What is the best place you've ever visited?

Ross_Scope

Hello everyone  

I hope you are all well.

I'd love to hear about all the marvellous places you've visited in the world. Whether it be a particular city, country or landmark, what is your favourite place that you've been to so far?

For me, I'm not the most well travelled person in the world but from what I have experienced I would have to say Cologne in Germany. I went there in December to go to the famous Christmas markets and it was beautiful. It was snowing whilst I was there which just added to the festive feeling.

What about you?

See also, where would you love to go in the future?

janer1967

My favourite would have to be Florida, for the Disney Parks and also swimming with dolphins at discovery cove

I also have a favourite place nearby called Burton Waters it is a marina full of nice boats and surrounded by restaurants and bars and nice little shops

Ross_Scope

I would love to visit Florida @janer1967, swimming with dolphins sounds amazing  

And Burton Waters also sounds lovely, do you go there often during normal times?

janer1967

Yes the swimming with dolphins was always a dream of mine and it was as good as I expected

I have been to Burton Waters a few times is is about 40 miles away, last went in August for the weekend

leeCal

Durham Cathedral is a wonderful building for me and I love the site it’s on overlooking the river. Beautiful.
Alnwick castle is brilliant too, lovely place.

Ross_Scope

Ah I'm delighted to hear that your dream was as good as you hoped @janer1967  

Both of those do sound picture esque @leeCal, cathedrals and castles always seem to be beautiful places to visit.

66Mustang

I really liked Portugal. I have been to Spain which is nice but my experience is there are a lot of tourists and British expats there. Portugal is quite similar but less “touristy” and a lot more “authentic”, and has some beautiful scenery and beaches, especially along the Algarve region.

janer1967

@66Mustang I agree Portugal is nice especially those custard tarts they do 

My favourite holiday destination is Cyprus lots of history and lots of modern too, would love to retire there

leeCal

Almost forgot, Snowdonia in North Wales is amazing, mountains, streams and waterfalls, wonderful countryside!

Ross_Scope

North Wales is indeed amazing @leeCal, as is the majority of Wales.

Thanks for the suggestion @66Mustang, I've not been to Portugal but it sounds lovely based on what you say there.

Chloe_Scope

Venice! I went last summer and just fell in love with it. Such a beautiful and unique place. 

janer1967

Has anyone been to the Italian lakes ?

Tori_Scope

I haven't @janer1967, but I think my Mum has. I remember seeing some amazing photos

woodbine

I spent 15 years of my working life on business trips to the Isle of Man and would love to go back just one last time after 23 years, trouble is for the two of us we can have a week in Spain for the price of 3 nights on the I.O.M
But our favourite place for holidays is Los Gigantes on the island of Tenerife very laid back not commercial and 3 or 4 degrees warmer than the rest of the island.

neuromum4

Barbados 

Geoark

River Wye, used to do a lot of canoeing there when I was a lot younger.

Last year went on the Norfolk Broads for the first time and had one of the best holidays I've ever had. We had booked to go back this year and rented a holiday chalet with the free use of a day boat, but this was cancelled due to Covid. We have now re-booked for next year  around the same time, early June. Just hope the weather is the same as it was this year. I did take a camera with me, but on the way home when I realised I had not taken any photos as I was too busy enjoying myself.

Cress

janer1967 said:

Has anyone been to the Italian lakes ?                                                Bellagio, lake como...several times, fell in love with the place.
Also lake garda, but didnt really like it there.

Ross_Scope

You know it's a lovely place when you completely forget to take photos @Geoark  

Geoark

@Ross_Scope I was up early one morning, grabbed a coffee, went onto the deck to enjoy the early morning. Spent 30 minutes watching the ground mist rolling by and getting thinner. One evening the clouds were in a massive horse shoe shape. Over a period of time the evening light played in the clouds, going from yellow to a deep purple then finally shades of grey and black. In a way I'm glad  that I didn't think about taking photos, concentrating on small patches rather than the whole show.

Then again I never understand people who go to concerts or other events and want to watch it through a small phone screen rather than just enjoying what is unfolding before them.

Dragonslayer

Probably for me the best place I have been is Hong Kong. It is very hard to describe with the old world nestled alongside the new. The skyscrapers can easily be described as the best in the world and very close to them is old China. I was working there for a while and travelled every morning on the ferries between the many islands along with Chinese workers who cooked their breakfast of rice and noodles while on the boat. I met many interesting people from all walks of life and surrounding countries.
I was even caught in a typhoon and had to evacuate on the last ferry out from the island I was working on and along with my fellow workers ended up on what we believed to be mainland China. But not sure about where we were. Then had to get a taxi to hop from island to island to get back to Hong Kong island. 

Tori_Scope

That sounds like an amazing experience @Dragonslayer! I'm sure you have lots of stories to tell from your time working there

leeCal

Sydney harbour is nice.

Dragonslayer

My Hong Kong experience was a once in a lifetime event never to be forgotten. @Tori_Scope
There are many memories of being there and stories to tell.
Maybe one day I will go back. 

But like many of lives experiences it is hard to revisit them. For they come when we least expect fhem.

We have to grasp them as they arise.
Or miss them at our peril. 

Tori_Scope

Great words @Dragonslayer! I have definitely passed up on opportunities in the past due to fear, so maybe I should take the plunge in the future when things have hopefully settled a bit more

leeCal

As far as fear is concerned. In the absence of a clear and present danger, the only thing present is fear @Tori_Scope, however common sense must prevail. There seems to be tendency to feel that the world is a playground just waiting to be explored by some, well in a way it is but it has very dangerous areas as well. If I was planning a trip abroad I’d be doing a lot of background checking. In fact that applies to any new venture I undertake. I don’t like gambling when the stakes are potentially high but I don’t mind taking a calculated risk when the odds are in my favour.

Tori_Scope

Thanks for the very sound advice @leeCal! I would definitely take the time to plan a trip thoroughly before setting off. I'm not a gambler at all There's nothing wrong with taking a calculated risk, though.

Cher_Scope

I was lucky enough to visit Croatia in 2018 and it was absolutely beautiful, especially Dubrovnik with its marble floors and all the stray cats looked after by the locals.  

I also have fond memories of Fistral beach in Newquay and, after this last weekend, Penbryn beach in Cardigan Bay.  The UK has lots of hidden beauty spots which continually surprise you! 

leeCal

Did you see any bottle nosed dolphins in cardigan bay @Cher_Scope?

Cher_Scope

@leeCal I did in the water's distance in Newquay! Also at Penbryn there was a sign saying they normally had seal pups on the beach but I didn't spot any.  

Chloe_Scope

I love Newquay @Cher_Scope! Such a great place.