One thing that blossoms in a person's twenties is wanderlust. The strong desire to travel. Perhaps this wanderlust stems from the vigorous search for things in this world to tell us who we are. I believe that we find bits and pieces of ourselves in the beautiful wonders of this world. It is not just the architecture that makes these places spectacular for that would be too shallow, but also the culture, the people, and the feeling each place gives you that makes you who you are and ultimately drives you to be a better person.
1. Venice Beach, California
A place where all kinds of eccentric personalities clash in one beautifully hectic aura of reggae music, expressive art, bulky jewelry, skateboard parks, bicyclists, rollerblading, fashion (or lack of clothing entirely), and homeless people smoking medical marijuana on the side of the boardwalk. Here, anything goes. No one pressures others to be anyone but who they are.
2. Smokey Mountains - Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg, Tennessee
A sea of trees where the land elevates like a wave in the ocean frozen in time forever. The first thought I had upon seeing this view for the first time was: God is good. If He created these mountains with love then He crafted us just as beautifully.
3. The D'Uomo, Florence, Italy
The city where the Renaissance spontaneously bloomed, shocking everyone with a new and eccentric style of art. This place is the city where taking risks leads you to unexpected places and multiple vantage points allowing you to see the world from different angles. Also, this city is know for its gorgeous and inexpensive leather vendors, delicious food, and the best wine to ever slip past your lips.
4. Topsail Island, North Carolina
Many twenty somethings usually visit Myrtle Beach, South Carolina during Spring Break for the ragers and bar scenes but Topsail Island is a pirate's hidden buried treasure. It is a quiet and unknown beauty that captivates your heart with breathtaking sunrises, excellent sea food, a vast ocean, and the friendliest people you will ever have the pleasure of meeting.
5. Christmas Market, Krakow, Poland
It is a magical market full of food, hot wine, polish sausage, and handmade gifts galore. I did most of my shopping here because zloty, polish currency, is much less than the euro and the US dollar. Be careful: you can buy such beautiful things and get very, very carried away. Ornaments, scarves, and pierogies! This place was magical.
6. Colosseum, Rome, Italy
Pick a dream and a place will surely follow. My dream was to study abroad in Europe. The one thing that sparked that dream was the Coliseum. I flew to see this historically old, run-down colossal arena built for gladiators for the sole purpose of entertainment, Stared at it all day with pride.
7. Edinburgh, Scotland
It pours rain all the time here but no matter how soaked you get,the atmosphere is lively, the food is devine, and the people speak really fast so try to keep up! The Royal Mile is a strip of shopping where you can find so many treasures but beware...the pound is EXPENSIVE.
8. Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
I sat on a bench in the center of one of the greatest libraries in the world with the words, thoughts, and opinions of the greatest philosophers, poets, and writers swirling all around me. It was humbling to be in the presence of great thinkers who built the foundation of the world we live in today.
9. St. Peter's Basilica, Rome, Italy
Seeing the beauty of this building's architecture made me realize how amazingly talented human beings have to be in order to create a masterpiece as big as St. Peter's Basilica. It also reminded me that we can create beautiful things but also destroy them.
10. Trevi Fountain, Rome, Italy
Make a wish...or two, maybe even three.
11. Assisi, Italy
Simply beautiful.
12. Subiaco, Italy
It seems that everywhere you go in Italy you are always hiking. No matter what. It's the same with life...nothing but an uphill battle. But I've learned that the struggle is worth it. Because whatever it is that awaits you at the top will be breath taking. When you are unprepared for what you have gotten yourself into, you wind up loving yourself more for reaching the top.
