It's one of those weeks, and I've found some ideas and thoughts that you might just appreciate. Spring is coming and that means vacation planning. Winter is here, which means there might be some service issues. Let's go!
1. Where to go on vacation? It's about that time to decide where to go and what to do, so I have some ideas that most people haven't thought of yet. Like you, I like to go on vacation at least once a year when I plan something more than a few days away and get to go to another country.
Here's my suggestion. I'm doing it. Try that middle area in central Europe. There's a little mystique left to this area, and some people avoid it, because they still associate it with the Soviet Union or a warring Yugoslavia. It's been so long since I've been to the area that it was Czechoslovakia the last time I was there.
Places like Bulgaria, Armenia, Albania, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, and so on are still getting fully into the tourism business and that leads to a lot of perks for travelers. Lower prices, smaller crowds, authentic culture, and on and on, make it a great place to go and experience something completely different from the places we all visit in western Europe.
So, consider the idea of going to the places less traveled, and have a great time!
https://blog.ricksteves.com/cameron/2025/02/balkans-travel-tips
https://www.tomhentystravel.co.uk/balkans/balkans-seven-must-visit-destinations
https://www.romanianfriend.com/blog/first-time-visitor
https://www.travelagewest.com/Travel/Europe/montenegro-travel
2. Try camping on the Great Wall of China. I know, this sounds crazy, but it's a thing. It's not fully sanctioned by the government, but no one is getting in trouble for it, so why not? It's possible to find guides to take you for a multi day adventure along the wall, with home meals along the way and camping at night.
Is this something that will get you in trouble? No. I thought it would, but it doesn't. The theory is that sooner or later it will be sponsored by the government, therefore now may be the best time to try it. There's over 13,000 miles of wall to explore. Choose your spot!
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g294212-d7918211-Reviews-Camp_The_Wall-Beijing.html
https://travel-shark.com/camping-on-the-great-wall-of-china/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZ6etVHsEtM
https://greatwalladventureclub.com/introducing-camping-tours
https://www.nomadasaurus.com/camping-on-the-great-wall-of-china/
3. What is it about Chongqing, China? China is opening up more and more all the time to American travelers, and that means that we don't have to limit our visits to Beijing and Shang Hai. There's something special about Chongqing. It's the most populous city in the world at 32,000,000 and the largest at 31,000 square miles.
But there's more to it than that. It's largely vertical and it seems as though things are stacked on top of one another. Ironically, there's still places that don't feel crowded. If you want to see some things that you just don't see every day, it's a great unusual spot.
https://www.cnn.com/travel/chongqing-china-tourism-cyberpunk-city-intl-hnk
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g294213-Chongqing-Vacations.html
https://www.theguardian.com/world/gallery/2025/apr/27/chongqing-the-worlds-largest-city-in-pictures
4. The New York City Ferry in the winter. This is some news. It's cold. We're having an extra cold season on the East Coast and it's causing some disruption in the world of ferries. It's not bugging the Staten Island Ferry because it's huge. A little bit of ice isn't stopping it.
However, most of the ferries in New York aren't that big, and there's been some disruption; particularly along the Hudson River and into that part of the harbor. Ice forms upstream and flows downstream and you get icebergs in the harbor. It happens. Just remember that if you visit the city, don't count on all ferries running normal schedules. Spring will come, and things will return to normal.
https://www.amny.com/nyc-transit/nyc-ferry-system-suspended-ice-conditions/
https://gothamist.com/news/nyc-ferry-suspended-due-to-icy-rivers-nj-transit-back-to-normal-schedule
https://www.nyctourism.com/transportation/nyc-ferry/
5. It's called the city of statues; Skopje, North Macedonia. There are at least 200 statues in the one town. There's a statue of Alexander the Great that's 72 feet tall! Is it a tourist trap of sorts? Maybe, but if you like the weird and unusual, you might truly enjoy it.
This country has all that old world charm and a lot of scenic wonders. It's old Soviet land, so it's definitely Eastern Europe. If you love old world charm and great Slavic food, it's a great spot. If you enjoy statues and sculptures; even better.
https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/statues-of-skopje-north-macedonia
https://www.anadventurousworld.com/skopje-statues/
https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/guide-to-north-macedonia
https://jaywaytravel.com/north-macedonia/skopje
https://www.passportsandpreemies.com/what-to-expect-in-skopje/
There you have it. A little news and some different ideas. It's great to visit the world's most popular places, but if you want some great stories to tell; you should consider traveling outside the lines. I like to go to the places less traveled. It's a true adventure, because I don't know what to expect any more than anyone else does.
And if you'd like to see what I'm up to right now, check out my YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@adventuresforanyone2025
Enjoy!
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