Limon, Costa Rica
LIMON is approximately three terrifying hours of driving from the country's capital San Jose, a trek during which you will find yourself winding through jungle ranges on the right-hand side of the road and unless you read Spanish, probably with no real indication of whether you're headed in the right direction. The in-car fights and frequent locking of doors in the sketchy parts are absolutely worth it though for a glimpse of Limon. The tiny villages are inviting, the food is cheap and the beaches are for the most part unoccupied - you can nab about a half-mile of white-sand beach to yourself almost all day if you're smart about it. The province is only 15 minutes' drive from the Panama border and terrain can get quite rugged if you really want to get to the secluded areas, but with no laws against drinking in public and hammocks provided by the government on the beaches, what more could you ask for than to swing your day away with a cocktail in hand?
Mid-West USA
WHEN you think of vacation travelling in the USA, flashy images of Hollywood, Hawaii or New York (see clichéd recommendation for NYC below) are usually conjured up, but I definitely recommend experiencing the isolated, sometimes 'Children of the Corn' destinations smack bang in the centre of the country. Obviously the Grand Canyon should be on the list - I don't know who 'they' are, but they're definitely right when they say its vastness dwarfs you. It really does need to be seen to be believed. The regional towns in Texas and Arizona also have a charm about them you wouldn't find elsewhere - once you get past the southern trailer park-type homes and strike up a conversation with a local over some bitter black coffee, it's actually a fairly cool area to explore. My picks were Austin, Texas; Flagstaff, Arizona; and though not technically defined as mid-West; New Orleans, Louisiana, if not just for the accent.
New York City
Because, well, it's New York City. Anyone who's been here would surely add this in their top five destinations across the world. During my short week in the city that never sleeps, I shopped in Soho, ate in Little Italy, bartered in Chinatown, walked the Brooklyn Bridge and had property stolen in Times Square. There are literally crowds anywhere you go at any time of the day, but I would definitely recommend making the trek over to Brooklyn to see the immediate change from hustle and bustle in Manhattan to the now cool and hipster streets across the bridge. Also a favourite was the High Line - it's a garden built on an old abandoned railway along the roof of a string of buildings in Midtown, with cafes and coffee stands scattered along the walk. Not too many tourists crowd the place as it hasn't quite made it to the 'Best of NYC' lists, but even without any plan for the day the big apple is sure to entertain; watching the eccentric people walk by should be on the itinerary itself.
Whitehaven Beach
WHITEHAVEN Beach is famous around the world as one of Australia's most beautiful destinations and it's no wonder why. It's not often you see tourism or advertising pictures of a place and it looks exactly like that to the naked eye, but it's a reality in the Whitsundays. After the necessary partying at backpacker hostels in Airlie Beach itself, taking a day trip out to Whitehaven Beach is a must. Not only is the sand the whitest I've ever seen on a real-life beach, but somehow, and this boggles my mind, it's heat reflective too. Yep, you could be there on a 40-degree day and be able to play a spot of beach cricket or run Pamela Anderson-style without burning your feet. Thumbs up from me.
Lake Kawaguchi
GOING pretty much anywhere in Japan guarantees a good time with friendly locals and a teetering mix of traditional culture and world-first technology. Nestled as one of the many lakes surrounding Mount Fuji, Lake Kawaguchi is a more residential location, which means less tourist resorts and more authenticity. It took me two hours to walk the full way around the lake itself, during which time I came across fishermen, businessmen returning home, a playground filled with happy children and a tree full of particularly aggressive wild monkeys I hope never to see again. Mount Fuji itself is known for being a bit cheeky on the photography front - we only got about 10 minutes of clear view among the cloudy sky, but the lakeside atmosphere is worth a trip on its own.
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