After hearing so much about Bruges, I decided I had to go. I took a bus from Brussels and spend the day in Bruges, walking around and taking in the sites. Some of my favorite places were Saint John’s Hospital, Bruges City Hall, Church of Our Lady Bruges, Basilica of the Holy Blood, the Market Square, the Provincial Court, Spiegelrei, and De nieuwe Papegaai. Do not miss this city when in Belgium!

Al-'Ula is a city in Northwest Saudi Arabia, known for Saudi's FIRST UNESCO World Heritage Site. The site, known as Hegra, was another dwelling place for the ancient arab Nabataean people, the same who settled in Petra, in Jordan. You can easily take a bus, hire a car, or fly to Al-'Ula and embark on numerous excursions while there including ziplining and cycling or helicopter riding in the area.

This road trip through the south coast of Iceland will take your breath away. Hire a car and set out from Reykjavik and stop at waterfalls like Seljalandfoss and Skógafoss, see glaciers at Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon (near Vatnajökull National Park), discover ice caves at Hofn and Skaftafell, and marvel at the rock formations at Reynisdranger at Reynisfjara Beach, just outside of Vík í Mýrdal.

There is more to Helsinki than it's gorgeous emerald-domed cathedral. This Scandinavia capital is replete with a ton of fantastic cafes that give great views of the capital countryside. The fortress of Suomenlinna is also just a ferry ride away and its solitude and quietness stands in great contrast to the city sounds just across the water.

Just a short train ride away from Lisbon, the city of Sintra is a must see. It's best known as the site for the National Palace of Pena, the colorful Romanticist Castle and one of the Portugal’s Seven Wonders. Other places to see in Sintra include Castelo dos Mouros (Castle of the Moors) and Quinta da Regaleira (a lavish garden estate and UNESCO World Heritage Site).

The old Chinese capital of Xi'an is a charming city with a vast history. It's home to the Qin Shi Huang Mausoleum and the Museum of Qin Terracotta Warriors. Even more so, here you can hike one of China's 5 great mountains, Mt. Huashan. Within the city itself, visits to the Bell and Drum Towers, Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, as well as the Xi'an city walls, are must dos.

Known for it's cheap beer and destination for stag and hen do's, there is much more to this Central European capital. The main sites like the Lennon Wall, Prague Castle, Charles Bridge, and Old Town Square are a must see. Do yourself a favour though and try to get off the beaten path and check out places like the Kafka Museum, Rigierovy sady park, and St. Vitus Cathedral.

This is a capital like no other. It's mainly known as the home of the Hungarian Parliament Building, the Sziget Festival, and the Széchenyi Baths. Make sure you carve out time to see sights on both sides of the river like Heroes Square, Vajdahunyad Castle, Chain Bridge, Fisherman's Bastion, Shoes on the Danube, and Buda Castle.

Mostar is quietly becoming a more popular destination in the Balkan Peninsula. Perhaps what is most striking is the iconic Stari Most bridge. Book a day tour and you can also see other landmarks like the Millennium Cross on Hum Hill, the Dervish Monastery at Blagaj Tekke, the village of Pocitelj, and the Kravica waterfalls.

There is much more to Liverpool than Beatles and docks. The independent scene here is what makes this city so unique. Here you can also watch the best football team in the world (Liverpool FC), see the WWII era ruins of the 'Bombed Out Church', hear live music at the Cavern Club, stroll along Albert Dock, see art at the Tate, and eat to your heart's content at Baltic Market.

Dubrovnik is quickly becoming one of the best summer destinations in all of Europe. This walled city with orange-shingled rooftops may be recognizable from TV shows but here you can also go kayaking around the walls at Kolorina, go hiking on Srd Hill, swim at Poporela, go shopping on Stradun St., and hang out with new friends on the Jesuit Staircase.

This Chinese capital city is HUGE and it can be intimidating to see. The must-see stops of Beijing include The Forbidden City, Tianenmen Square, and the Summer Palace. You can also see different portions of the Great Wall from Beijing as well. Don't forget to sample the street food and spend some time in a tea house.

You will realize really quickly that pretty much every city, town, village, corner of Norway is gorgeous and Bergen is no different. There are awesome sights to see on the water like Bryggen Bergen and Bergenhus Fortress. What's more is that you can get the best aerial view of the city from Mt. Fløyen and Mt. Ulriken, or you can admire the street art in addition to the Kode Art Museum.

Morocco is one of those countries with a plethora of different cities to satisfy everyone's tastes. You can choose from the coastal cities of Casablanca and Essaouira, the cultural centers Marrakech and Fez, and the blue city of Chefchaouen (among others). Here I'll highlight some of the places to see in these cities like the Hassan II Mosque, Jemaa El-Fna market, and the Chouara Tannery.

The Galápagos Islands in Ecuador are a must see for any nature and science lover. This is a breakdown of the most popular islands (San Cristóbal, Isabella, Santa Cruz) and the best places to see all the animals (Los Tuneles, Tortuga Bay, Kicker Rock, Las Grietas, Las Tintoreras, Sierra Negra Volcano, etc).

If you find yourself in the Middle East for any reason, make your way to Petra (and Jordan in general). Jordan provides excellent natural landscapes such as Wadi Rum Desert and the Dead Sea as well as ancient civilization ruins (at Petra). The Sig, Treasury, and Monastery are the most well known landmarks of the old city of Petra.

An epic New Zealand North Island Road Trip itinerary, taking you to Auckland, Waipu, Rotorua (Wai-o-tapu hot springs, Whakarewarewa Redwood Forest, Huka Falls, Tongagiro Alpine Crossing, Wellington, and the Coromandel (Hot Water Beach, Cathedral Cove).