Last week, I told you the embarrassing story of blanking on my favorite cultural destinations in my French class. (If you missed it, you can read about it here.)

Of course, for the rest of that class, I was half distracted as destination after destination came flooding back to me.

So, to continue my redemption, here’s what I wish I had said—I hope you find some inspiration for any upcoming travels you may be planning:

Japan

The culture here is so present and alive, from temples and tea ceremonies to Living National Treasure artisans and incredible omakase meals. There’s a reverence for craft and tradition that I don’t think I’ve experienced anywhere else, and a fascinating tension between that and the buzzy contemporary energy of cities like Tokyo and Osaka.

Mexico

I think a lot of Americans just go for beach resorts (and there are some great ones!), but Mexico is absolutely one of my favorite cultural destinations. Ancient ruins, incredible regional cuisines, wonderful folk art, delicious mezcal, and some of the warmest, most welcoming people I’ve encountered anywhere.

Spain

Okay, I’m biased here, but really, Spain has to be on the list. It’s a cultural crossroads shaped by the Romans, the Moors, and many more cultures—so the Basque Country in the north feels like a completely different country from the “sunshine and olé” south. (Also: I’d put the food up against French cuisine any day.)

Peru

Machu Picchu lives up to the hype, but Peru is so much more: colonial Cusco’s ornate gilded churches, a surprisingly great food and art scene in Lima, and wonderful indigenous crafts and culture throughout. There’s also nature and adventure touring, and even beaches if you want them—truly something for everyone.

Scotland

There's just something about Scotland. The dramatic Highland landscapes, mysterious castles, gorgeous lochs, whisky distilleries, and some truly special hotels (Gleneagles is one of my all-time favorites). Edinburgh is a beautiful, walkable city with fascinating history. I always get excited when I get to plan trips there.

Australia

It may seem familiar on the surface, but don’t be fooled. There’s a huge variety of experiences: excellent food and wine scenes, wildlife spotting on land and in the sea, the monolithic rocks of the Red Centre, the lush, ancient rainforests of Queensland, and much, much more. Not to mention some of my favorite hotels in the world. Worth every hour of the flight.

The Netherlands

Amsterdam is one of my favorite European cities, and one I think many people underestimate. It has world-class art museums, beautiful canals, interesting history, and incredibly friendly people. And it’s a great base for exploring the rest of the country. My personal must whenever I'm there: rijsttafel, the Indonesian small-plates spread that’s actually more Dutch than Indonesian.

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Of course there are more, but I’ll stop myself here.

As I was writing this list, I realized that all of these destinations check a lot of the same boxes: layers of history, delicious food, culture that feels so alive you can’t miss it, beautiful landscapes, architecture, and art, fantastic luxury hotels, and enough variety that one trip never feels like enough.

They’re all places that feel completely and unmistakably like themselves.

Reader, if any of these are calling your name and you’re not sure where to start, that’s exactly what my Destination Discovery Calls are for. Book a call and let’s figure out your next trip together.

P.S. Seriously, if you’ve been vaguely thinking “I should go somewhere” but can’t figure out where—that’s my favorite kind of call. Let’s talk.​