H ere’s something you can commit for yourself. Commit to making the most of the coming year by creating your wish list to explore what you haven’t seen in the world. There’s just so much for you to see- when you’ve made up your mind, you will get to know how amazing this world of ours is.
Unforgettable experiences can come from anywhere and it is time to pack your bags and hit the road.Social Diary is listing out some of the most intriguing places which caught our attention that should definitely be on your wish list too!
Ruhr Valley, Germany
Mining and steel production once dominated the densely populated Ruhr Valley, in Germany’s western state of North Rhine-Westphalia. Today, the region is repurposing former slag heaps and post-apocalyptic-looking industrial sites as parks and open-air cultural spaces. The most famous is the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Zeche Zollverein (Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex), home to an outdoor swimming pool, ice rink and walking trails. You can rent a bike in Essen for a car-free Ruhr Valley trip along cycling routes, many of which follow former railway tracks, or explore on foot via the 96-mile-long Hohe Mark Steig, a trekking trail opened in 2021.
Eastern Shore, Maryland
The history of the Underground Railroad flows through the waterways, wetlands, swamps and tidal marshes of Dorchester County on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. This is where the secret network’s most famous ‘conductor’, Harriet Tubman, was born enslaved, grew up and honed the skills — such as trapping, hunting and navigating by the stars — she used to escape to freedom in Pennsylvania. She then returned 13 times to rescue more than 70 enslaved friends and family. Her heroic story is told at the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center, one of the more than 30 stops along the 125-mile Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway.
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is one of the most underrated South African countries, with several hidden gems waiting to be explored. It is home to four World Heritage Sites, namely Victoria Falls, Mana Pools National Parks, the Great Zimbabwe Ruins and the Kama Ruins. The chances of spotting the Big Five (leopard, lion, rhino, elephant and buffalo) on a safari tour of the country’s well-renowned national parks is extremely high.
Kyrgyzstan
It’s easy to see why Kyrgyzstan features in the list of top countries to visit in 2022. It is the land of untainted natural beauty, celestial mountains, crystal clear lakes, and rolling pastures. The natural world is brought to life by the widely scattered shepherds inhabiting the country who’ve embraced a semi-nomadic lifestyle. Visit Kyrgyzstan to know more about the Kyrgyz folklore and the highly interesting Epic of Manas. You might as well consider this one amongst the best countries to visit in the world in 2022.
Granada, Spain
Built as a palace-city by 13th-century Nasrid sultans — rulers of the longest-lasting and last Muslim dynasty on the Iberian Peninsula — the Alhambra (‘red fort’) is considered the Moorish architectural jewel of Europe. The almond-shaped profile of this UNESCO World Heritage site rests on a hill above Granada, one of the most picturesque cities in Spain. But it’s the mathematical wizardry on display here that’s particularly fascinating for families.
Arapahoe Basin, Colorado
For unparalleled views of the Continental Divide, one must climb hand over foot up North America’s highest via ferrata. A climbing route composed of metal rungs and cables, Arapahoe Basin’s Iron Way begins at the base of granite Rocky Mountain cliffs and ascends nearly 1,200ft to a 13,000ft summit.
