52 Places to Go in 2014

1. Visit Cape Town SOUTH AFRICA

A place to meditate on freedom, and the creative life that followed.

Cape Town is home to the iconic Table Mountain, offering breathtaking panoramic views of the city.

203 people are doing this goal:

2. Visit Christchurch NEW ZEALAND

The rebirth of a quake-ravaged city.

Christchurch is known as the "Garden City" due to its abundance of beautiful parks and gardens.

87 people are doing this goal:

3. Visit the California North Coast CALIFORNIA

A glorious new preserve for the public.

58 people are doing this goal:

4. Visit the Albanian Coast ALBANIA

On a rugged shore, Europe at its best.

36 people are doing this goal:

5. Visit Downtown Los Angeles LOS ANGELES

Downtown? Really? Yes, thanks to a thriving food scene.

70 people are doing this goal:

6. Visit Namibia

Africa’s latest conservation success story is a boon for travelers.

53 people are doing this goal:

7. Visit Ecuador

Epic biodiversity, and a newly renovated railway to get you there.

The Amazon Rainforest covers a large part of Ecuador, offering incredible biodiversity and adventure opportunities.

53 people are doing this goal:

8. Visit Quang Binh VIETNAM

Now open: One of the world’s largest caves.

Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park is home to the world's largest cave, Son Doong.

25 people are doing this goal:

9. Visit Perth AUSTRALIA

For Australian panache, go west.

Perth is the sunniest capital city in Australia, averaging 3,200 hours of sunshine per year.

88 people are doing this goal:

10. Visit Rotterdam NETHERLANDS

First-class architecture in the Netherlands’ second city.

Rotterdam is home to the largest port in Europe and boasts a distinctive modern skyline due to its reconstruction after World War II.

201 people are doing this goal:

11. Visit Taiwan

Urban and outdoor pursuits in one (reasonably) compact package.

71 people are doing this goal:

12. Visit Frankfurt GERMANY

An infusion of hip night life wakes up a humdrum city.

Frankfurt is known as "Mainhattan" due to its impressive skyline and being located on the River Main.

98 people are doing this goal:

13. Visit Addis Ababa ETHIOPIA

An ambitious art scene heads toward the international stage.

Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, is the highest capital city in Africa, sitting at an elevation of 2,355 meters (7,726 feet) above sea level.

26 people are doing this goal:

14. Visit Fernando de Noronha BRAZIL

A world-class World Cup getaway.

Fernando de Noronha is a protected marine park with some of the best diving spots in Brazil.

52 people are doing this goal:

15. Visit Nashville TENNESSEE

Leather jackets and skinny jeans join cowboy boots.

The most popular thing to do in Nashville is to explore the vibrant live music scene and visit iconic music venues such as the Grand Ole Opry and the Country Music Hall of Fame.

377 people are doing this goal:

16. Visit Scotland

New reasons to play, and watch players, in Scotland’s yards.

Scotland's national animal is the unicorn, symbolizing purity and power in Scottish folklore.

783 people are doing this goal:

17. Visit Calgary CANADA

An oil boom town gets its cultural legs.

Calgary, Canada, is home to the world's largest outdoor rodeo, the Calgary Stampede.

69 people are doing this goal:

18. Visit Ishigaki Island JAPAN

Sand and surf, now a (low-cost) hop from Osaka.

28 people are doing this goal:

19. Visit the Laikipia Plateau KENYA

A pristine slice of biodiversity is home to a new luxury eco-resort.

14 people are doing this goal:

20. Visit Yogyakarta INDONESIA

A volcano, a temple, a shrine and now a place to stay.

33 people are doing this goal:

21. Visit Lake Tahoe NEVADA

A ski area spruces up with new terrain, lodging and an entire base village.

204 people are doing this goal:

22. Visit Yorkshire ENGLAND

A photogenic (and historic) ale trail.

78 people are doing this goal:

23. Visit Dubai UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Reborn, relentless and still over the top.

Dubai is home to the tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa, standing at a staggering height of 828 meters.

228 people are doing this goal:

24. Visit the Vatican VATICAN CITY

New saints, a new(ish) pope and newly restored treasures beckon.

250 people are doing this goal:

25. Visit the Uruguayan Riviera URUGUAY

South American beach towns, before they go upscale.

