There are two kinds of travelers: those who always want to go somewhere new, and those who only want to go back to “their place.” It has to be “their coffee shop,” “their breakfast spot,” “their restaurant,” “their beach.” To each his own, I say!
I used to be the type who never wanted to go back to the same place. I wasn’t obsessed with checking every country off a list or visiting a zillion cities. I just wanted to keep seeing and experiencing new things! But having been so very unable to travel lately, I’ve been reflecting on places I could see myself living, or simply see my self visiting over and over again! So here’s my list. What’s on yours?
Alexandria, VA
If you’ve known me for any substantial amount of time, you probabaly already know that I lived in a couple of historic homes in Old Town Alexandria and worked as a tour guide there before I got married! It remains one of my favorite places! I love the Saturday morning farmers’ market, I love the amazing restaurants, and of course, I love the history! My favorite running trail is the Mount Vernon Trail that goes right through the Old Town and along the river, too. I love it, and I could definitely go back again and again and again!
Read on: 10 Reasons to Visit Old Town Alexandria
The Baltics
Our trip to the Baltics was one of the most pleasant travel surprises ever! We didn’t know a lot about the Baltics before we went, but Steve wanted to go, so we went. The people were so kind, the summer days are so long, and the whole region is absolutely adorable! The people who live there seemed to truly be excited for us to be there and wanted to make sure we had a good experience. I would go back to Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia any time. And one of these days I will!
More here: So, What are the Baltics?
Guam
Very few Americans have been to this beautiful American territory, but Steve and I have been twice, and we would both like to go back again! It’s one place in the world where we feel we can truly relax. We love the beauty, the island breezes, the food, and most of all, the kindness and helpfulness of the people on Guam. It’s quite a journey to get there from D.C., but the destination is well worth it. We can’t wait to go back!
Keep reading: The Ultimate Guide to Guam
Hawai’i
Not only is this a place Steve and I want to visit again, it’s a place we try to go back to every year! We visited O’ahu for our first anniversary, and we decided then and there that we wanted to go to an island for our anniversary every year. So far, we’ve been to O’ahu, Kaua’i, the Big Island, Mau’i, and Molokai, and Lana’i is next! We love Hawaii in particular for its beauty, ease of travel, incredible hiking, hospitality, amazing food, just everything. We had to cancel our anniversary trip this year because of the pandemic, but we’re ready to get back as soon as they’ll let us in!
More here: How to Choose the Best Hawaiian Islands for You
Liechtenstein
Little Liechtenstein is one of the cutest countries on the planet! It’s the 6th smallest country in the world, and an actual prince lives in an actual castle there! It was an easy add-on to our winter trip to Switxerland a couple of years ago, since they use the Swiss Franc and the Swiss Rail Pass is good there, too. We only spent two days here, but we were already planning to return before we even left. We haven’t made it back yet, but we plan to go again some day soon!
More here: What to Know Before You Visit Liechtenstein
Salzburg, Austria
Our trip to Salzburg will forever be one of the all-time best trips I’ve ever taken. The history rivals that of any major European city, but its small-town nature is what takes its charm over the top! Everyone we encountered was kind, from the hotel staff at the Hotel Sacher to the woman who captained our river boat ride!
I just couldn’t get over the architecture, the food, and, of course, the Sound of Music! I would even venture to say this is one of the best budget destinations because the Salzburg Card saved us a ton of cash! We would definitely go back to stay at the Hotel Sacher, eat Sacher tortes for every meal, and walk the historic streets for hours on end, just as we did before. We visited in fall, but I can’t wait to go back and experience Salzburg in every season!
More here: The Top 10 Sound of Music Sites in Salzburg
Siem Reap, Cambodia
My trip to the Angkor Wat, Bantey Srei, and Bayon Temples turned out to be one of the most memorable trips I’ve ever taken. Seeing these thousand-year-old temples with their intricate detail, skilled stonework, and daily use, even all these years later, was very meaningful to me. I loved the respect that people had for the history of these places, and it made my heart happy to see that the locals were genuinely glad to have us there so they could show off their country’s beauty and history.
For decades, Cambodia has been known as a place where genocide and civil war were mainstays, and where mines still litter people’s back yards and farmland. But seeing beyond that to the many hundreds of years’ worth of beauty, history, and now restoration gave me hope for positive changes to happen in our own world. I’d love to go back to Cambodia and see the temples again, as well as explore the rest of the country.
More here: What to Know Before You Visit Siem Reap, Cambodia
Stowe, VT
Stowe, Vermont, has something very special in common with Salzburg… the von Trapp family! After fleeing the Nazis and performing around the United States, Maria and Georg settled with their large brood in the mountains of Stowe. You, too, can stay at the Trapp Family Lodge like we did, even if you’re not a Sound of Music fan!
The town is basically a resort town catering to outdoor enthusiasts with skiing, mountain biking, running, and more! The little town of Stowe is too adorable for words, and in nearby Woodbury, you’ll find the Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream Factory and the Green Mountain Coffee Cafe and Visitor Center! I want to go back ASAP. It’s beautiful, adorable, and the maple syrup literally flows from the trees!
More here: Staying at the Trapp Family Lodge
Sydney, Australia
Sydney will always hold a special place in my heart because 1. it was the first place Steve and I traveled to together after we started dating, and 2. it was the dream destination of mine from the time I was a little girl! I think I saw it on the old TV show, The Facts of Life, and I was fascinated by the Sydney Opera House, kangaroos, koalas, the fact that it was once a penal colony, and more. I’d always wanted to go, and Steve made it happen for me!
Not only did he make my dream of visiting come true, he also made sure we got to take a tour of the Sydney Opera House and that we got to see an actual opera there, too! I loved every moment of that trip, and we’ve been back twice since then. And if I’m honest, I’m ready to go back again now!
Read next: Solo Travel: Sydney, Australia
Verona, Italy
I wanted to visit Verona for Valentine’s Day because of the Romeo and Juliet connection, and because I thought it would be very romantic. And it absolutely was. However, I didn’t expect to kind of fall in love with the town while we were there. It was absolutely adorable, very walkable, and for lovers, there’s no more romantic place to be, especially for Valentine’s Day!
We loved the people the accommodations (our boutique hotel shared a courtyard with Juliet’s house!), the pizza, the history (Roman ruins, World War II, Romeo and Juliet, and more), the “tiny town” feel—it was all enchanting. I could definitely see us visiting again, and possibly living there if we decided to ever move abroad!
More here: Why You Should Spend Valentine’s Day in Verona
So how about you? Where could you travel back to again and again? Comment below to tell us all about your favorite places in the world!
Want more travel inspiration? Check out all my travel lists on my Travel Tips Page!
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