I was writing to an old friend from work today about places in the world that I still want to visit. While trying to remember how to spell “Lechuguilla” Caverns I stumbled on this page (and this one) which has some absolutely amazing photos. Lechuguilla is high on the list of places to visit before I die, but it’s also very difficult to get access to.
A few of the other places on my list (since people ask a lot) are:
- Australia and New Zealand – This one will be a trip that lasts several months some day, but I’m waiting to first meet exactly the right travel partner.
- The Himalayas – The dream is to spend a few months trekking in Nepal, Pakistan, and/or Tibet with just a backpack and a camera.
- Pribiloff Islands, Alaska – If you’ve ever seen a picture of a puffin or a walrus, there’s a good chance it was taken here.
- Polar Bear National Park, Manitoba – I need to do some research to find out if there’s a lesser known place in which polar bears can be seen, otherwise Manitoba will be the spot to visit.
- McNeill River Sanctuary, Alaska – Highest concentration of grizzly bears in the world.
- Turkey – A girl I met on a train in Greece in 1998 put this one on the list.
There are hundreds of others; throw a dart at a map and you’ll hit something interesting. Easter Island, Machu Picchu, Siberia, Africa, the Great Wall of China, and so many others. Plus, there’s no doubt that I’ll return to the Galapagos, Alaska, and Europe. One lifetime isn’t enough.