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Knut · 04-17-2025, 01:48 PM

We have recently (last 3 years) checked off a lot of bucket list places to see around the world. I thought i would list them and give you my thoughts on what I think is worth seeing. Now, we travel with younger kids so we generally try and limit how much we actually do on a trip. Try and get some rest too and enjoy great food. These are recent visits. I omitted most of Europe, Mexico etc. as it has been awhile since we have gone.

The best of the best-

1) Petra - Jordan ----> As you walk out of the narrow crevasse into the opening with the Treasury building right in front of you it is awe inspiring. You will take about 25,000 steps to see it all and the hike out is quite uphill. The Bedouin people on horseback were neat too. I highly recommend going there if you can

2) Macchu Picchu/Sacred Valley of the Inca's ----> We did not do the crazy hike up. Opting for the Train/Bus instead. With kids it made sense. You definitely want to stay at the Sacred Valley of Inca's for a few days before to acclimatize to the high altitude. The view was breathtaking at the top. Kids loved the Llamas grazing around up there. Lucked out with weather though as it rained the day before and the day after.

3) Sydney Opera House ----> saw Singing in the Rain there. Honestly, I was not sure what to expect but the whole area is kind of neat. With the giant bats swooping overhead to the the Opera house right on the water with a great view. It was much better than I anticipated it would be. The rest of Sydney was ok, but it is basically just another big city (gave me Vancouver vibes with a wrong accent).

4) Parthenon - Athens ----> The climb up is not grueling by any means but it is worth it to go to the top. I was there in 2018 and 2022. Honestly, Athens was under Austerity measures in 2018 and i found the experience lacking. In 2022 it was much better. Found some really neat places in the side streets around the Parthenon.

5) Rhodes - Greece -----> Was not sure what to expect but I loved the look and vibe of this place. Went to site of the Colossus of Rhodes (which may or may not have actually existed/been there). The castle there and the streets around it were neat. You can see Turkey from there and it has a bit of a Turkish influence vs other Greek isles. Definitely want to go back.

6) Istanbul - Turkey ----> We were not there long enough to truly enjoy it all. Hagia Sofia was pretty neat and the views were remarkable. Definitely need to head back. I want to get to Cappadocia one day so can likely make a bigger trip out of it.

7) Fiji ----> What a beautiful country it is. They have a large Indian population so the food is kind of a blend of tropical and Indian. It was fantastic. Loved the people there and I played a round of golf at a great little track.

8) Panama City/Panama Canal --- > Honestly, I was not sure what to expect. Going to watch boats in a Canal sounds boring, but it is actually really neat. They have a good IMAX show too on site that talks about the history of the Canal. Panama City itself is beautiful and Vibrant. We really enjoyed our time there and found some great restaurants.

Meh -

1) The Pyramids of Giza--> What was nice is that we visited during Ramadan so the crowds were sparse. It is kind of neat to walk around and explore a bit. Going inside was a bit of a let down as it is this long narrow walk way up that leads to a single room with a tomb. The area around it is really run down. All of Cairo was crowded and everything was in disrepair. Poor kids everywhere walking around in bare feet collecting trash. Then you head outside Cairo and there is New Cairo. A place that looks like it could be in Arizona. Department stores, plastic surgery clinics and fast food joints. Saqqara was actually better than the Pyramids in my Opinion. We do eventually want to get to Luxor.

2) Hurghada ----> Resort town on the Coast of Egypt. Really it is resorts with a bunch of waterparks. It was ok. We had a cruise stop there and ended up getting a day pass at a waterpark. Kids enjoyed it. Tonnes of Russians

3) Santorini and Mykonos -----> The views are great but you can tell not much has actually changed since the 80's. Of the two I would pick Santorini for the sunset views alone.

4) Crete and Cyprus ---> Was neat to see, but do not need to return. "Here is an old Ruin" with a crappy city beside it.

5) Lima --> Big city with the worse traffic I have ever seen. It takes so long to get anywhere there. They have some Ruins but they were pretty underwhelming.

Skip all together

1) Dubai ----> Expensive, oppressive and while it looks really nice when you up close its boring and sterile. Museum of the future was decent. The kids liked Atlantis Hotel and the Waterpark there, but you can get that in other places. Cost us $600 to go up The Burj Khalifa and they gave you a "free Coffee" at the top. Malls are sterile. Food was terrible (unless you want to spend 400USD). The Global Village was a complete Flop. I wouldn't bother to be honest and I felt bad about the fact it was built on the back of essentially slaves from Bangladesh and India during modern days.

2) Rio De Janeiro/Christ the Redeemer --- > It was kind of cool i guess. The tram up was busy with long waits. Lots of crowds at the top. It was windy with garbage all over. You also never really felt safe outside of the hotel (lots of sketchy people and police with assault rifles around). Copacabana Beach was more cigarette butts than sand and the Hawkers were relentless there. I am used to them in my travels but they will not leave you alone even when you politely decline.

Just my opinions. I had put something like this together for some friends and thought i would share it here.

