Travel Thursday: Destinations To Watch In 2013

Happy Thursday!

I can't believe I haven't written a travel post in months!

One of my longstanding goals is to travel the world, and while I can't do that just yet, I must content myself with traveling virtually for now, haha! ;)

Who wants to "travel" with me right now?

Let's go?

Here are the destinations to watch in 2013 according to Yahoo! Travel:

1. Ireland - 

The Gathering Ireland 2013: "This yearlong celebration of Ireland and its people includes festivals, concerts, clan gatherings, and special sporting events. With more than 70 million people around the world claiming Irish descent (including 44 million Americans), this is shaping up to be the ultimate family reunion."

2. San Francisco -



"2013 is shaping up to be the year of the waterfront in San Francisco. The already popular stretch between the Bay Bridge and the Golden Gate is getting some high-profile additions."

3. Amsterdam -



"2013 marks 400 years of Amsterdam's iconic canal system. Anniversary events include special tours, exhibitions, and ice-skating. The Artis Royal Zoo turns 175, and the Royal Concertgebouw celebrates 125 years."

4. Hangzhou -



"In 2013, with a new train station, high-speed service to nearby Shanghai, and a new metro opening phase by phase, it will be easier than ever to explore this undiscovered gem of China."

5. Zambia -



"This coming year marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of famed explorer David Livingstone, whose namesake city of Livingstone is a popular gateway to the awe-inspiring Victoria Falls."

6. Nashville -



"In 2013, Nashville will throw open its arms in a great big country embrace. A new events center, a museum, a hotel, and multiple restaurants offer plenty of reasons to make the trip to Music City."

7. Florida -

"Happy 500th, Florida! In 2013, the state will celebrate a half millennium since Juan Ponce de Leon landed on its shores. Heritage trails and paddling expeditions are among the already announced events, and more will be finalized on the Viva Florida 500 website as the year draws closer."

8. Croatia -

"The last two years have already brought new hotels and improvements to popular tourist attractions, and the country's stated goal is to make travel easier for foreign visitors in the coming years."

9. Turkey -

"Turkey is soaring. This gateway between Europe and Asia has long been on the radar of travelers looking for the flavor of both continents, but its rise as a global air hub is set to make it a crossroads to the world."

10. Capitals of Culture -

"Capitals of culture, sports, food, music and more are popping up all over the world... The pack is impressive and includes Marseille, France, as a European Capital of Culture; Bogota, Colombia, as a UNESCO City of Music; and Jeonju, South Korea as a UNESCO City of Gastronomy."

Read more about all these amazing destinations here.

I love San Francisco and I cannot wait to take a road trip up north soon!

My family and I were supposed to go to Nashville before, but my parents got the flu, so we ended up just staying in Memphis! :/

Florida is definitely on my list and so are all these other places -- aaaahhhh, if only we can just jump on a plane and travel! ;)

Have you been to any of these destinations before?

Do you have some travel plans for the year?

I hope you are all having a lovely week!

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