From the Viking North to the Land Down Under, in searching exotic markets of the Far East or searching the farthest reaches of outer space, 2017 was another great year of adventures. In the past year, I’ve traveled over 57,400 miles, crossing 7 countries, visiting 29 cities, and spending 77 days on the road. Whether for pleasure or for work, I’ve been fortunate enough to explore this incredible planet, both near and far. Many people ask, “What was your favorite?” While every place and every adventure has a different wow-factor, here’s a rundown of my top 10 places I visited in 2017.
10. Ghost Hunting in Nashville, Tennessee
Take stories of singers, sex workers, and specters, mix them with beers and barbeque, and you’ve got the recipe for a perfect night out in Music City. Nashville has much more to offer than I’d ever imagined. Sure, everyone knows the city is the home of country music and honky-tonks, but its appeal is much broader than Blake Shelton or Dolly Parton. Blues, jazz, pop, and alternative rock all have a strong presence among the countless venues spread throughout the city. But the city has a rich supernatural history as well. Nothing sparks your craving for a beer more than bar hopping sprinkled with ghost stories and tales of the macabre. A 90-minute walking tour exploring the often untold stories of prostitutes, pirates, philanders, and phantoms was the perfect start for orienting me to Nashville’s music venues and watering holes.
9. Hiking the Dramatic Vistas of the Blue Mountains, Australia
Think of the Grand Canyon, but fill it with mist-cover valleys, wild cockatoos, and a tropical forest landscapes straight out of Jurassic Park and you have Australia’s Blue Mountains. Our expert local guide took us on a day-long journey to the area’s best known sites, as well as impressive vistas well off the beaten path. From hiking through eucalyptus forests to scaling crazy rock formations, it was a dramatic day communing with Mother Nature, just an hour and a half from one of the world’s greatest cities.
8. Sailing on a Junk Boat to Stanley, Hong Kong
What better way to escape the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong than to ride an iconic junk boat to one of the territory’s and most inviting villages? Stanley, located on Hong Kong Island’s southeastern tip, was one of the first European settlements on the island. The small town is a far cry from the megalopolis on the other side of the mountain. Seaside restaurants and one of Hong Kong’s best markets make Stanley a perfect day trip from the city. The leisurely boat ride to Stanley provided one-of-a-kind views of Hong Kong Island’s lesser-visited south side, while the taxi ride back allowed us to explore the dramatic tropical mountain scenery and impressive mansions that dot the peaks separating the two very different sides of the island.
7. Reveling in the Majesty of Gásadalsgarður Falls, Vágar Island, Faroe Islands
I actually caught myself holding my breath. I watched in awe as the water cascaded over the cliff and tumbled into the ocean far below. It isn’t tallest or most well-known waterfall in the world, but Gásadalsgarður is the most impressive I’ve ever seen. Not far from the airport, we went there immediately after landing in the Faroe Islands. I couldn’t have imagined a better welcome to these magical islands in the North Atlantic. Though I’d seen many pictures these stunning falls, this is one of those places that needs to be visited in person to understand how wondrous it truly is.
6. Cruising Sydney Harbour, Australia
Perfect weather, perfect water, and perfect views define Sydney. It’s a city that must be experienced from the water. From Darlington Harbour, we grabbed a seat on a tour boat only to find we were the only ones on the entire vessel, other than the crew. With full run of the boat, we approached the iconic Harbour Bridge from the west, rounded the point, and witnessed the magnificent Sydney Opera House come into full view. Even on land, the water remains the focus. Sydneysiders and visitors alike lounge in cafes and bars all along Circular Quay enjoying the sunshine and giving Australia’s largest city that relaxed charm everyone loves. There are a thousand things to do in Sydney, but the best may simply be watching the world go by.
