15. Newgrange, Ireland
The jewel in the crown of Ireland’s Old East is a huge passage tomb that is not just a tomb, but one of the best places to celebrate the winter solstice. 200,000 tons of rock are piled 12.5 meters (41 feet) high. It dates back to 3200 B.C., older than the pyramids of Giza and Stonehenge. Yet it’s not nearly as famous. We went inside to explore its mysterious inner chamber, the exact purpose of which archaeologists have yet to discover. This UNESCO World Heritage Site in Ireland is definitely worth a visit.
16. Ethiopian Historic Site – Lalibela, Ethiopia
While cycling in Ethiopia, I asked a cyclist what he thought of Lalibela and he said, “It almost makes me believe in God.” This incredible historic site consists of 11 rock churches dug into the ground. The medieval architecture is a place of pilgrimage, and Lalibela is the holiest city in Ethiopia. What Ethiopia is going through now is devastating, but hopefully there will be peace and we can all enjoy the beauty of the country again soon.
17. Thailand Monuments – Ayutthaya
Dave and I visited Ayutthaya in 2000, so we’re going back! This historic city existed between the 14th and 18th centuries and was the capital of Siam. it remained in ruins when the Burmese army destroyed it in 1767, but it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1991. It is important because in those days it was one of the largest cities in the world. A wonderful way to visit Ayutthaya is to take a boat trip on the Chao Phraya River from Bangkok.
18. American Historic Site – Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty remains a shining star of America, offering hope and freedom. The Statue of Liberty was given to the United States as a gift by French sculptors Bartholdi and Gustave Eiffel (known for the Eiffel Tower) in 1884 to welcome immigrants
Visiting this symbol of freedom is one of the most important things to do in New York City, and we enjoyed our three visits very much. (She never gets old). Located at the entrance to New York Harbor, you can enjoy a beautiful view of Manhattan where you can stroll through history. Be sure to visit Ellis Island, which is part of the Statue of Liberty admission
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19. Historic Site – Easter Island
We haven’t been to Easter Island to see the mysterious Maori heads, but ever since Mark of Flight and Travel wrote about his experience with these mysterious statues on the Pacific islands, we’ve had it at the top of our list. When we visited Santiago, we were so close because there are direct flights there twice a week. But that’s okay, next time.
We just need to get ourselves down to the far reaches of South America and transfer to this South Pacific island with the Moai statues.
20. Istanbul Historic District, Turkey
Straddling two continents separated by the Bosphorus, the Old Town of Stamboul is of such historical importance that the entire historic area has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
From the Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, the Grand Bazaar of the Topkapi Palace, the Constantine Racecourse to the Valence Ferry, there is so much to explore. It was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1985 and is not to be missed.
21. Rideau Canal, Canada
Many of Canada’s UNESCO sites are natural history attractions, but there are also some places that are man-made, such as Old Quebec and Lunenberg. What really fascinated us, however, was the Rideau Canal. After spending 3 weeks exploring it this summer, we learned that this feat of engineering is Ontario’s hidden gem.
This 202-kilometer waterway is comprised of 24 lock stations, including 47 historic locks from Ottawa to Kingston. Built in 1832 as an alternative to navigating the St. Lawrence River during the war, the Rideau Canal workers faced many hardships as they traversed the rugged Canadian terrain.
The war never happened, and it was eventually deemed useless. But today it is thriving as a recreational waterway.
22. Whaler’s Cove – Antarctica’s Deception Island
We had the opportunity to visit some of the historical sites in Antarctica. Port Lockroy is a scientific base, in operation since 1944, from where you can send postcards from the seventh continent. However, etched in our memories is the old whaling station on Deception Island.
Whaler’s Cove has a dark past, where whales were slaughtered to the point of near extinction. Today, the shore is strewn with whale remains, old boiling vats and a few abandoned buildings that remind us of the damage humans have done to the planet.
