I’ve been thinking a lot lately about which trips stay with us.
Not the trips that look good on Instagram. Not necessarily the most expensive trips. Not even the trips that went perfectly.
The adventures we remember are usually the ones that make us feel something. They challenge us, surprise us, scare us a little, or show us a part of the world that’s completely different from our own.
Years later, you may forget where you stayed or what you paid for dinner. But you’ll remember standing on a glacier in Iceland. You’ll remember watching the sunrise from a mountain ridge in Madeira. You’ll remember the feeling of seeing a place you’ve dreamed about for years finally come into view. And the people you were there with.
These are ten adventures that have stayed with our family (although they are great destinations for solo traveller or couples as well) and that we’d recommend to almost anyone looking to create memories that last.
These are also all places I would go back to in a heartbeat.
I invite you to read or click through the links to see photos of each destination from our visit.
1. Walk on a Glacier in Iceland
Iceland feels like another planet.
Black sand beaches, waterfalls around every corner, volcanic landscapes, and glaciers that seem impossibly large. But if there’s one experience that stands above the rest, it’s stepping onto the ice itself.
The scale is hard to appreciate until you’re standing there.
→ Read our Iceland guides on Chasing ADVNTR
2. Hike Through the Dolomites
The first time we saw the peaks of the Dolomites, we immediately understood why people travel from around the world to hike here - it is a popular destination that deserves the hype.
Jagged mountains rise above green valleys, alpine huts serve incredible food, and nearly every trail delivers a view worth stopping for.
It’s one of the few places we’ve visited where reality actually exceeded expectations.
→ Explore the Dolomites on Chasing ADVNTR
3. Watch the Sunrise Above the Clouds in Madeira
Some alarms are worth setting.
Standing on the ridgeline between Pico do Arieiro and Pico Ruivo as the sun rises above a sea of clouds is one of those experiences that doesn’t translate well into photos.
Madeira combines dramatic mountain scenery, coastal cliffs, and some of the best hiking we’ve found anywhere.
4. Zipline Through the Rainforest in Costa Rica
Costa Rica has a way of making adventure feel accessible.
One day you’re hiking through cloud forests. The next you’re spotting wildlife, walking across hanging bridges, or flying through the rainforest canopy.
It’s the kind of destination that reminds you how much fun travel can be.
