I hear laughter – Blackpool Pleasure Beach is really on my list of places to visit? Yes, it is. I’ve been wanting to go for years – even living in Manchester for 3 years still didn’t get me to go. I have no excuse – other than I just didn’t get round to it. There are many other far more exotic places on my list (or maybe not depending on the definition of exotic), but I couldn’t miss it out. After all, what’s on your doorstep (so to speak) is often just as fascinating as all those far-flung places in distant lands.
So, in no particular order, here are the places that are on my list:
Blackpool Pleasure Beach, UK
One of the original British seaside resorts. Blackpool escaped heavy damage in the second world war as Hitler had earmarked it to remain a resort after his planned invasion. The Pleasure Beach reached its peak in numbers of visitors in the 1950s (cheap air travel becoming more accessible in the 1960s affected it, like a lot of British coastal resorts) but is still the nation’s favourite. Particularly among Glaswegians for some reason? It was also England’s most popular free attraction for decades but following declining visitors since the late 90s it introduced a £5 entrance fee.
I am dying to be a typical British tourist and eat a massive sickly stick of rock, get a kiss me quick hat from the kiss me quick shop and have fish and chips and a beer. Just for a day.
Stockholm, Sweden
I’ve always liked the Scandinavian culture and style and have yet to visit Sweden. Stockholm is one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in Europe and always seems to be ahead in terms of liberal thinking, style and general progression.
A city spread over 14 islands, yet still managing to keep that compact feel sounds fascinating to me, along with its old medieval cobbled streets of the old town and the waterways and green space. This all makes it seem a very attractive city to not only visit but to live in.
The Great River Road, USA
I touched on this during my last US road trip from New York to New Orleans (which you can read about here) and was thinking how much I would love to drive the 3000 miles south all the way down the Mississippi through 10 different states. I’d like to find out more about Mark Twain and where his inspiration came from, visit the various dairy farms in Wisconsin to try their cheese and see the St. Louis arch.
Svarlbard
A place of mystery! It’s fascinated me ever since I read about the seed bank that was set up there. They have one of every type of seed just in case of a devastating man-made or natural disaster. Incredible. The Arctic Wilderness and remoteness really gets the imagination going.
Cuba
It’s probably fairly obvious why I want to go to Cuba – I’m sure a lot of you feel the same! Get there before it changes too much….
I would love to cycle round it, feel like I’ve gone back in time. But most of all I want to go for the music – those cuban rhythms. I would also love to find the Buena Vista Social Club who are/were an amazing group of musicians who were re-discovered in the 1990s – and became world-famous in their 70s and 80s.
Capri
I’ve always thought of this as the ultimate romantic, jet-setter destination with its beautiful rugged coastline and deep blue waters. A nice place for a honeymoon….
The West Coast of Scotland
Again, no excuse for not having been to the West Coast of Scotland either, living only 350 miles away. You would only ever want to go in Summer really and as soon as it gets to summer, the lure of guaranteed sunshine takes my fancy more. However, the Highlands and the coastline look absolutely stunning and I would love to do some treks making the most of the long hours of daylight in the summer months.
Botswana, Namibia, Zambia
The series of the Ladies Detective Agency books (and in particular Mma Ramotswe) first opened my eyes to Botswana. A safari has been a lifelong dream of mine – I would absolutely love to stay in one of the teepees or lodges with the lookouts, glide past hippos and elephants in a canoe on the Zambezi and do a pre-sunrise trek to see the African bush in all its glory.
This is definitely not a definitive list – but if I included every single place I’d like to visit it would be an extremely long post…
Where is next on your list and why? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Love this post and completely agree that we do not always take notice of what is on our doorstep.
My Son’s girlfriend visited the UK three years ago and lived in Manchester with him for a year, she is from Melbourne Australia, quite strange to hear of all the locations that she had a list to visit, ones we take for granted. She and my Son had the most amazing break in Blackpool, they loved it and has encouraged to pay a visit and we intend to especially after this post, I have not been since I was a girl.
