Top Bucket List Destinations of 2023

Experience a World Far Beyond Austin's City Limits

The EASTside Magazine travel editor’s 2023 bucket list locales are here, and if these experiences aren’t already on your list, we hope to inspire you to add a few more memories to your check list.

Quebec City

A UNESCO World Heritage site, the city of Quebec in the province of Quebec, Canada, turns into a magical fairyland for the holidays. Often dubbed the most European-looking city in North America, Quebec City lights up during the wintertime with lights, decorations, and almost-guaranteed snowfall. The German Christmas Market alone draws thousands every year, with its variety of stalls and mulled wine to keep visitors warm. Stay at the Chateau Frontenac, one of the most glamorous hotels in the country, originally built for the National Railway.

History buffs will love the many historical sites to explore, including la Citadelle de Quebec, the largest British fortress in the Americas, and the Plains of Abraham, where the British Army defeated the French in 1759 but is now the “central park” to the city.

The historic district of Old Quebec is the place for browsing shops, taking coffee breaks, watching the snowfall all around the holiday lights twinkling, or just walking on the snow-covered cobblestone streets. by Tanya

White

Exmouth

Off the coast of Australia lies an extraordinary snorkeling experience in Ningaloo Marine Park. The clear blue waters are the entry point to another world filled with colorful fishes and corals. Ningaloo is home to one of the largest fringing reefs in the world and is a World Heritage-listed destination.

While its white sand beaches are beautiful anytime of the year, there is a unique bucket list item for those who visit its waters. From March to August, the whale shark migration passes through this reef, offering divers and adventurous swimmers the sublime opportunity to move alongside this behemoth of a fish. Though intimidating in size, cutting through the water alongside the docile shark is perfectly safe. And a bonus feature is that divers and snorkelers not only get to see these awesome creatures up close, but they can also see other marine life like sea turtles, dugongs, and whales.

by Abby L. Johnson

_ Cape Town

Cape Town, South Africa, is one of those destinations that has it all: beaches, forests, gardens, mountains, a culinary scene, and of course, wine lands. Take a drive inland, and an African Safari awaits! This coastal city has stunning natural landscapes, delicious and diverse foods, and is known for its amazing scenery and wonderful weather year-round, making it easy to enjoy everything that Cape Town has to offer.

Much like Austin, Cape Town prides itself on farm-to-table AND sea-totable restaurants (all foodies rejoice!) with ample cafes, rooftop bars, and fresh markets.

Now, if you’re thinking “all that sounds great, but you mentioned wine lands, and I need to know more,” then we can relate. I can’t confirm this (yet), but rumor has it that South Africa is arguably one of the best wine regions out there. The fertile soil yields rare blends only found in South Africa. It’s more budget-friendly than most areas, while many wineries are family-owned farms, the wine lands are expansive enough to spend weeks wandering the vineyards.

The coastline offers surfing, relaxing under the sun, or a playful colony of penguins. Something unique about their numerous beaches is the fact that Cape Town marks the point where the Indian and Atlantic Oceans meet. This makes the western beaches completely different from the ones on the eastern side. The variety becomes enticing to check-mark more than a handful of experiences for bucket listers. It’s been said you can’t visit Cape Town without falling in love with it, and that’s a statement we plan to put to the test this year! by

Joanna Fuller

Central Peru

Though the most enticing places to visit for avid travelers are typically off the well-worn path, I am going to jump right on the tourist bandwagon with this one and say that Machu Picchu should top every list. As an UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the Seven Wonders of the World, it’s no surprise this fortress in the clouds is the number one tourist attraction in South America. You don’t have to be a history buff or a llama to appreciate the panoramic views that anchor this well-preserved Incan masterpiece uniquely situated above rolling greens and rocky peaks.

Next stop on the tourist train is Rainbow Mountain. Just a day trip from Cusco lies a colorful land, barren of trees. A hike up Rainbow Mountain yields a view true to its name, and those who’ve been say there is nothing quite like it.

As tourists stumble upon Huacachina, they may have flashbacks of a movie scene as their parched mouths start to water. Huacachina is a mini tropical gem in the middle of shifting white sands, which houses an oasis in its beautiful city center. Though this popup lake is sandwiched in greenery, this tiny town is suited for visitors wanting to try their hand at sandboarding.

No trip to Peru is complete without a stop in its coastal capital city. Lima is a patchwork quilt seaming together old and new. Stitched within its fabric are elegant colonial remnants abutting modern skyscrapers and mouthwatering coastal cuisine heavily influenced by both its native land and sea and its Japanese migrants. But let’s face it. We’re not here for the salt and pepper architecture; it’s all about the South American ceviche and the Pico Sours that will leave visitors craving more of Peru long after vacation is over.

by

Ashley Bowling

Nile River Cruise

Floating along the Nile, the chaos of the present melts away under the desert sun as travelers take refuge in a well-appointed ship sailing the deep blue waters.

The bygone era where travel felt more like an adventure feels so distant for anyone who’s recently gone through the gauntlet of trying to enjoy a modern-era vacation. Every best-kept secret is pinned on map apps, and influencers are five steps ahead in sharing the “next best thing” in travel. That sense of wonder has been replaced by a sense of urgency to experience the most of somewhere before it’s taken over. Yet, as paradoxical as it may sound, the over-discovered history in Egypt still offers a slower pace experience for those looking to escape the rat race of tourism.

Several companies and cruise lines offer a means of seeing monumental sites without cramming into tight quarters on a gargantuan ship. Each ship is intimate in size, focusing on the world outside its windows instead of providing distracting amenities to keep the gaze inward. The breathtaking scenery along the Nile, with stops in Cairo, Luxor, and Memphis, hearkens back to that era of exploration. Even though each monument or ruin has long been studied, there’s a sense of breaking a barrier as small groups disembark the ship to tour the marvels in the Egyptian sands.

by Deven Wilson

FIND EVEN MORE DESTINATIONS to add to your bucket list at eastsideatx.com/traveleditors-top-bucket-listdestinations-2023-edition.