What Places Should I Visit in my Life?

Without knowing a specific person, it's difficult to answer the question, “what places should I visit?” After all, every person has different desires and likes and dislikes, and the places they might enjoy might be completely different than those someone else would like. Still, there are a few places that come to most people's minds when they ask themselves, “what places should I visit before I die?” Both sites from antiquity and sites of natural beauty are popular places to visit.

For people who love the ancient world, there are a number of sites of particular importance and majesty. The Pyramids of Giza, for example, are so iconic that nearly everyone comes to them when asking, “which places should I visit?” The Great Pyramid itself was born sometime around 2550 BCE, making it the oldest of the three pyramids, and one of the oldest, most impressive structures still on earth. For nearly four thousand years, the Great Pyramid was the tallest man-made structure on earth, until modern building methods in the past two centuries finally allowed buildings to be built that are even taller.

Stonehenge is another prehistoric monument that many people want to see in their lives. Built around the same time as the Great Pyramid, or perhaps a bit later, Stonehenge inspires people because of its solemn beauty and the mystery surrounding it. It is a remarkable achievement for an ancient peoples, acting as a seasonal clock, as well as a likely monument to the dead. How the stone was transported to Stonehenge, and then how it was erected, remains the subject of a great deal of debate, and like the Great Pyramids, theories abound regarding its creation.

Angkor Wat is another remarkable archeological site on earth, which people flock to in droves every year to see. It was built in the early 12th century, and remains one of the most impressive construction feats on the planet. It includes an outer wall more than 2.2 miles (3.6 km) long, with many interior structures. The walls are adorned with complex bas reliefs, and the entire complex is covered in beautiful artwork. It resides in the middle of the Angkor complex, which contains dozens of other remarkable temples and dwellings from the period surrounding Angkor Wat's construction, and a visit to the site can yield literally weeks of interesting discoveries.

In the natural world, there are a few sites that people tend to find inspiring. The Grand Canyon in Arizona is one of the most iconic of these sites. Carved by the Colorado River over millions of years, it is an enormous gorge running through the earth. It spans more than 277 miles (446 km), and at times is more than a mile (1.83km) deep. Trails run through the Grand Canyon which can be traversed by foot or on a burro, and there are weeks worth of hiking that can be had. The surrounding countryside is also stunningly beautiful, and there are many other canyons throughout.

Between Zambia and Zimbabwe lies another site that many people think of when they ask themselves, “which places should I visit in my life?” Victoria Falls is, by many accounts, the largest waterfall in the world, with an average flow rate of more than 38,400 cubic feet per second (1088 cubic m/s). As well as the falls themselves, the surrounding area is also home to an incredibly diverse amount of wildlife, both flora and fauna, which can keep visitors occupied for weeks.