10 Epic Travel Experiences That Make Spectacular Gifts

If you’ve been bitten by the travel bug, you probably have a bucket list of epic adventures you’d like to partake in. Whether it’s something glorious, like climbing Mount Kilimanjaro or scuba diving in the Great Barrier Reef, or something laid-back, like exploring Portugal’s wine country, there are experiences out there to satisfy all types of travelers.

As someone who often gets a double-take when I tell friends and family of my wild exploits around the globe, I’ve compiled a list highlighting some of my most adrenaline-inducing adventures. If you’re working on your own bucket list, let this serve as inspiration to keep that list growing. And if you have a loved one whose favorite gifts are indelible memories, here’s your one-stop shop.

In 2017, I spent a week in Rovaniemi, Finland, with the sole goal of seeing the Northern Lights. Cloud coverage had other plans, and I was SOL. Years later, I took a cruise through the Norwegian fjords with Havila Voyages, and shortly after departing Trosmø, I finally saw the natural phenomenon for myself. I chose Havila Voyages because they have a Northern Lights guarantee between October 1 and March 31. If the Northern Lights do not show or are not announced during the full trip (you can set up notifications to get a call directly in your cabin when they’re visible), you are entitled to a half-round voyage the following season.

2024 was officially declared the “year of roots tourism” by the Italian foreign ministry, and after traveling with Le Marche–born Kiara Di Paola of Uncover Untouched Italy to her hometown, I was inspired to go revisit my great-grandmother’s village, which I had been to once before. I rented a car in Salerno and drove to Pignola, a small town in Basilicata. Out of all of the cool things I’ve done in my travels, nothing compares to visiting where my ancestors came from. It was an unforgettable encounter with a life I’m generations removed from, yet innately connected to. No matter where you or your loved ones are from, a trip “home” tends to be unforgettable.

Barbados is the birthplace of rum, and what better way to try the local delicacy than by attending the annual Barbados Food & Rum Festival? Held each October, it’s a party in every sense of the word. Go distillery-hopping, attend the rise and rum party (where you’ll be promptly handed a rum cocktail upon entering at 4 a.m.), and eat bites so good that the annual fest was dubbed the Caribbean’s Best Culinary Festival in 2023 by the World Culinary Awards.

I’ve partaken in a lot of risky activities abroad, but never have I ever experienced such reactions when I told local Brazilians of my plan to walk to Paraguay via the Friendship Bridge, which connects Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil, and Ciudad del Este, Paraguay. It seemed everyone was convinced Ciudad del Este, Paraguay, was seedy and dangerous. Naturally, I went anyway.

The entire walk takes about 15 minutes and allows for an extra stamp in the passport, and I can’t physically be that close to a border without at least dipping my toes in, even if just for a few hours. Plus, Ciudad del Este is a shopping haven where you can buy anything from lamps to shoes to phones to booze. Overall, I spent a few harmless hours of seeing Paraguay. The only bad thing that happened? I tripped into oncoming traffic as soon as I got back to Brazil.

It has been a major goal of mine to see more of the African continent, and what better way to do so than by partaking in a three-week road trip from Cape Town to Victoria Falls? I traveled with Exodus Adventure Travels, where I got to see some seriously rural parts of the world, including the world’s second-largest canyon in Namibia at Fish River Canyon, plenty of elephants at Chobe National Park in Botswana, and the continent’s largest waterfall, Victoria Falls, which spans both Zambia and Zimbabwe. A real pivotal moment of the trip was visiting Sossusvlei, Namibia; I fell asleep under the stars at Desert Quiver Camp, one of the most unique accommodations I’ve ever stayed at, and woke up to watch the sunrise over Dune 45, one of the most popular and picturesque dunes in town. Around 8 a.m., my guides cooked me breakfast, and I sipped coffee in the open Namibian desert, feeling as far removed from the hustle and bustle as imaginable.

I learned a long time ago that waiting on companions to travel with might just be the death of a trip. I took my first solo trip to Hawaii in January 2016 and quickly made a pact with myself to not only solo-travel the entire globe, but to travel to all seven world wonders alone.

I woke up at sunrise to enjoy the Taj Mahal nearly to myself. I’ve been to the Colosseum more times than I can count. I stayed with a family in Beijing to have closer access to a remote part of the Great Wall of China. I had a 36-hour layover in Amman via Royal Jordanian Airlines and paid way too much for a private transfer to Petra (worth it). I used United miles to book a quick weekend getaway to see Chichén Itzá. And finally, I rang in 2023 at the top of Christ the Redeemer in Rio.

I’m a New Yorker, so driving is not really my cup of tea. However, travel is all about challenging ourselves, and with New Zealand having lived too high on my bucket list for far too long, I knew I needed to face my fear and live out of a camper van (while driving on the left side, mind you). I went alone, and after only about 30 minutes of driving, I completely fell in love with van life. I saw more sheep than people, woke up next to the cerulean glacial waters of Lake Pukaki, frollicked through lavender fields in Wakana, and climbed to the summit of Roy’s Peak, only to end my days with cooking coffee-crusted lamb and veggies with a glass of New Zealand vino out of my van. New York City could never.

If you ever want to earn eternal bragging rights, might I suggest climbing to Uhuru Peak on Mount Kilimanjaro? I had quite the experience during my own summit attempt; I had been solo traveling on a one-way ticket for about five months, and I was looking forward to meeting some people on my climb (you’re legally required to hire a guide). I was told my group would consist of myself and five British women, but  they dropped out shortly before setting off, leaving just my guide and me to make the journey. Though I felt a bit weary at first, it ended up being one of the most fun, freeing, and rewarding experiences of my life. I had no cell service for six glorious days, we hummed Rihanna and Lion King tunes as we made our way up, and I have never felt prouder of myself than when I reached the summit.

As an avid country-counter, it is rare that I return to a country, and yet, I keep finding myself back in Austria. I have visited Innsbruck, Salzburg, Halbturn, Patscherkofel, and the capital, Vienna. As a music lover, Vienna is a city after my own heart, and exploring the Christmas markets of the Austrian capital remains one of the most majestic experiences I’ve had to date.

Christkindlmarkt is one of the city’s most prominent for good reason. It’s a sprawling, glittery wonderland of stalls that can turn even the biggest of Grinches into Kris Kringle in no time. Every time I return to Vienna, regardless of the time of year, I make it a point to stay at Hotel Motto, one of my favorite hotels on the planet, thanks to the spacious rooms, floral wallpaper, and top-notch amenities. Hotel Motto is a centrally located Parisian-style accommodation and the onsite restaurant, Chez Bernard, has some of the best schnitzel in the city.

Read more: Where to drink like a local in Vienna.

My time with Havila Voyages had me officially hooked on Norway, and New Zealand left me pining for more road trips, so it’s no surprise that one of my top travel experiences was driving through the Norwegian fjords in an electric Porsche. 62°Nord fed my backpacker heart with its wild sense of adventure—driving through the closest things to racetracks imaginable alongside unmatched natural scenery. But it also catered to the part of me that’s outgrown living in hostels with the sheer luxury that comes from seeing the world from the comfort of a Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo.

This six-day venture was easily the most eco-friendly of my epic adventures; not only was it emission-free, but it included bespoke picnic lunches with locally sourced ingredients. After long days of driving through Norwegian waterfalls, the Sunnmore region, and the mountains of Trollstigen, I was able to unwind in a sauna at accommodations like Storfjord Hotel and Hotel Union Øye. The cuisine from Master Chef Nils Flatmark, who’s racked up Norwegian culinary awards, is not to miss.

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