The Top 3 Touristy Destinations Still on My Bucket List

My travel list isn’t ten miles long anymore. It used to be, but over time, it changed. I'm starting to narrow it down. It's still pretty extensive, but it's not longer endless.

Don't get me wrong, there are still plenty of places I’d love to visit someday, but these three? These are the ones I keep coming back to. The ones that feel unfinished until I’ve seen them for myself. They're all pretty mainstream, popular tourist destinations, but I like that... and have been close to all of them, but did not have enough time to take the additional trip(s).

Amalfi Coast
This one has never left my list. I have been to Italy, but there is just something about The Amalfi Coast. The cliffs, the ocean stretching out forever, it almost doesn’t look real. I want to sit with a coffee overlooking the water, take slow walks through the towns, and just experience the kind of pace that feels completely different from everyday life.

Venice (and the nearby islands)
Yes, I know it's a touristy city and not everyone loves it, but I still want to go (I like touristy destinations, and while some people say that makes me not an 'authentic' traveler, I would beg to differ). A city built on water, where you walk everywhere and get lost on purpose? Yes, that's my cup of tea. And the nearby islands, like Burano and Murano, add even more color and character. It feels like a place you have to experience at least once. I'd love to spend a few days roaming around Venice and its nearby islands. Maybe I'd even like to take that trip solo.

Amsterdam
Amsterdam feels easy in the best way. Beautiful without trying too hard. I picture canals, bikes, quiet streets, and just a really comfortable rhythm of life. It seems like the kind of place where you can wander all day and never feel rushed. I'd like to see the Anne Frank home, and visit the scenery that looks nothing less than precious in all of the videos I've seen online and in travel books and magazines. A firsthand view is always better than what you can find in print or online.

So, That's My Top Three
Not everything. Not everywhere. Just the places that have stuck since I started traveling many years ago but have not yet gotten to see. Seems like other opportunites pop up that have usurped these over the years, and it's high time I make these three destinations my top priority. While it's not always ideal to go to two different countries while on vacation, maybe a 2-week trip to get them all done at once is on my future agenda. 

Or... a trip to the two cities in Italy over the summer, and a trip to Amsterdam and maybe some nearby cities when the Christmas Markets come around. 🛫