Have you heard of a “life list”? It’s a list of the things you want to do or accomplish. A life list is sort of like a list of resolutions, but it’s a lot more fun to list “Visit Paris” instead of “Lose 20 pounds”!
1,000 Places to See Before You Die by Patricia Schultz is subtitled “A Traveler’s Life List”. And sure enough, there are one thousand places listed in this almost one thousand page book. The book is divided into sections for Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific Islands, the United States, Canada, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Each section has smaller sections for states or regions. A large index follows. One of the indexes is cross referenced so that instead of looking in the United States chapters for caves, you can look under caves and find the ones listed around the world. Other fun index entries are elephant rides, festivals, dog sledding, shipwrecks, train trips, and sacred places.
I love that the 1,000 places vary from ancient ruins, to grand cathedrals, to natural wonders, to festivals and even regional food. The entries inspire me, even though our travel time and budget is limited at this point in our lives. Some of the entries are expected things. Versailles, the Grand Canyon, Rocky Mountain National Park, the Kentucky Derby, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art are places most of us have heard of. But many entries are things I’ve never heard of before. I didn’t know there was a Polar Bear Safari in Manitoba every October and November. I’d never heard of the “The Great Amish Country Auction” in Indiana, or the “Big Onion Walking Tour” in New York City.
Each of the entries for the 1,000 places explains why it is included in the book. Most entries have a small black and white photo. If the entry concerns a seasonal event, dates are provided. All entries include basic location directions, a few details, rates, and phone numbers or web addresses for more information.
This isn’t a travel guide. The entries are short and give only enough information to spark interest, not to plan a trip. But it’s a great starting place for future plans or just for a fun hour of dreaming.
Also See:
Book Review: “Are We There Yet?”