Best Trip Destinations

                                                                   Globe Created by: Jessica Marie Schuetz

Travel has been one of the most exciting dimensions of our lives. On an average we’ve been on the road in another state or another country for 3 months of every year for the past many, many years. We’ve always searched for the best trip destinations.

Since selling most of our possessions and leaving San Diego in January 2017 we’ve been on a sloooow trip around the world. In the past 8+ years, we’ve crisscrossed the USA, gone coast-to-coast across all of Canada, hopped over to Kauai & Guam, countless Philippine Islands, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Singapore, Bali & Brunei. We bought a campervan in Australia and spent 15 months visiting all 6 States and 2 Territories. Renting a camper van in New Zealand, we explored South Island from bottom to top.

We unexpectedly spent 24 months in South Africa. Our intention was to spend our 3-month visas traveling to all 9 provinces. However…..The COVID-19 pandemic and country-wide lockdowns threw a big wrench into our plans. And riots, looting, arson, electrical, food & petrol shortages further complicated our stay. But after being stranded there for 2 years, we finally became fully vaccinated and boosted, left gorgeous Cape Town, and completed traveling to all of South Africa’s amazing provinces.

We left South Africa for more adventure on the African continent. Lifelong wishes to visit Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe & Zambia were realized. The plentiful wildlife of Botswana, Ethiopia & Kenya was explored. Then on to the hot sands of the Middle East: Qatar, United Arab Emirates and their ultra-modern cities of Doha, Abu Dhabi & Dubai.

Another 3-month road trip of Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Serbia, Romania and Croatia followed a 2-month, rental car road trip all over historic Turkiye. The Balkans rule!!!

Our first full circle around the globe, west-east, finally culminated after 6 years by hopping over the Atlantic to spend a foliage-filled month in New England and another on the California coast. After spending some rainy time in Tokyo, and the Philippines for the holidays, we began to re-spin around the globe by re-visiting Australia and most of Southeast Asia.

Over the years, we’ve been to every continent except Antarctica. We’ve visited 60 (and counting) different countries. Some like Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, the Philippines, Thailand, and England repeatedly. ­­­­

The Philippines has attracted us over 20 times; indeed, between 7,000+ islands and Vivian’s family, there are lots of good reasons to keep going back!

Shane grew up in Massachusetts and trekked all over New England. He’s also lived in Hawaii, Florida, California & Wyoming. He’s a member of the Red Sox Nation but is that considered a country or a state (of mind)?

All 50 states and 2 of the US Territories have felt our footsteps. The rugged western states and their plentiful national parks keep pulling us back there again and again.

Photographic scenes from some of those journeys and helpful tips & resources are intended for the grid below. We’ve arranged them by continents and the countries we visited. Follow the links for the best trip destinations. Stay tuned as this section is developed with more countries described and sub-divided. 

PICTURES, RESOURCES & TIPS FROM THE BEST TRIP DESTINATIONS

Oceania

South America

Antarctica

Last continent we have yet to visit. Stay Tuned!!!