Traveling is one of the popular things people like to put on their bucket list or their itch list. It is a perfect family bonding experience, in which relationships can grow, and people can learn about new skills and cultures.

According to best places to travel article it states, “People may travel to learn something specific: a new language, a new cuisine, aspects of a different culture, or a deeper appreciation of faith or spirituality. As a bonus, they’ll take away more than their specific goal. They’ll discover totally different ways of doing things. They’ll also gain awareness of new customs, cultures, people, and places.” Based on other people experiences and research; these are some countries that you can put on your list.

The Beautiful Exotic Island of Madagascar

Madagascar is one of the best countries to travel to during spring or summer break because everyone wants to have a big and fun breaks especially High School and College students. Madagascar is located at the Eastern Coast of Africa, and it is the fourth largest island in the world. This country is a little bit isolated from Africa, but their nearest neighbor is Mozambique. It is the best place to go on a Safari trip considering that this is a home to a thousand of plants and beautiful and exotic animals.

*This is the Avenue of Baobabs located in Western Madagascar

The best attraction in Madagascar are the beaches, national parks, unique kaleidoscope of local Malagasy culture and cuisine, and wildlife. It is a safe place to travel and stay for a long time, the best time to visit Madagascar is the end of December through March to watch the popular lemur, chameleons and beach in the dry weather.

Some special events that happen are the October Madajazzcar jazz Festival and the annual lobster festival. An anonymous iSchool student  said, “ It’s known to have a lot of ‘exotic’ animals and wildlife and I would just like to see it all, I would probably go with friends or family and I would hope for it to be like a vacation.”

The Land of the Gold

Ghana is located at the West side of Africa; their next door neighbor is Togo. Ghana has a warm tropical climate all year long. They have exotic animals, waterfalls, caves, beaches, lakes and so much more. The popular tourist sites are Kakum National Park, Cape Coast Castle, and Ankasa National Park. Kakum National Park is located at the central part of Ghana and the area is covered with tropical forest.

*The Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum located in the capital of Ghana

The park has monkeys, antelopes, yellow-backed duiker, an African elephant, etc. Cape Coast Castle is now a museum that used to be a large commercial site that was used to hold slaves before sending them to America.

And lastly Ankasa National Park is near the border of Cote d’Ivoire and it has almost 800 plant species, 670 butterflies and 200 different types of bird species. According to Lonely Planet, Ghana is the heart of traditional talking drums and with the most incredibly energy.

Land of the Rising Sun

Tokyo is one of the biggest cities in the world; it is an icon of popular culture. This city is great for their nightlife, food, and the most beautiful spots in the world. One of the coolest spots in Japan is Akihabara or known as ‘Electric Town,’ which is most known for its cafes, theaters, clubs, and cosplay bars. Tourists learn more about the Otaku Culture in this area. Asakusa Temple is a quiet and clean temple that people comes to pray or to relax.

“Many people also try to come in the late afternoon as this is when the temple and grounds are bathed in golden light.”

An anonymous student states, “Not only is their culture fascinating, but their technological advancements are really interesting. Plus I am a huge anime nerd and I’d love to be surrounded by anime characters all the time. I’d take my friend, and we’d go explore the area and do tourist-y things.”

* The capital of Thailand, Bangkok

Thailand: The Land of Smiles

Thailand is the 50th largest country in the world. The Northern part of this country have the most tourists attractions. The North has a lot of mountains and rivers and very famous during the cold seasons.

Freshman Shanee Krichely said, “I’ve already been to Nepal, so I have a slight sense of what Thailand could be like, but everyone there is so different from us, and it’s beautiful there. I also would want to explore Nepal more. Either a member of my family or a friend who likes to travel. I would cover as much of the country as I could, talk to people, and most importantly WRITE, WRITE, WRITE. But honestly, Thailand was kind of random, because although I would love to go there, there are so many other places I want to go to. You get my point.”

Today, people don’t have time for relaxation; everyday is a routine for people that can be really annoying. These places above is one of the best ways to relax and rejuvenate yourself. As stated in New York Times “By doing new things, meeting new people and cultures, discovering new places, meditating and relaxing, some people gain a new understanding of life, reaching a higher level of self-awareness.”