5. Making Contact at the VLA, New Mexico
Pop culture, science fiction, and my own childhood fantasies of being an astronaut converged in a thoroughly enjoyable geek-out in the high desert of New Mexico. As I wandered among the massive dishes that make up the VLA radio telescope, images of Jodie Foster lying on her pickup listening to alien signals in the movie Contact came flooding back to me. VLA stands for the Very Large Array. What it lacks in name creativity, it makes up for in scope. There are 28 of these dish antennae spread over 26 square miles in a Y-spaded array. Together, they can peer into the farthest reaches of the universe. A small museum at the visitor’s center offers a 20-minute film about how the whole thing works. But it’s the scale of the overall experience that is out of this world.
4. Walking Among the Puffins on Mykines Island, Faroe Islands
Puffins! Everywhere I looked, I was surrounded by these rare sea birds. I never imagined we’d see so many of these endangered animals, which look like the result of a wild night between toucan and a penguin. The westernmost of the Faroe Islands, Mykines (pronounced MEESH-ness) is as remote as you can get in the Faroes. The only access is via helicopter or a 45-minute ferry ride. In poor weather, the island can be cut off for days. But lucky for us, we had bright sunshine, cloudless skies, and relatively calm seas for our visit. The 5-mile return hike to the lighthouse at the western promontory took us smack-dab through the middle of the breeding colony. At times, the harrowing cliff-side trails made me rethink the sanity of our choice to trek to this far end of Europe, but it was one hell of an adventure; an experience I’ll never forget!
3. Reaching New Heights at Tian Tan, Lantau, Hong Kong
Getting to the world’s largest outdoor seated metal Buddha is half the adventure. The Tian Tan Buddha sits atop a small mountain on Hong Kong’s Lantau Island. And the best way to get there is a 20-minute gondola ride over the bay and into the mountains. While the commercial “village” surrounding the monument has a Disneyesque quality, the nearby Po Lin Monastery is a much more beautiful and serene place to visit. Finally, after climbing the 268 steps to the Buddha we are rewarded, not only with a close up of the 34 meter-high deity seated on a three-tier lotus flower altar, but with amazing views of the surrounding mountains covered in rolling clouds.
2. Exploring the Controlled Chaos of Hong Kong
Hong Kong is in the running to be one of my favorite cities on the planet. Everything about this metropolis is designed to wow. It has all of the convenience and bustle of a world-class city like New York, but with the otherworldly exotic feel of the Far East. With a population of over 7.3 million people, it can be an extremely crowded place. Yet, no matter where you are, escape is just minutes away, whether it be the extensive network of tropical hiking trails or boarding one of the many ferries, sailboats, or watercraft coasting among the territory’s many islands. But getting lost among the winding streets of Hong Kong urban interior is an explorer’s dream. The calm majesty of its incense-filled temples, the colors and chaos of its street markets, the peace and tranquility of its hidden parks, and the countless restaurants, stalls, and eateries to tempt ever taste makes Hong Kong an ever-changing pleasure.
1. Tracking the Legends of Kalsoy Island, Faroe Islands
A land steeped in Viking mythology and home to one of the most captivating hiking trails in the world, the remote island of Kalsoy is a must-visit when traveling to the Faroe Islands. The island is only accessible via car ferry a few times a day. On the ride over, it’s quite easy to distinguish the hearty and stoic local folk from the wide-eyed tourists snapping photos as the ferry navigates the dramatic fjords. A single road runs the length of 17-kilometer long island, weaving through single-lane tunnels and skirting the edges of the mountains that rise directly out of the sea. Along the route we stopped in the village of Mikladulur to view the statue of the legendary Kópakonan, or seal woman, that graces the local harbor. At the far end of the island, we stopped in Trøllanes (which translates to “troll peninsula”), where we started our hike to the end of the world. A hearty stroll around the island’s tallest peak leads to the isolated lighthouse of Kallur, which sits atop the confluence of two fjords. Ever-present fog and low-hanging clouds definitely make it feel as if mystic creatures could call this spectacular wilderness home.