04-17-2025, 01:48 PM	#80
Knut Join Date: Oct 2002 Exp:	We have recently (last 3 years) checked off a lot of bucket list places to see around the world. I thought i would list them and give you my thoughts on what I think is worth seeing. Now, we travel with younger kids so we generally try and limit how much we actually do on a trip. Try and get some rest too and enjoy great food. These are recent visits. I omitted most of Europe, Mexico etc. as it has been awhile since we have gone. The best of the best- 1) Petra - Jordan ----> As you walk out of the narrow crevasse into the opening with the Treasury building right in front of you it is awe inspiring. You will take about 25,000 steps to see it all and the hike out is quite uphill. The Bedouin people on horseback were neat too. I highly recommend going there if you can 2) Macchu Picchu/Sacred Valley of the Inca's ----> We did not do the crazy hike up. Opting for the Train/Bus instead. With kids it made sense. You definitely want to stay at the Sacred Valley of Inca's for a few days before to acclimatize to the high altitude. The view was breathtaking at the top. Kids loved the Llamas grazing around up there. Lucked out with weather though as it rained the day before and the day after. 3) Sydney Opera House ----> saw Singing in the Rain there. Honestly, I was not sure what to expect but the whole area is kind of neat. With the giant bats swooping overhead to the the Opera house right on the water with a great view. It was much better than I anticipated it would be. The rest of Sydney was ok, but it is basically just another big city (gave me Vancouver vibes with a wrong accent). 4) Parthenon - Athens ----> The climb up is not grueling by any means but it is worth it to go to the top. I was there in 2018 and 2022. Honestly, Athens was under Austerity measures in 2018 and i found the experience lacking. In 2022 it was much better. Found some really neat places in the side streets around the Parthenon. 5) Rhodes - Greece -----> Was not sure what to expect but I loved the look and vibe of this place. Went to site of the Colossus of Rhodes (which may or may not have actually existed/been there). The castle there and the streets around it were neat. You can see Turkey from there and it has a bit of a Turkish influence vs other Greek isles. Definitely want to go back. 6) Istanbul - Turkey ----> We were not there long enough to truly enjoy it all. Hagia Sofia was pretty neat and the views were remarkable. Definitely need to head back. I want to get to Cappadocia one day so can likely make a bigger trip out of it. 7) Fiji ----> What a beautiful country it is. They have a large Indian population so the food is kind of a blend of tropical and Indian. It was fantastic. Loved the people there and I played a round of golf at a great little track. 8) Panama City/Panama Canal --- > Honestly, I was not sure what to expect. Going to watch boats in a Canal sounds boring, but it is actually really neat. They have a good IMAX show too on site that talks about the history of the Canal. Panama City itself is beautiful and Vibrant. We really enjoyed our time there and found some great restaurants. Meh - 1) The Pyramids of Giza--> What was nice is that we visited during Ramadan so the crowds were sparse. It is kind of neat to walk around and explore a bit. Going inside was a bit of a let down as it is this long narrow walk way up that leads to a single room with a tomb. The area around it is really run down. All of Cairo was crowded and everything was in disrepair. Poor kids everywhere walking around in bare feet collecting trash. Then you head outside Cairo and there is New Cairo. A place that looks like it could be in Arizona. Department stores, plastic surgery clinics and fast food joints. Saqqara was actually better than the Pyramids in my Opinion. We do eventually want to get to Luxor. 2) Hurghada ----> Resort town on the Coast of Egypt. Really it is resorts with a bunch of waterparks. It was ok. We had a cruise stop there and ended up getting a day pass at a waterpark. Kids enjoyed it. Tonnes of Russians 3) Santorini and Mykonos -----> The views are great but you can tell not much has actually changed since the 80's. Of the two I would pick Santorini for the sunset views alone. 4) Crete and Cyprus ---> Was neat to see, but do not need to return. "Here is an old Ruin" with a crappy city beside it. 5) Lima --> Big city with the worse traffic I have ever seen. It takes so long to get anywhere there. They have some Ruins but they were pretty underwhelming. Skip all together 1) Dubai ----> Expensive, oppressive and while it looks really nice when you up close its boring and sterile. Museum of the future was decent. The kids liked Atlantis Hotel and the Waterpark there, but you can get that in other places. Cost us $600 to go up The Burj Khalifa and they gave you a "free Coffee" at the top. Malls are sterile. Food was terrible (unless you want to spend 400USD). The Global Village was a complete Flop. I wouldn't bother to be honest and I felt bad about the fact it was built on the back of essentially slaves from Bangladesh and India during modern days. 2) Rio De Janeiro/Christ the Redeemer --- > It was kind of cool i guess. The tram up was busy with long waits. Lots of crowds at the top. It was windy with garbage all over. You also never really felt safe outside of the hotel (lots of sketchy people and police with assault rifles around). Copacabana Beach was more cigarette butts than sand and the Hawkers were relentless there. I am used to them in my travels but they will not leave you alone even when you politely decline. Just my opinions. I had put something like this together for some friends and thought i would share it here.