Chicago, Illinois

Personally, I think that traveling domestically within the United States is the best way to start off when you want to go places. Chicago, the third biggest city in the United States, has so many places to visit as a tourist. I have been to Chicago at least ten times with mom (it’s an annual tradition), and I visit the same destinations every year. The John Hancock Center, Navy Pier, Millenium Park, Magnificent Mile (Michigan Avenue), Water Tower Place, Shedd Aquarium, and the Art Institute of Chicago are my top go-to places when it comes to tourism. The John Hancock Center gives you some of the best views of downtown and Lake Michigan. Water Tower Place and the Magnificent Mile are my favorite areas for shopping since every store known to man exists there. Navy Pier is a great place to go to during the summer since the majority of it is outdoors and Chicago stays cold through St. Patrick’s Day. You can go on boat tours, ride the Ferris wheel, eat at countless restaurants (Billy Goat, Giordano’s, Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., etc), and shop at all the stores. The last time I went to the Art Institute of Chicago, there was a Vincent Van Gogh exhibit and an Andy Warhol exhibit, which were both incredible. Although I’ve only been once, the Lincoln Park Zoo (one of the oldest zoos in the United States) is another great place to go to. Both the Lincoln Park Zoo and the Shedd Aquarium are great places to go if you have kids with you for the trip.  Hotels in Chicago can be expensive depending on how luxurious they are but finding a hotel within walking distance of places you plan on going helps so much. My mom usually has us stay at the Chicago Athletic Club across the street from Millenium Park or the Loews hotel right on the river. Most of the times I’ve visited Chicago, it was mainly during St. Patrick’s Day. Chicago is known for dying the river green every year and holding the country’s second biggest St. Patrick’s Day parade. Chicago is easy to get to, it has endless attractions, and you will definitely be satisfied.

Kiawah Island, South Carolina

Another great domestic location to travel to, Kiawah Island off the coast of South Carolina, is not your stereotypical beach vacation destination. The audience that Kiawah Island draws in is mainly adults who play a lot of golf during their retirement. While I was there, I didn’t see very many kids or anyone younger than a teenager. Kiawah Island is known for its six golf courses (Turtle Point, Oak Point, Cougar Point, Osprey Point, Kiawah Island Club, and the Ocean Course) and the place where several families have their vacation homes for the summer. There are only a few resorts right on the beach of Kiawah Island, but they are rather pricy. Both times that I’ve traveled there, my family has rented a house about twenty minutes walking distance from the beach. Renting a house within the subdivision of Kiawah Island Resort is really nice and private since it’s a gated community and all of the golf courses are generally private members only. Charleston is about a one to two-hour drive away depending on traffic. My family traveled to Kiawah Island since they love to golf and they played at Turtle Point and Osprey Point. The Ocean Course is the most popular (and most expensive) since the PGA Championship was played there last year and it’s right on the beach. There isn’t much shopping at Kiawah Island, but if you don’t want to drive all the way to Charleston, The Sanctuary (a luxury resort and hotel) has a few shops on the first floor, adjacent to the lobby. There’s an amazing ice cream shop, a souvenir shop, a golf pro shop, and an art gallery. When it comes to restaurants, my family and I mainly ended up eating at resorts or country clubs. The seafood at Kiawah Island is an absolute bargain since it’s on the Atlantic coast and not inland. We toured a former tea plantation and later on that day, we were able to buy shrimp for only a couple dollars per pound. Kiawah Island has its own southern charm like nothing else and I would love to go back!

Paris, France

Paris, being one of the most desired destinations for anyone, was one of my best and craziest experiences overall. Paris has countless sightseeing destinations like the Louvre, Pompidou, Versailles, Notre Dame Cathedral, Basilique du Sacre-Coeur, Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, etc. The Louvre is the famous museum home to the notorious Mona Lisa and several Michaelangelo sculptures. Pompidou, another museum, is unique because of its architecture. Most people assume that it’s still under construction, but it’s actually finished and open as a museum. The Palace of Versailles was home to King Louis XIV and Queen Marie Antoinette and is now open for display to show all traces from the previous history. It is known for the hall of mirrors and its magical gardens as well. Notre Dame Cathedral and Basilique du Sacre-Coeur are two well-known churches in Paris that are some of the most historic landmarks. Although Notre Dame is temporarily closed due to a fire, Basilique du Sacre-Coeur is still open and located in the French Quarter near the art district. If you plan on visiting either in the future, make sure to dress modestly out of respect for the church. Another acclaimed site in Paris, the Eiffel Tower, is beautiful at night when it lights up and gives the absolute best views of Paris. There’s even a restaurant at the very top of the Eiffel Tower but reservations must be made far in advance. Lastly, the Arc de Triomphe, a landmark in the center of Paris, was built in honor of the soldiers that fought during the French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars. As for hotels and transportation, booking hotels in Paris is one of the hardest parts for organizing a trip since they are so small and can be extremely expensive. While I was in Paris, I took the Metro which is the two-story subway. I highly suggest to be extremely careful (especially in a huge city like Paris) because I got lost for about an hour and couldn’t find my friends. Although Paris can be a little pricey, you can’t run out of things to do and it won’t disappoint you at all! 

