Top 10 Travel Destinations for 2011

Need a new and exciting travel destination for 2011?  Some of the best (and least known) places on Earth are now more accessible than ever before.  And with upcoming events bringing some of your favorite hotspots back into the limelight, you really can’t afford to miss out on your travel plans this year.  Here are a few suggestions to whet your appetite.


1.      London, England.  Westminster Abbey is THE place to be this year, unless you think you’re going to witness another royal wedding in your lifetime.  Prince William and Kate Middleton are set to tie the knot on April 29^th with all the pomp you’d expect, so jet-set over to London for a fab week of sight-seeing before the big event.

2.      Curacao, Netherlands.  You may be surprised to find that this tiny piece of the Netherlands is located nowhere near the cold waters of the Arctic Circle.  In fact, you can luxuriate in the warm waters of the Caribbean when you opt to visit this island.  With intimate beaches, 60 dive locations, and more flights and hotels, you can find the relaxing island getaway you seek by coming to Curacao.

3.      Gettysburg, PA, USA.  This year marks the beginning of the 150^th anniversary of the Civil War and to celebrate, 75 famous battlefields and historic sites will host events over the next five years.  The battle of Gettysburg made this spot a national landmark (along with President Lincoln’s famous missive), so don’t miss the celebration that commemorates this infamous war.

4.      Wellington, New Zealand.  If you haven’t heard of this little city down under, then you haven’t been listening to the voices on the wind.  Apparently some of the best coffee roasters and restaurateurs to be found have set up shop here and thanks to Peter Jackson, their film industry is booming (ever heard of “Wellywood”?).

5.      Wudang Mountain, People’s Republic of China.  This hotspot of Taoism and martial arts has been around since the 7^th century (and most of the buildings are original).  It’s not easy to reach, but the 20-hour train ride from Beijing and a 3-hour climb up the mountain will all be worthwhile when you awaken early (stay at the hotel atop the mountain) to see the sunrise over the magnificent, mist-enshrouded peaks of the Wudang Range.

6.      New York City, NY, USA.  Whether you’re keen to visit the famous statue of Lady Liberty, check out a Broadway show, or try a slice of authentic, fold-it-in-half New York style pizza, there’s an even better reason to hit the Big Apple this year.  Swing by to visit the former site of the twin towers, now home to a 6-acre memorial park.

7.      Ghent, Belgium.  If you’ve been to the more popular cities of Brussels, Bruges, or Antwerp, then you were a stone’s throw from this magnificent historical town that boasts eye-popping architecture and a largely tourist-free experience.  Show up in mid-July for the 10-day Gentse Feesten, featuring more food, beer, music, and theater than you can shake a stick at.

8.      Machu Picchu, Peru.  It’s never too late to visit the city in the sky.  The four-day hike to reach it will ensure that you don’t find yourself in a crowd as you revel in the mystique of this pre-Columbian village.  Not only will you be steeped in history, you’ll feel like you’re on top of the world in this testament to the life of an ancient civilization.

9.      Kinsale, Ireland.  The nearby city of Cork claims most of the tourists in this area, but Kinsale boasts superior sailing, fabulous food, and a look at the laid-back side of life in Ireland.

10.   Abu Simbel, Egypt.  The temples here are notable not only for their magnificent size and historical significance as monuments to Ramses II, but also for the fact that they were moved from their original location near the Nile so as not to become submerged in Lake Nassar.  And it’s just a hop, skip, and jump to Giza if you want to see the famous pyramids.

Sarah Danielson is a writer for Adiamor Engagement Rings where you can find loose diamonds, engagement ring settings, diamond pendants and other fine diamond jewelry at affordable prices.