Dreaming of the Unique Travel Destination – Part 5
Welcome back! Today I am going to wrap up my world travel bucket list with a couple of gems that, until I did some out-of-the-box thinking I had completely overlooked. My list of places I would love to see is really pretty much endless, but while researching some of those destinations, I stumbled on others that really opened my eyes.
This final post in this series will shed some light on a couple of those new options. The first begins in Germany and includes some time in three(yes three!) other countries simply due to their proximity to each other. One of them could maybe, kinda, sorta be considered a duplicate from my third post in this series, but what’s the harm in that I ask? LOL! So, I’ll kick today off with a stop in Lake Constance on the border of Germany, Austria and Switzerland and then a little jaunt over to teeny-tiny Liechtenstein.
Lake Constance, Lindau Germany
My source for all of the information for this section of the journey: Savored Journeys
I will admit that Germany hasn’t really been on my radar. I’m not sure why exactly. I am, after all, mostly German. I can actually hear my best friend saying “well, it’s about danged time!” but I love her to pieces so I’ll give her a little rope to tease me. I will also admit that geography was never my strong suit, so I had never heard of Lake Constance nor did I know that it is bordered by Germany, Austria AND Switzerland. From the standpoint of being able to see a LOT without having to do a lot of driving, this quintet of destinations seems like a gold mine of opportunity. Little (and I do mean little) Liechtenstein is just a short 40 minute drive away which makes it an easy addition to the group. Well, that and the opportunity to visit the Liechtenstein winery and sip the prince’s wine. Who am I to turn down a chance to tour a royal winery?
Besides the wineries, which are apparently pretty prolific in this region, there are many options for dining, sightseeing and catching up on history. A little time in St. Gallen Switzerland affords the change to sample honest-to-goodness Swiss chocolate (again, who am I to complain) and a quick skip over to Bregenz, Austria will give you the opportunity to try some Schnitzel or sample a whole array of different cheeses. Okay, maybe my German side is calling after all… I’m thinking maybe we need to nudge this up the bucket list a bit.
My final wish-list destination for this series is one that was recommended to us by some lovely English people we met while we were staying in one of the B&Bs in southern Ireland. Between them and the innkeepers who had lots of input on the matter, it wasn’t long and we were convinced. So, someday, when the entire country isn’t on COVID lockdown, I’d love to head off to Scotland and the Berwickshire Region.
Berwickshire Region, Scotland
My source for all of the information for this section of the journey: lovefromscotland.co.uk and VisitScotland.com
When we were in Ireland, we spent a night in Kinsale. This is where we met the English couple with all of the travel advice. For them, driving up from England into Scotland was akin to us making the trek up to Fargo for a weekend. Seems to me, they also drove to Ireland with the help of a ferry. Anyway, our time in Kinsale was really far too short. I had chosen it for its coastal town appeal and, unfortunately, didn’t get to spend much time there at all. Poor planning on my part, but I do love the idea of visiting little fishing villages. If for no other reason than to try a bowl of chowder where the fish was caught just that morning. I love the off-the-beaten path vibe of these little villages and the ability to explore a lot in a short time.
The Berwickshire region of Scotland is perfect for this sort of journey. Little towns like St Abbs for example (pictured above), parked on the coast just an hour South of Edinburgh is surrounded by jagged cliffs and fisherman’s cottages. Hop on a sightseeing boat and take a tour of the harbor or, if you’re a Avengers fan (like me) check out the New Asgard (Thor’s homeland). No promises you’ll see Chris Hemsworth, but hey…maybe. A girl can hope, right?
Naturally with this many rugged cliffs and shorelines to explore, hiking is a popular pursuit. For the less “energetic” there are easier walking paths, a nice beach at Coldingham Bay where the surfers congregate and for the nature lovers, the St Abbs Head Nature Reserve which is home to the gray seals who winter there.
My reasoning behind choosing someplace as out of the way as St Abbs, is the same as for all of the other destinations I’ve written about. I want our vacations to be relaxing and fun at the same time, and I said when I began this series, traveling to over-crowded destinations doesn’t really appeal to us. Places like this, where nature and all its wonders are the real show stoppers are the things we (the hubby and I) want to see.
And that, my friends, is a wrap. I hope you’ve enjoyed my eclectic mix of some-day destinations and this whole series. I also hope that even if you don’t go to any of these places, that you will travel where your heart takes you. Enjoy the journey, wherever you go!
