New Years Travel Resolutions: 9 Places That You MUST Visit In 2015.

Watch the first 5 minutes of any news hour, and we won’t blame you for thinking the world is nothing but a dark, gloomy mess.

Stories of disaster and tragedy sell. But just because these stories dominate headlines, doesn’t mean we should be defined by them. Despite the pollution and negative impact of humans, our world is still a beautiful place. And it always has been.

Sometimes it’s easy for us to forget that there are gardens of paradise that still exist on this planet – unspoiled corners of the world so magical, it will make your heart ache. Below are 9 amazing places that remind us that in this mad, mad world there are still treasures to be found.

Life’s too short, and the world is big. We hope you’re blessed with the opportunity to visit at least one of these places at some point in your life.

Make 2015 your most memorable year to date!

1) Sea of Stars – Vaadhoo Island

No, this is not Photoshop at work! The Vaadhoo island is home to the most romantic lighting on the planet. When nightfall arrives, bioluminescent algae emit a blue glow that makes the gentle, lapping waves look like they’re reflecting the stars in the heavens.

The word ‘amazing’ is often overused. Not this time.

Nature’s paintbrush: Ocean water containing thousands of glowing microorganisms, rush in to fill any imprints made.

2) Tunnel of Love, Ukraine

A 3 km stretch of railway track, along which a train delivers wood three times a day to the local factory. It’s easily one of the most romantic places for couples to discover.

Not surprisingly, the tunnel is a very popular engagement photo-shoot location.

Fall

Winter

3) Zhangye Danxia Geopark, China

Voted by Chinese media as one of the most beautiful land-forms in the country, these foothills are home to stunning, colorful rock formations. They are the result of sandstone and other minerals being deposited over millions of years, along with tectonic plate shifts.

The best time to visit is just after rainfall. The colors really pop.

We’ve been told that the best time to visit is just after it’s rained. The colors really pop at that time.

If you didn’t know any better, it looks like you’re gazing at an oil painting.

4) Northern Lake Baikal, Russia

Lake Baikal is famous for many reasons. It’s known as the deepest (1.6km) and also cleanest freshwater lake in the world. But it’s also home to ‘turquoise ice’ – a natural phenomenon caused by nearly no air bubbles being trapped in its ice, which allows the frozen water’s natural blue color to really come alive.

Lake Baikal contains 20% of the Earth’s freshwater supply,

It’s not hard to see why this lake is considered the cleanest in the world. You can almost see all the way to the bottom!

5) Takinoue Park, Japan

The Takinoue Park is known for its population of Shibazakura , or tiny Pink Moss flowers. Winding paths lead you through a surreal pink and purple mountainside overlooking the local town. It’s recommended that you visit between the months of May to July, to take full advantage of the blooming season.

Does it get any more majestic than this?

Make sure to wear comfy hiking shoes! The park spans across rolling, and sometimes steep, hills

6) Sagano Bamboo Forest, Japan

Another majestic treasure hailing from Japan, the Sagano Bamboo forest should rank high on your bucket list for places to check out! The sound that the wind makes as it runs through the bamboo is truly a zen experience.

This enchanted forest is only 30 min away from Kyoto (by lightning fast train of course).

The size and girth of the bamboo trees here is unlike anything you’ll ever see.

7) Mendenhall Ice Caves, Alaska

The Mendenhall Ice Caves are actually found under a giant glacier located in Juneau, Alaska. Getting to the caves is half the adventure. Visitors first make their across icy waters via kayak, and then hike across the top of the glacier before finally getting to this magical site.

There are several Mendenhall ice caves to explore, and they’re always changing in shape and size as the glacier melts and moves.

As the glacier moves, the colors of the cave change constantly, from a deep turquoise, to a lighter blue.

As the glacier moves, the colors of the cave also change constantly, from a deep turquoise, to a lighter blue.

8) Red Seabeach, China

This is the site of the biggest reed marsh in the world. The beach gets its namesake from what is actually a red species of grass. Depending on which time of the year one visits, the grass is varying shades of red. The deep, rich colors that you see in some photos is the result of the grass maturing.

The best time to view this amazing scape is in the autumn, when the entire wetland turns a brilliant crimson red.

The wetland is home to more than 260 kinds of birds and 399 kinds of animals.

9) Lavender Fields, France

The Provence region of France is home to some of the most beautiful lavender fields in the world. Not only do you get to smell the heavenly hues of lavender in the air, but the natural beauty found in these lands is shockingly surreal.

The lavender grown in this fields is used to make some of France’s legendary perfumes and pharmacology.

Endless rows of flowers bloom between June and August.

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