Polling its members, the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) asked each of them what was his or her favorite trip, a question all of them get asked frequently by friends, neighbors, readers and people they just happen to bump into. SATW reasoned that those who travel so much must have some insight into what are the most memorable or exciting places to visit. Not surprisingly, the writers' responses, covering five continents, were fairly predictable. But you might want to know how your opinion matches up with the "experts," or where you would differ from their point of view.
Here are the "Top Ten (or Fifteen) Must See Once in a Lifetime" destinations, in order of popularity:
1. Grand Canyon, Arizona2. Great Pyramids of Egypt
3. New York City
4. Paris, France
5. Great Wall of China
6. Venice, Italy
7. London, England
8. Taj Mahal, Agra, India
9. Machu Picchu, Peru
10. A visit to the land(s) of your family's ancestors
11. Washington, D.C.
12. Canadian Rocky Mountains
13. Jerusalem
14. Galapagos Islands
15. Hawaiian Islands
Echoing the tastes of their readers, by and large, the members of SATW included only four natural wonders (Grand Canyon, Rocky Mountains, Galapagos Islands and Hawaiian Islands), but decided on five cities (New York, Paris, Venice, London, Washington, D.C. and Jerusalem) and four manmade marvels (the Pyramids, Great Wall, Taj Mahal and Machu Picchu). Otherwise, the men and women of that organization were quite broad-minded, counting among the 15 spots just four in North America, two in South America, three in Europe, one in Africa, three in Asia and one in the Pacific (Hawaii).
SATW says it is the largest organization of travel journalists and travel photographers in the world, with a total membership of about 1300 writers, photographers, broadcasters, editors and media-relations professionals. The organization has been going for 45 years now, its goal being "to raise the standards of the travel writing profession, to guard the right to travel and to encourage conservation and preservation of historic sites and wonders."
SATW: www.satw.org
