Your travel plans for Chinese New Year may already be set in stone, but what about the months ahead? If you’ve already ticked off the traditional travel hotspots – Bali, Tokyo, New York and London to name just a few– and you’re looking for something a bit more exotic to add to the mix, fear not. Below are five destinations that are celebrating something special in 2019. Mark your calendars.
Vaduz, Liechtenstein – Celebrating its 300th Birthday
With a population of just 38,000 souls, the tiny European principality of Liechtenstein is one of the smallest countries in the world – so small that it doesn’t even have its own airport. As the landlocked nation is set to celebrate its 300th birthday on 15 August this year, any intrepid traveller hoping to partake in the free concerts, firework displays and complimentary museum passes that will mark this grand occasion will have to transit via Zurich Airport, the nearest airport some 130km away from its capital of Vaduz.
Cape Canaveral, Florida – Celebrating the Mission to the Moon
On 20 July this year, it will have been exactly half a century since man first stepped on the moon and astronaut Neil Armstrong proclaimed it to be ‘One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind’. To celebrate this remarkable space race accomplishment, head to Cape Canaveral in Florida, home to the Kennedy Space Centre, site of the original Apollo 11 shuttle launch that took Armstrong and two other spacefarers to the moon. Walk beneath a real 363ft-long Saturn V rocket or check out the newly-debut Touch the Moon exhibition, which allows visitors to experience first-hand what walking on the moon feels like via augmented reality.
Elqui Valley, Chile – Celebrating A Total Eclipse
If you missed 2017’s total solar eclipse, fear not, you’ll have your chance to once again catch a glimpse of this astronomical phenomenon on 2 July. Experts have predicted that the eclipse – predicted to last two whole minutes – will be best viewed from Chile’s Elqui Valley. To round out your trip, set aside time to explore the region’s famed vineyards, sample the local pisco or trek through the picturesque rolling hills.
Berlin, Germany – Celebrating the Fall of the Berlin Wall
For those looking for a more cosmopolitan getaway, perhaps a trip to the German capital of Berlin might entice this year as it celebrates the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, the Soviet Union-pushed structure that separated East and West Berlin for 28 years during the Cold War. To commemorate the occasion, Berlin’s museums plan to host a series of exhibitions in remembrance of those difficult times. Afterwards – and for some much-needed mood-lifting – indulge in some retail therapy along Friedrichstrasse or knock back a few brews at a local biergarten.
Grand Canyon, Arizona – Celebrating its National Park Status
If you’re not afraid of a little workout and are looking to get back in touch with Mother Nature, you really can’t go wrong with the Grand Canyon. Set in the Arizona desert, the 277-mile-long natural rock formation is marking the centennial celebration of its National Park status – awarded by the US Senate back in 1919. Thought to be well over 70 million years old, the Grand Canyon is as ancient as it is stunning. If casual sightseeing along its more accessible Southern Rim seems too run-of-the-mill, you can also try your hand at river rafting along its base, or take in the views from up high with one of the many helicopter tour operators on site.