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2023 had me visiting 12 countries with Luxembourg and Peru being added this year. We saw a lot, had some great meals, and are looking forward to exploring even more in 2024. It’s hard to pick what was best since we enjoyed so many things for different reasons, but here are five that stood out.
My five favorite sites seen in 2023:
5. The Beaches of Exuma
Exuma has quickly become one of my favorite islands in the world. It’s not overcrowded and offers miles of unspoiled beaches with fun wildlife and lots of spots to catch some rays and relax. I’m hoping to get back in 2024 as it truly is paradise. Here are my thoughts on the sea turtles we found there. If you plan to stay, I recommend Kestrel Cottage (full review here).
Address: Various beaches throughout Great Exuma
4. Martha’s Vineyard Camp
Martha’s Vineyard is adorable with great restaurants, fun shopping, and welcoming community. One of the coolest parts of the island is the Martha’s Vineyard Camp Meeting Association. These storybook homes look like they came out of a fairytale and have been attracting visitors since they were built in the 1800s.
Address: 80 Trinity Park, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557
3. European Christmas Markets
It’s hard to choose a favorite Christmas market in Europe. In my opinion, they’re all pretty magical. Other years have seen us shopping and sipping mulled wine in Italy, Switzerland, or Germany. This year we went to Christmas markets in Budapest, Luxembourg, and Paris. There is something special about finding homemade gifts, sampling sweets, and indulging in plates of raclette in a festive environment. Here are my thoughts about Cologne’s markets from last year.
Address: Christmas markets are in almost every city throughout Europe.
2. Bran and Peles Castles
What could be spookier than Dracula’s castle? We went to a Halloween costume party at Bran Castle this year (more here). While in Romania, we also went to check out the much more ornate Peles Castle. Both offer a glimpse into the past with a dark and haunting past that you’d find in a horror novel.
Address: Bran Castle: Strada General Traian Moșoiu 24, Bran 507025, Romania | Peles Castle: Aleea Peleșului 2, Sinaia 106100, Romania
1. Machu Picchu
We took a day trip to one of the Seven Wonders of the World this year (more here). It’s a trek to get there with a car, train, and bus ride to reach the 15th-century Inca citadel, but it’s well worth the effort to see this magnificent mountain fortress. Just be careful as altitude sickness is no joke and we suffered for a few days in Cuzco.
Address: 08680, Peru
Anthony’s Take: These are just five of many places we saw in 2023. They stood out for their beauty and the memories have stayed with us. Looking forward to exploring a lot more of the world in 2024.
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