We have visited Cuba, a must, like stepping back in time 🙂
Thanks for your comments June. It’s so true about taking things for granted in your own country. It’s not until I lived away that I appreciated things like how the green the UK is, old buildings and our amazing coastline.
I am looking forward to exploring more of the UK this year – hopefully we both make it to Blackpool 🙂
Hello Louise!
You certainly have listed wonderful places in this world. I love to travel too. I come from Sweden so I can defintively recommend you to visit Stockholm. I have also been to Copenhagen and I can assure you it is very “hyggelig”.
In my summer holidays I’m going to visit Southern England and Cornwall. There are so many beautiful places to visit, well the famous Seven Sisters, hundreds of fantastic gardens, picuturesque villages and of course I want to see Stone Henge. A Highlight will be The Isle of Scilly as well as Tintagel.
Please Louise, as you come from UK, you surely can give me an insider’s tip. Unfortunately Blackpool is far too far away. Looking forward to hear (read) from you.
Pernilla
Hi Pernilla,
Many thanks for your comments, I’m glad you enjoyed my post.
That’s great you are planning to visit the UK 🙂 You’ve chosen a great part as well, there is so much to do in Devon and Cornwall.
It really depends how long you have and whether you are planning to hire a car? The drive along the A39 from Newquay to Barnstaple is very scenic. Tintagel Castle and Boscastle witch museum are interesting stop-offs along the way, along with many picturesque villages. Dartmoor is definitely worth a visit along with the Eden Project and Minack Theatre.
In terms of places to stay, I would recommend St Ives, Padstow, Salcombe, Dartmouth. All of these are lovely to wander round with good choices of accommodation and great restaurants.
I hope that helps. Let me know if you’d like any more specific recommendations! Have a great trip 🙂
Louise
Thank you so much Louise for your tips. Very friendly and helpful of you.
We, my husband and I, are actually going to hire a car. That makes the travel even more exciting, as we have to think of driving on the opposite side of the road 😉
We will have a very close look on the places you have recommended when we are planning our route.
Can’t wait until the Holidays!
All the best,
Pernilla
Love reading about your list Louise, I am trying to find new places to visit in the UK after a lifetime of holidaying at all the usual places I am keen to see some of the UK islands like Guernsey or the Isle of Man.
Any other islands that would be worth of visit?
Capri is lovely, did a day visit and I particularly remember the ferry crossing from Sorrento being really rough and everyone looking really green!
Hi Cat,
Thanks for your comments.
Have you been to the Isle of Wight? I could highly recommend it, it’s got lots of great places to stay and some lovely beaches. Also, some of the Scottish islands are lovely, I’ve been to the Isle of Arran which was great for a long weekend – you can do a lovely hike up Goatfell which has absolutely stunning views – and the island is great to mountain bike around.
I have heard Skye is beautiful and like you, I would love to visit the Channel Islands too!
Haha, but I presume Capri was worth it for the slightly sick-making ferry crossing?!
Yes Capri was worth it! Such a relaxed and beautiful place, much like the rest of the Amalfi coast.
Isle of Wight is a great idea, i have been there on a few childhood holidays, a school trip, and more recently on a bellringing tour where we rang every church tower on the island!
interesting lists of location you have here!!
I’m thinking of a new location that i would like to travel this year. i don’t have a particular location in mind but after reading your article. I’m definitely considering looking more into Scottish Highlands. just a glimpse of that picture make me want to see that in person. i love the beauty of nature and seeing it up and close is even more beautiful. i appreciate your list of location
Hi Karlene, thanks for your comments!
They’re quite diverse aren’t they! Happy travels 🙂
Louise
This article did make me laugh when I saw Blackpool 🙂 there is some beautiful countryside in England and plenty of unique little towns. Skipton is a nice place to visit in summer and not too far away. It has lots of little shops and markets with quirky items for sale and you can get on a canal boat around Skipton castle
Thanks for your comment 🙂
Haha, I knew it would make a lot of people laugh 😉 I feel like its one of the few big towns in England I haven’t seen so I definitely need to!