Photo credit: Ken Bosma via Flickr

Is travel part of your New Year’s resolutions for 2016? There are many “where to go” lists out, and here is another one. I reached out to various travelers with their own respective blogs and expertise for ideas on what places they’re encouraging people to head or where they’re going. Here is what they had to say.

Germany, as suggested by Charles McCool of McCool Travel

“Berlin, Germany is one place I really want to visit in 2016. Sure, the city has a vibrant social and art scene, with attractive cuisine and architecture. The main reason I want to visit, though, is because it is a part of my ancestry. My grandfather and his family fled to the USA from a small village near Berlin in 1926 and I would love to visit his childhood area, and maybe learn some more about my family history.”

Photo credit: Rebecca Holland

Jordan, as suggested by Rebecca Holland of Curiosity and a Carry on

“It’s the first place I ever traveled outside of the U.S. six years ago, and I’ve gone back every year since because of the welcoming people, incredible food, stunning natural beauty, and variety of things to do–from Roman ruins to floating in the Dead Sea to canyon hikes, camping in the desert, and, of course, Petra. Though it might not be the best time to visit surrounding countries, Jordan is still pretty safe, and right now needs tourism more than ever. Plus, it opens your eyes to a culture that is not as scary or different as you see on the news, which is something people (especially Americans) could use right now.”

Mexico, as suggested by Nick Wharton and Dariece Swift of Goats on the Road (tip provided by Dariece)

“I don’t mean the typical cities of Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and Puerto Vallarta, I mean the real Mexico. This is a country filled with gems for travellers to discover. Check out the little known island of Isla Holbox, the UNESCO listed city of Guanajuato, or the mountainous town of San Cristobal. Mexico’s cities are stunning, its beaches are beautiful, the people are welcoming and the food…oh, the food! This is a great destination for 2016 because the U.S. Dollar is very strong against the Mexican Peso at the moment. This already affordable destination will be around 35 percent cheaper to travel to than this time last year.”

Photo credit: Chris Backe

Colombia, as suggested by Chris Backe of One Weird Globe

“Break out your high school Spanish. Between improving tourist infrastructure, a historically awesome exchange rate (for tourists, anyway), and a number of places worth visiting, there’s plenty going for it. Start with Medellin, Colombia’s second city, for a modern, First-World introduction to the country. Ride the modern metro and cable car, meander around Poblado’s trendier side, explore the Laureles neighborhood, or see the grittier (but still safe) side in the Envigado neighborhood. Bogota is also worth visiting as well, but requires a bit more carefulness on your stuff.”

Photo credit: Two Monkeys Travel Group

Naples, South Florida, as suggested by Jonathan Howe and Kach Medina Umandap of Two Monkeys Travel Group (tip provided by Jonathan)

“Much more than great weather and beaches, this beautiful little corner of the USA is surrounded by some of the densely packed mangrove and swamplands in the world, the Everglades. Hiking, swamp walking, kayaking and paddle boarding with alligators, air boats, fishing, wildlife photography and loads more. It’s also one of the greatest foodie destinations we have ever discovered. Now that we’ve found out for ourselves that this part of South Florida is much more than a ‘snowbird’ winter escape for retirees, we’ll be going back for more!”

Copenhagen, Denmark, as suggested by Caroline Coupe of LoveLiveTravel

“The city has a fantastic vibe and there is always something happening; whether you have two days or two weeks, there is so much you can experience. The most famous sights here are the Nyhavn canal with its colourful buildings and tall ships, The Little Mermaid perched on her rock in the harbour. and the charming, historic Tivoli Gardens amusement park. Another popular spot is the Strøget pedestrian street packed with shops, cafés, historic buildings, and fountains, perfect for shopping and browsing. The city also is home to three palaces: Amalienborg Palace, where the Royal family still live today and you can watch the daily Changing of the Guard, Christiansborg Palace, home of the Danish Parliament, and Rosenborg Castle, which is surrounded by the gorgeous King’s Gardens.”

Iceland, as suggested by Valen Dawson of Eating the Globe

“It’s where I’m going next. It seems to be a hot spot right now. It attracted my attention because of the natural beauty there and the cheap flights from the U.S.”

 U.S. National Parks, as suggested by me

“In August of next year, the U.S. National Parks system marks its one hundredth anniversary. Some of the most incredible national parks to set foot in are based in the western part of the U.S. – Yosemite, the Grand Canyon, Zion, and so forth. Get out your best pair of hiking shoes and go exploring.”

Where do you want to go to in 2016? Let me know.