London, England

Just like Paris, London is one of the most visited cities in Europe and has numerous places to visit. Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London, the London Eye, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, the Tower Bridge, Big Ben, Trafalgar Square, and the British Museum. Even though Buckingham Palace has a very limited schedule throughout the year, it houses the administrative offices and the residents of the monarch for the United Kingdom. The Tower of London is home to the Crown Jewels and a former fortress and prison built by William the Conqueror. If you want to get the best views of London, the London Eye is a huge Ferris wheel that shows a gorgeous skyline of London. St. Paul’s Cathedral and Westminster Abbey are two amazing Anglican churches that hold that graves of famous people that have passed away like Stephen Hawking, Charles Dickens, Isaac Newton, etc. St. Paul’s has the second largest dome in the world and Westminster Abbey is the church where the royal wedding ceremonies take place. The Tower Bridge is a famous bridge on the River Thames that is known for its two towers and is a bascule that is able to let boats through. Most people know Big Ben as the notorious bell in the clock that is attached to Westminster Palace which houses the Parliament and it just finished repairs recently. The last two places in London that are a must-visit are Trafalgar Square and the British Museum. Trafalgar Square is famous for the lions and fountains that are displayed and it was built in memory of the Battle of Trafalgar during the Napoleonic Wars against France. If you want to tour the British Museum, it has over eight million pieces of work, the largest collection in the world, and is home to the Rosetta Stone. There are countless adventures to go on in London and it won’t bore you at all!

Aruba

One of the best international trips I have been on is to the island of Aruba (a former colony of the Netherlands) on the northern tip of Venezuela in the Caribbean. Most of the residents of Aruba speak three to four languages like English, Spanish, Dutch, and Papiamento (Aruba’s native language). Aruba is about 70 square miles with Oranjestad being the capital, and is known for its phrase “One Happy Island”. Even though the island of Aruba is quite small, there’s a decent amount of sightseeing. ABC Jeep Tours gives excursions around the island on their custom-made land rovers so you can see all the hidden sceneries like the historic gold mines, the California lighthouse, and the secret beaches. Just like ABC Jeep Tours, Tranquilo Cruise gives great boat tours and cruises if you’re looking to relax and get off the island for a little bit. The weather in Aruba during the summer is about eighty degrees and dry during the summer so it’s not humid at all and the terrain is very similar to a desert. Another great thing about Aruba is that Southwest Airlines started flying there right before I went, which makes it convenient. One of the best hotels there is the Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort, Spa, and Casino. The hotel is right on the water and beach, has multiple restaurants, and offers a spa and casino as well. Another convenient thing is that the Hyatt Regency Hotel is right next to the pop-up businesses on the beach that offer water sports such as parasailing, surfing, paddleboarding, etc. The Hyatt Regency also gives you the opportunity to rent a cabana on the beach. Another great aspect of Aruba is that even though the currency is the Aruban florin, you can pay in U.S. dollars if you decide to go shopping anywhere. Unlike Paris and London, Aruba is a great laid back vacation on the beach if you’re looking for something less hectic.

England

Although London is the main attraction in England, there’s definitely more to it. Stonehenge, Cambridge, Oxford, Dover, Leavesden, and Canterbury are cities in England outside of London that have plenty of things to do. Stonehenge, a prehistoric monument in the middle of nowhere, has been there since approximately 3000 BC and no one knows how it was constructed. Inner circle tours of Stonehenge are offered, but only at early hours of the morning. The cities of Cambridge and Oxford are known for the noble Cambridge University and Oxford University. Another activity to do in Cambridge is punting down the river under the mathematical bridge. In addition to Oxford University, Oxford, England has the Museum of Natural History, Oxford Castle, and Christ Church Cathedral. Oxford Castle features a 900-year-old crypt and allegedly has had ghost sitings before. The Museum of Natural History has some of the most unique natural specimens and archives. Animals like the famous dodo bird and the Megalosaurus are on display at the Museum of Natural History. Dover, which is about one to two hours away from London, has the White Cliffs of Dover and Dover Castle. The White Cliffs is a coastline on the ocean that stretches for eight miles and has an amazing view. Dover Castle features a military museum and you can take a tour of the tunnels underground that were used during wars. Leavesden, which is on the outskirts of London, is home to Warner Brothers Studios where the set to the series of Harry Potter was filmed. All of the props that were used in the Harry Potter movies are on display along with the main set pieces. You can see the Great Hall, a mini version of Hogwarts Castle, Diagon Alley, and more. Last, but not least, Canterbury, which is not far from Dover, is known for Canterbury Cathedral and St. Augustine’s Abbey. Canterbury Cathedral has several tombs and relics of people such as Thomas Becket and has a crypt in the basement as well. St. Augustine’s Abbey is a former monastery that was shut down during the English Reformation. Even though it is not fully functional and is now a ruins site, there is a museum where some pieces have been salvaged and preserved. England will always have more than just London and there is so much more to visit!