A Brummie Home and Abroad’s Travel Wishlist (Part Two)

It’s been a couple of years now since I wrote about the first places on my travel wishlist. I assumed this would be a continuing series until I got through the 500 places or so on my wishlist, but I somehow forgot all about it. So whilst trawling through Pinterest the other day (as I have a tendency to do on a regular basis), I decided to revive this post with five more places on my current travel wishlist.

You can read my previous list here – Travel Wishlist Part One. Not a Bucket List. Regular readers will note that from this list I’ve managed to knock off two places – Germany’s Romantic Road and Costa Rica.

So here, in no particular order, are 5 more places that have made it on to my travel wish list.

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On the travel wishlist: Naxos 

Santorini is so out. Who wants to fight with hundreds of people every evening to get a sunset spot at Oia? Everyone’s seen the photos on Instagram anyway. So how about the slighter lesser known Cyclades island of Naxos? There’s ancient Byzantine history, quaint colourful villages, and pristine sandy beaches with crystal clear blue waters. And being Greece, there’s also warm hospitality, charming tavernas – and lovely, sweet baklava. It’s an island which focuses largely on agriculture and mountain life. And towering over the landscape is the marble entrance to the never-completed Temple of Apollo

Looking for a villa in Naxos?

In September 2019, Mr Fletche and I ticked off one of the items on our travel wishlist, and spent an amazing week on Naxos. We even had a bonus unexpected day in Athens.

On the travel wishlist: Liverpool 

Despite being just over 100 miles up the M6, I’ve only ever been to Liverpool for business, not pleasure (and to watch Everton with the ex, which was generally torture and not pleasure). And yet everyone that’s been raves about what a fab destination this is for a city break. From musical nostalgia to museums, a ferry ride across the River Mersey to historic docks, the iconic Three Graces peppering the skyline to a strong independent scene (Independent Liverpool is sibling to our very own beloved Independent Birmingham), Liverpool may not be the first UK city on everyone’s wishlist but I can’t wait to visit!

Another one that we’ve managed to tick off the travel wishlist! We visited Liverpool in February 2019.

On the travel wishlist: Singapore 

The idea of travelling southeast Asia has never particularly floated my boat, but somehow Singapore keeps popping up on my wishlist. Maybe its because its such a well-developed, cosmopolitan island nation, which goes against all of my stereotypical images of travelling through Asia on a shoestring budget with all my worldly goods in a backpack. It has cutting edge architecture, a great public transport system and amazing after dark light shows at Gardens by the Bay. Oh, and that infinity pool at the Marina Bay Sands Hotel. I always thought I’d save Singapore for a layover on a flight Down Under, but I’m definitely leaning towards an SE Asia multi-country trip, maybe twinning with Malaysia? No backpacks though.

You can read one of my favourite travel blogger guides to Singapore here – Emily Luxton: 3 day Singapore Itinerary

On the travel wishlist: Japan

It seems like the world and it’s dog have visited Japan over the last couple of years, with over 27 million visiting last year according to the Japanese National Tourism Organisation. So why is the “Land of the Rising Sun” so popular? I guess the civilised people, delicious food and stunning landscapes are a starter for ten. It’s a country of contradiction, space-age technology and constant development on one hand, and a long history of culture, tradition and ritual on the other. There is the chaos of Tokyo, juxtaposed with the springtime cherry blossoms of Yoshino, and then there’s the ancient Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines of Kyoto. And there’s Mount Fuji – you can click here to find ex-Japan resident Josy’s experience of climbing the country’s highest mountain!

Oh, how close we were to ticking this one off our travel wishlist in March 2020. And, then, well, we know what happened then. So Japan is back on the wishlist.

On the travel wishlist: Driving the Oregon coast

Mr Fletche and I love a road trip, and we’ve done three amazing trips in North America so far – British Columbia and Alberta in Canada in 2018, New England in 2013 and Nevada, Arizona and California in 2010. You can read more about my USA Roadtrip Highlights here. Next time we’d love to drive the Pacific Northwest coast, after maybe spending a few days discovering Portland and Mount Hood National Park.

A north to south roadtrip would start in Astoria, and then down to the aptly named beach resort town of Seaside. Endless Pacific Ocean views at Ecola State Park and Cannon Beach (home of The Goonies!).  Tillamook cheese factory. A short diversion to the Three Capes. Oegon’s tallest lighthouse at Yaquina Head and then hiking trails aplenty at Cape Perpetua. The gently rolling Oregon Dunes. The big city of Coos Bay, before the small-town charm of Bandon. Does it sound like I may already have this trip planned out?

Of course, from my Part One list Madrid, Machu Picchu and Dublin still remain. How many of these places can I cross off before I do a Part 3? Have you been to any of these places – let me have your blog links and recommendations if so!