20 people are doing this goal:

26. Visit Chennai INDIA

A cultural capital springs to life.

Chennai's Marina Beach is one of the longest urban beaches in the world.

34 people are doing this goal:

27. Visit Seychelles

An African luxury hot spot that’s become easier to get to.

130 people are doing this goal:

28. Visit Krabi THAILAND

A Phuket-like hideaway, but still unspoiled.

Krabi's Railay Beach is only accessible by boat due to surrounding limestone cliffs.

48 people are doing this goal:

29. Visit Aspen COLORADO

Ditch those poles. Art and bike trails await.

48 people are doing this goal:

30. Visit the Highlands of Iceland

Natural wonders are in danger. Go see them before it’s too late.

39 people are doing this goal:

31. Visit Umeå SWEDEN

Soundscapes and culture shine in northern Sweden.

20 people are doing this goal:

32. Visit Xishuangbanna CHINA

Skip smog-choked cities — and face masks — and head out to China’s wild frontier.

19 people are doing this goal:

33. Visit Andermatt SWITZERLAND

A mountain makeover from overlooked to opulent.

16 people are doing this goal:

34. Visit Indianapolis INDIANA

In the land of cars, cycling (and culture) get the limelight.

Indianapolis is home to the world's largest single-day sporting event, the Indy 500.

46 people are doing this goal:

35. Visit the Mekong River VIETNAM

River cruising swells on the Danube of Asia.

23 people are doing this goal:

36. Visit Athens GREECE

Out of an economic crisis, a city surges back.

The number one most popular thing to do in Athens, Greece is to visit the iconic ancient landmark of the Acropolis and explore its magnificent Parthenon.

293 people are doing this goal:

37. Visit Barahona DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

A scenic, low-key destination on the verge of discovery.

15 people are doing this goal:

38. Visit the Arctic circle

Chasing the northern lights? This might be the year.

47 people are doing this goal:

39. Visit Dar es Salaam TANZANIA

On the African coast, music thrives in a commercial capital.

20 people are doing this goal:

40. Visit Downtown Atlanta GEORGIA

A revitalized city center welcomes new museums and streetcars.

46 people are doing this goal:

41. Visit Nozawa Onsen JAPAN

Skiing, soba and snow monkeys.

18 people are doing this goal:

42. Visit Subotica SERBIA

Serbian wine? Time to take a sip.

15 people are doing this goal:

43. Visit Elsinore DENMARK

A museum’s entrance makes for something new in the state of Denmark.

Stroll through Helsingør's charming old town, with its cobblestone streets and colorful half-timbered houses.

33 people are doing this goal:

44. Visit Cartmel ENGLAND

Haute cuisine comes to the lush landscapes of the Lake District.

20 people are doing this goal:

45. Visit Nepal

New peaks open up for alpine adventurers.

The official language is Nepali, but English is widely understood in tourist areas.

119 people are doing this goal:

46. Visit Vienna AUSTRIA

Feel like reminiscing? A city is awash in anniversaries.

Visiting the stunning Schönbrunn Palace, the former imperial summer residence, is a must-do when in Vienna.

441 people are doing this goal:

47. Visit Siem Reap CAMBODIA

Even a 1,200-year-old lost city has some new draws.

Siem Reap is home to the magnificent Angkor Wat, the largest religious monument in the world.

51 people are doing this goal:

48. Visit Varazdin CROATIA

Croatia’s architectural and musical gem lies inland.

17 people are doing this goal:

49. Visit St Petersburg FLORIDA

Reinventing a Florida city’s reputation.

St. Petersburg, Florida holds the Guinness World Record for the most consecutive days of sunshine, with 768 days of sun in a row.

37 people are doing this goal:

50. Visit Belize

More flights and lodges in Central America’s eco-frontier.

Belize is home to the Great Blue Hole, a giant marine sinkhole popular with divers.

80 people are doing this goal:

51. Visit New Caledonia FRANCE

What you’d expect (natural beauty) and not (world-class museum).

32 people are doing this goal:

52. Visit Niagara Falls NEW YORK

Once a kitsch capital, now earning a reputation for food and sports.

The Niagara Falls is not just one waterfall, but a collection of three waterfalls: the Horseshoe Falls, the American Falls, and the Bridal Veil Falls.

1136 people are doing this goal: