Some isolation inspiration to fuel your future travel dreams?

Many of us are self-isolated or, heaven forbid if you’re, in sickness quarantine with the Coronavirus taking its toll on the world. Non-essential travel has been cancelled for the foreseeable future and our communities have become our central sphere of mobility. We’re not used to feeling so restricted.

But the optimist and travel-lover in me sees travel re-opening towards the end of the year. Why not have some ideas on where you’d like to explore? Or at the very least, take some dream inspiration from virtually visiting some of the globes most famous sites? I’m sure the deals will open up to incent us - eventually. Let’s keep that travel mojo ready … and, in the meantime, take some refuge in dreaming … on a grand scale!

7 Modern Wonders of the World

The grandest of the grandest make up this list of the Seven Modern Wonders of the World – truly humanity’s most impressive creations! Ancient cultures have ebbed and subsided over time, yet elements remain to mark their epic mark they’ve left. Consider visiting as many of these sites as tribute to the grandeur created by these ancient societies: 

• The Great Pyramid of Giza (near Cairo, Egypt) – constructed about 2570 BC
• The Great Wall of China (Huairou District, China) – early walls built 700’s BC through to 1600’s AD
• Ancient City of Petra (in the south of Jordan) – built about 1st century BC
• Roman Colosseum (in Rome, Italy) – built about 72AD
• Chichen Itza [Mayan] (within Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula) – built 12th century AD
• Machu Picchu [Incan] (southern Peru) – built in the 15th century AD
• Taj Mahal [Indian] (Agra, India) – built in the 17th century AD
• Christ the Redeemer (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) – built in 1922

With some pretty esteemed runners up (just a few included):

• Stonehenge (near Wiltshire, England) – constructed between 2000-3000 BC
• The Moai (Easter Island, South Pacific) – est. about 1200 AD
• The Acropolis at Athens (Athens, Greece) – about 445 BC
• The Hagia Sophia (Istanbul, Turkey) – built 537 AD
• Red Square (Moscow, Russia) – dates to 1156 AD
• Eiffel Tower (Paris, France) – est. 1889 AD

Ancient 7 Wonders of the World

In documentation within ancient Egypt’s Alexandria Library in the 200’s BC, scholars were detailing some of the most incredible feats of humanity at the time. Whether we consider them myths or folklore, if real, they represent engineering and outside the box thinking seemingly far ahead of their time. Sadly, of this list, only the Great Pyramid of Giza remains.

• The Great Pyramid of Giza (near Cairo, Egypt) – constructed about 2570 BC
• Colossus of Rhodes (Rhodes, Greece) – built about 280 BC
• Hanging Gardens of Babylon (of ancient Babylon, near Bagdad, Iraq) - about 6th century BC
• Lighthouse of Alexandria (outside Alexandria, Egypt) – est. about 280 BC
• Mausoleum at Halicarnassus (Bodrum, Turkey) – est. about 350 BC
• Statue of Zeus at Olympia, (Olympia, Greece) – est. about 430 BC
• Temple of Artemis, (near Ephesus Turkey) – built about 6th century BC

7 Natural Wonders of the World

Where the above 7 Wonders of the World lists were man-made and represent humanity’s most impressive creations, these 7 Wonders of the Natural World pull in Mother Nature’s most exceptional handiwork. As travel lovers enjoying the diversity of the world for its geographic differences (as much as our cultural uniqueness), here’s some planetary epicness Mother Nature would love for you to see:

• Grand Canyon (Arizona, USA)
• Parícutin (volcano cinder cone near Uruapan, Mexico)
• Northern Lights (polar regions of the globe)
• Victoria Falls (border of Zambia and Zimbabwe, Africa)
• Harbor of Rio de Janeiro (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
• Great Barrier Reef (off Australia’s Coast)
• Mount Everest (on the border of Nepal and Tibet, China)

Other Wonders of the World lists

Many different lists and ways to classify some absolutely impressive physical and geological landmarks exist. Simply go to google and search “Wonders of the World”, the variations of lists will give you inspiration to explore. Like …

• 7 wonders for 2025 (by cntraveler)
• 7 Wonders of the United States (by britannica.com)
• 7 wonders of Canada (by World Atlas)
• 7 wonders of the underwater world (by famouswonders)
• 7 wonders of the engineering world (by wonderfulengineering)

Still hunkering for more to explore closer to home?

We bet there’s many noteworthy destinations to be discovered locally on your upcoming summer road trips. Given international travel bans will probably prohibit travel to Egypt or Agra in the short term, regional road trips closer to home may open your eyes to opportunities close to home.

UNESCO has registered and acted to preserve World Heritage Sites they deem a landmark having cultural, historical, scientific or other form of significance. Here’s a link and map to the over 1200 World heritage designated sites by country. What’s in your backyard worthy of a road trip this summer?

I’m curious how many of the Wonders listed above you’ve had the chance to visit? We've experienced 6 from the lists above – many more to go! Drop a comment and let us know and connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.