking, Banff is guaranteed to offer lovers of the great outdoors with an experience of a lifetime. Despite the fact that Banff National Park received over 3.5m tourists annually, the place never gets over-crowded. This gives you a great chance to fully immerse yourself in nature.
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Perth, Australia
Located on the South-Western coast of Australia, Perth can be described as a city full of history, nature, culture, arts, and lots of adventure. While here, there are lot of fun things to do such as exploring Perth Zoo, Art Gallery, Museums, and Perth Mint. Combine this with day-trip tourist destinations like the Pinnacles Desert, Swan Valley, Rottnest Island, and much more, and you will have yourself an adventure of a lifetime.
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Oslo, Norway
Oslo is regarded as one of the prime cities in the world for modern art, mostly in terms of sculptures. Therefore, taking a visit to one of Oslo’s sculptural exhibitions is practically a requirement. Another major tourist attraction in Oslo is Vigeland Park, which features works of the popular sculptor Gustav Vigeland. During winter, you can combine the buzz of the capital with skiing in Oslo Winter Park, Nordmarka Wilderness Area, and Oslo Ski Center. In addition to this, Oslo is famous for first-grade examples of the Neo-Nordic food movement such Maaemo, and also the boldest fusion cuisine guaranteed to stun even the most unenthusiastic of eaters.
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Rwanda
Rwanda is famous for being the best tourist destination for gorilla tracking. However, today the country has a lot more to offer. In fact, there are dozens of reasons why you need to take a visit to Rwanda, starting with 13 species of primates that can be found in the dense Nyungwe Forest. It is estimated that there are around 780m mountain gorillas on earth, and surprisingly one-third of them can be found in Volcanoes National Park. Apart from watching these majestic creatures, you can also take a safari around Akagera National Park, enjoy water sports, watch birds, and indulge in Rwanda’s cultural experiences.
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Nicaragua
Nicaragua is progressively becoming a top vacation spot in its own unique way, and it is not hard to identify what draws visitors to the country. First and foremost, Nicaragua is less than three hours from Miami when travelling by plane. Furthermore, the country features secluded Caribbean islands such as Yemaya and Calala. It also has gorgeous surfing beaches, luxury resorts, and a luxuriant mainland perfect for adventures like rappelling down waterfalls, surfing down an active volcano, or even rappelling down waterfalls.
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Mexico City, Mexico
Being one of the largest cities in the world, the city of Mexico has grown to become one of the most popular travel places in the Americas. Iconic artwork, colonial architecture, a rich cultural heritage, and spicy cuisine offer tourists with a wide range of activities guaranteed to satisfy any appetite. Some cool things you can do in Mexico City include: visiting the city’s main square, Zocalo, exploring the Museum of Anthropology (Museo de la Antropologia), and learning about Mexico’s ancient traditions at Dia De Los Muertos. There also plenty if spots in Mexico, you can visit with kids.
FYI: Ultimate Mexico roadtrip guide
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Mallorca, Spain
This island located in the eastern coast of Spain has been a longtime favorite for both European and American travelers. While in Mallorca, you can spend your time exploring the islands numerous historic sites such as Real Cartuja de Valldemossa, Antoni Gaudi, and Palau de L’Almudaina. If you are appreciate good art, you will be stunned by Es Baluard, a modern art museum that features works by Picasso and Barcelo. If you are in search of an outdoor experience, you can get out and explore Mallorca’s fascinating rock formations. You could also enjoy boating through the Cuevas Del Drachs, which is famous for its awe-inspiring stalactites and crystalline waters.
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Mauritius
Mauritius is referred to by many people as heaven on earth. Mauritius has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, and one cannot run out of things to do in this part of the world. Some incredible places you can visit in Mauritius include: Ile Aux Cerfs, Pamplemousse Gardens, Grand Baie, Port Louis, and Grand Bay. Apart from this, you can visit Mauritius’ shopping centers and interesting museums. You could also take a walk through its botanic gardens and animal parks.
Read also: Don’t miss out Best Borneo Beaches in 2018
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County Clare, Ireland
This rugged western coast of Ireland is among the best places to visit in the world. It is in this county where Star Wars: The Last Jedi was shot. This movie uses County Clare’s crashing waves, dramatic cliffs, and spectacular scenery as a stunning background for yet another round of lightsabre waving. A lot of tourists flock County Clare due to its majestic Cliffs of Moher, and the stony plain referred to as the Burren of generations. Other activities you can do here include: watching dolphins at the Shannon Estuary, visiting the Aran Islands, or surfing and swimming at Lahinch.
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Prague, Czech Republic
Prague is a city that really knows how to impress. From the minute you get into the city, you will be surprised by the gorgeous Baroque architecture, hundreds of spires and domes over the city’s skyline, and soft pastel-colored facades. In Prague, some amazing things you can do include: talking a walk across Charles Bridge, exploring the Old Town Square, visiting the Jewish Quarter, playing games like the Mind Maze, wandering around the Prague Castle, and enjoying an afternoon or evening at Prague National Theater, among many other incredible things.
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Helena
There are a lot of activities to do in St. Helena. It does not matter whether you are an adventurer, history buff, or just someone looking to have a good time, St. Helena meets all your travel desires. The city of St. Helena has a wide array of incredible locations: Jamestown is guaranteed to keep you occupied throughout the day while the Museum of St. Helena will fill you up with a lot of historical knowledge. In addition to this, you will have the chance to enjoy a sunbath on the beaches of Sandy Bay, hike the Diana’s Peak, watch fish and whales at the coast, and also explore the Plantation House, where you will get to spot Jonathan, probably the oldest living gay idol.
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South Korea
South Korea has something for every tourist. Whether you are a young traveler looking to do remarkable things, a foodie in search of great food to indulge in, a history lover with thirst for knowledge, or an adventure junkie, you will not lack a fascinating activity to do in South Korea.
Read more: What to Do, See and Eat in South Korea
Start your South Korea expedition at the country’s capital, Seoul. Here, you can experience the endless possibilities of augmented reality at the Trick Eye Museum, get a cable car ride up Mt. Namsan, visit the Bukchon Hanok Village, or explore Gyeongbokgung Palace where you will get a chance to watch a guard changing ceremony. Away from Seoul, you can visit other South Korea’s destinations like Gangneung, Haeundae Beach Area, Bukhansan National Park, Yi Sun Shin Square, and Black Sand Beach.