As my 2017 travel plans solidify (two trips set, one in planning stages) I am reminded of a Susan Sontag quote: “I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list.” As an aside, she was a fascinating person, so if you are inclined read some of her works. She is polarizing, I’ll tell you that.

Overused as it may be, the quote sums up my unquenchable thirst to see places unfamiliar. To smell dawn in a new city, to taste water from somewhere else, to hear a language not my own – those are all pieces of the grand and never-ending story that I call travel.

While I love to return to a favorite place, I love to set my feet on new ground even more. So to start the week off right, here are 6 of the top 24 destinations on my radar. Each one has something I can find nowhere else!

• Botswana – A great place for safari and to experience the semi-arid and desert climate of the continent. I have my eye on a place called Chitwa Chitwa to indulge my desire to see some local wildlife.
  

  Sunset in Botswana

• Uganda – Another great place to view wildlife but located in the tropical savanna climate of the African continent. The opportunity to see gorillas, chimpanzee, and other primates in the wild is the stuff of dreams to me.
  

  Chimpanzee in Uganda

• Malta – 122 square miles jam-packed with history! Due to it’s prime spot on the map, this tiny country has been ruled by the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Moors, Normans, Sicilians, Spanish, Knights of St. John, French and British until becoming its own republic in 1974. Architecture, history, and the Mediterranean climate? What else do you need?
  

  Valletta, Malta

• Corsica – I am fascinated by this tiny Mediterranean island, which is French, in case you didn’t know. From beaches to forests and everything in between, Corsica has a diverse landscape and is purported to be an outdoor enthusiasts dream. Add to that, food, wine, and music and I am ready to go!
  

  Rocky Corsican Coast

• Mongolia – No surprise, if you’ve  been to my blog before, I love solitude. The best or if I can take is one where there are no crowds and wide open spaces. Mongolia offers all of that. At almost twice the size of Texas BUT with the world’s lowes population density, it sounds perfect! The landscape ranges from desert to pine forest, to vase grasslands. If that weren’t enough, thousands of year of history have shaped the culture making this a one-of-a-kind destination in my book.
  

  Mongolian Steppe

• Shetland Islands – This region Scotland offer breathtaking views, Neolithic settlements, opportunities for hiking, wildlife watching AND seems a bit challenging to get to, making it ideal for me. Not too mention, the Shetland ponies, which outnumber people 50-to-1 on this island!
  

  Eshaneness, Shetland Island

I may post the other 18 destinations in future posts, but for now, what do you think? Are any of these destinations on your radar? Have you been? Let me know in the comments!