Hanna’s 2025 Dream Destinations

(in no particular order)

As we head toward the New Year, I can’t help but think about the future. What I want to do, who I want to be, and especially where I want to go. Anyone who knows me knows that I have a list a million miles long of destinations I want to see one day and am constantly adding to that list. And as exciting as that list is, it also torments me, because there’s a lottt of places that exist in our big beautiful world. So, I decided to come up with a shorter list specifically made for 2025, taking into account natural phenomena, current safety levels, and travel trends. I hope you enjoy!

Madagascar & Mauritius

Madagascar and Mauritius have been at the very top of my mental dream board for a few years now. Both of these island nations are located off Africa’s southeast coast and are perfect for nature and wildlife lovers. There are numerous national parks and nature reserves boasting every type of landscape you could imagine. From luscious rain forests filled with lemurs, to grassy plains, coral reefs and everything in between! Spend one day swimming and surfing above Mauritius’ underwater waterfall and the next on a safari car driving down the Avenue of the Baobabs in Madagascar, (give or take a few days). These islands have so much to explore. And since this is a list of dreams, I might as well add staying at Miavana private luxury villas on the tiny island of Nosy Anko, situated just off the coast of Madagascar, to that list.

photo credits from top to bottom & left to right: MadaMagazine, BBC Wildlife Magazine, TravelAwaits

Bhutan

I love the idea of traveling to unpopular destinations so when I recently learned of the Kingdom of Bhutan it immediately piqued my interested. Bhutan is a country in Southeast Asia nestled along the eastern edge of the Himalayas, between China and India. This country offers a unique cultural experience that is unlike anything else in the world (in my opinion). Due to its surrounding locations, Bhutan has never once experienced colonization or occupation, leaving its traditional identity completely intact. The majority of the population practices Tibetan Buddhism and the country as a whole, places a huge importance on well-being. The 4^th King of Bhutan coined the phrase “gross national happiness,” in the 1970’s when he said, “Gross National Happiness is more important than Gross Domestic Product.” Amen! If I was to embark on an Eat, Pray, Love journey of my own, Bhutan would without a doubt be my spirituality focused location.

photo credits from left to right & top to bottom: Vogue, Tricycle, Explorersweb

Tromsø, Northern Norway

2025 is predicted to be the best year to see the Northern Lights in the last 20 years because of the sun being at its solar maximum. Therefore, there’s literally no better time to embark on a journey in the Arctic Circle. While there are many amazing places to see the Aurora Borealis, I’ve selected Tromsø, Norway because of its accessibility, its cheerfulness, and of course, the likelihood that you’ll actually see something. This charming city is the 3^rd largest north of the Arctic Circle anywhere in the world and has a plentiful number of restaurants and pubs. What’s even better is that there is so little pollution, the Northern Lights can actually be seen from within the city! There are also guided tours to take you outside the city for an even better chance of seeing the lights. And if all this wasn’t convincing enough, there are direct flights to Tromsø from London and other major Scandinavian cities like Oslo!

photo credits from left to right & top to bottom: Visit Norway, Visit Norway, Quark Expeditions

Cornwall, England

Cornwall is a county in England that makes up the country’s southwestern tip. This county is a peninsula studded with delightful seaside villages. This area offers the quaintness of the English countryside combined with picturesque cliffs and beaches and has the nicest weather in all of Great Britain. Cornwall also has a famously amazing food scene, with multiple Michelin Star chefs working in the area and fresh seafood that goes from boat to table. On my list of must-see towns is Port Isaac- a tiny proper Cornish town, Padstow- where the foodie scene began in Cornwall, Marazion and St. Michael’s Mount, St. Ives- the most popular town to visit, Penzance, and Newlyn- a lowkey fishing village with independent shopping. With mandatory day trips to the Helford River, Porthcurno- a gorgeous beach cove, and Kynance Cove- named one of the most beautiful places in the UK.

photo credits: Condé Nast Traveler

Jackson Hole, Wyoming, USA

Now that I am US based again, I felt like I should include a domestic location in my 2025 list because 1) it increases the likelihood that I’ll be able to take one of these trips in the next year and 2) I tend to overlook what the US has to offer since I’m from here. After much careful consideration, I’ve decided to award this honor to Jackson Hole, Wyoming! Jackson Hole is technically an entire valley, so there is an insane amount of stuff to do. There are ranches with horses and riding trails, spas, Grand Teton National Park, skiing, rooftop terraces, fire pits, and wake surf charter boats. Jackson Hole is like the ultimate place for a wholesome family or friends getaway where you get to enjoy a mix of the rugged outdoors and simple luxury.

Beyond the Postcard