We all have a bucket list, a collection of things we’d like to do, and places we’d like to see at some point in our lives. Some people have very rare items on their list, like taking part in a circus performance or learning to become ambidextrous, while others may want to overcome a fear or get a tattoo.
Some items are trendy, including taking a once-in-a-lifetime trip to one of several legendary locations. Here are some of those destinations that you must visit at some point in your life.
Las Vegas
Las Vegas is unique for its glitz and glamour
Las Vegas is the original casino destination city. Its legendary Vegas Strip is lined with some of the world’s most famous casinos, themed architecture, A-list celebrity entertainment, and more Elvis Presley imagery than you can count.
The endless references to Las Vegas in pop culture, including songs, books, TV, and films, are all helping to create the allure of the city. This is why people considering casino trips as part of their travel plans will almost always pick Las Vegas.
It’s not just casinos that you’ll find in Las Vegas, though. There is something for just about everyone. For foodies, the city is home to some of the best restaurants in the world, including several Michelin starred establishments, as well as plenty of lower-cost options for those on a budget.
Vegas also has the infamous Heart Attack Grill, a medical-themed restaurant where guests wear hospital gowns at the table.
For thrill-seekers, Las Vegas has some unique attractions. SkyJump at the Stratosphere Tower lets adrenaline junkies step off the top of the hotel’s roof, reaching speeds of 40mph as they plummet (safely) down the 829 feet drop.
For petrol heads, Las Vegas Motor Speedway lets guests drive several sports and race cars, including legendary brands Like Ferrari, Porsche, and Lamborghini.
Disneyland or Disney World
Caption: Many dream of visiting Disney World
When Walt Disney created the Disney World, he wanted to provide a perfect experience for guests of all ages. Everything would be magical, every trip would run smoothly, and every experience would leave a lasting impression for years to come.
This was extended way beyond just a theme park, though. Disney World enjoys unique privileges that you won’t find anywhere else in the world. It is the only theme park in the world to have a no-fly zone, created to prevent skywriters advertising to guests but now also creating clear skies not enjoyed elsewhere.
EPCOT is now just another theme park within the Disney World site, but it was initially conceived as being a prototype for modern living. The name was originally an acronym for “Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow,” where future technologies could be trialed and new urban planning concepts would be pioneered.
As part of this, a law was passed in 1967 that gave Walt Disney the right to build and operate his own nuclear reactor to power the town, and although this was never built, Disney is still allowed to do it if it wanted. Although Walt’s EPCOT dream was never realized, there are inhabited streets where people live according to the strict Disney rules.
If these oddities don’t interest you, then the opportunity to shake hands with Mickey Mouse and have your photo taken with Daffy Duck might excite you. Along with the daily parades, firework displays, and world-class rides and rollercoasters, it really is the Magic Kingdom.
St Petersburg
The raising of the bridges is a big event in St Petersburg
When people think of Russia, they often think of Moscow. The historic Red Square surrounded by the infamous Kremlin, the glamorous department store of GUM, the bright red State Historical Museum, and the breathtakingly beautiful St Basil’s Cathedral. Moscow is by far the most popular tourist city in the country, as people admire the wide streets, open parks, and electric atmosphere.
However, fewer tourists think of St Petersburg when they picture Russia. By forgetting about it, they’re missing out on some of the most extraordinary sights in the world. The beautiful Winter Palace on the edge of the river provides majestic rooms lined with gold and amber.
The canals and bridges will almost convince you that you’re in Venice or Amsterdam until you try to read a sign in Cyrillic. These same bridges over the city’s waterways provide their own unique attraction.
The city raises these bridges just once per day, allowing boats to pass in and out of the city only during the night. While in many other cities around the world, the raising of bridges is seen as an inconvenience that causes congestion, the people of St Petersburg have turned it into a major event that attracts tourists from across Russia and the world.
Tourists pack into tour boats and along the sides of the embankments to witness the raising of these beautifully lit drawbridges.
St Petersburg is also home to Peterhof Palace. This grand residence was constructed on the orders of Tsar Peter the Great, who the city is named after. One of the best ways to get to the city is by boat, greeting you with breathtaking views of the Grand Cascade and Samson Fountain, a beautiful, gold water feature made up of 64 separate gravity-fed fountains that all run without any mechanical pumps.
One of the things that makes St Petersburg stand out from other major Russian cities is the period in June and July known as the “white nights.” This is a period where the sun doesn’t completely set over the city, meaning its residents are cast in permanent daylight. The phenomenon is thanks to the city’s northern location.
Everyone’s bucket list is different. It is a personal reflection of what we hold dear, what interests and excites us, and how we like to spend our time. Some lists will contain simple things and common items, while some will contain something a little different and extraordinary.
Whatever’s on your list though, you should consider visiting the places on this list. They contain some of the biggest feats of human endeavor and boast unique attributes that make each destination very different from anywhere else in the world.
