My Top 5 Travel Destinations of 2010

Storm watching, which I could do for hours, makes the Wild Pacific Trail in Ucluelet, Vancouver Island,makes it one of my top travel destinations

2010 was another great year for traveling for me and my top travel destinations easily could have been a list of 100 items long, but after much consideration, here are my top 5 travel destinations of 2010 in chronological order.

#1 Top Travel Destination of 2010 - Wild Pacific Trail in Ucluelet, Vancouver Island, Canada
In the winter months the small towns of Ucluelet and Tofino on the west coast of Vancouver Island are known for storm watching and we were treated to quite the show throughout our late December/early January stay.  In Tofino we watched surfers brave the frigid waters, barely above freezing, but clearly enjoying the waves, which were in peak season.  I couldn't convince J.P. to take a surfing lesson with me so we settled for a nice hike on the Wild Pacific Trail which provided plenty of storm watching excitement - from land.  See the official Wild Pacific Trail for more info.

#2 Top Travel Destination of 2010 - Waterton National Park, Alberta, Canada
Waterton National Park is ~ 3 hours south of it's more famous neighbor, Banff National Park, but it is THE place to go for wildlife sightings.  I'll admit I'm biased, growing up just minutes outside the park, but I've seen bears here on at least 10 occasions, far more than I've seen in Banff.  The mountains are not as grandiose as those in Banff, but for what it lacks in size it by far makes up for it with wildlife, red rocks and a welcoming village feel.  In two short days, we saw elk, big horn sheep, deer, a moose with young twins, a coyote and evidence of a very recent cougar.  For more info see the government site, Waterton National Park

The wildlife, like this large herd of elk  is why  Waterton National Park is one of my top travel destinations

And this big horn sheep, which along with others munches on resident's grass in the village of Waterton National Park

#3 Top Travel Destination of 2010 - Stuttgart, Germany
I moved to Stuttgart, Germany in July from Calgary, Canada and the city has been very good to me.  It's not as rich in architecture or history as more famous German cities like Berlin or Munich are, but it still has several castles, a famous opera house, notable museums -most famously the Mercedes and Porsche museums and lots of interesting parks and cafes to explore.  With a population of just over 600,000 it's not an overwhelming city to get acquainted with, but still has plenty to offer.  Plus it's just a short drive away to hiking trails in the Black Forest and the Swabian Alps which is a bonus for me since I love to hike.  Coming soon is an iPhone app of a Walking Tour of Stuttgart which I wrote.  In the meantime, see the Stuttgart Tourism site for more info. 

The Schloss Platz, a great place to have a picnic in front of the new castle in Stuttgart, which I pass everyday on my way to German class makes this a top travel destination for me.

#4 Top Travel Destination of 2010 - PalauMost people have never heard of Palau unless they are scuba divers.  It lies between the Philippines and Guam and is an independent South Pacific Island Nation.  We were drawn to Palau since it is the world's first and only shark sanctuary and we wanted to support this initiative with our tourism dollars, hoping that other countries will follow suit.  We were rewarded with unbelievable diving - coral reef walls that disappeared deep into the blue teaming with life on one side and reef sharks gliding by us on the other side was a typical dive.  And one can never forget snorkeling in Jellyfish Lake where you snorkel with millions of non-stinging jellyfish, truly a unique experience. See Sensual Snorkeling in Jellyfish Lake for more info and  Palau Visitors Authority for more info.

Superb diving and snorkeling with millions of jellyfish in Jellyfish Lake make Palau a top 5 travel destination.

#5 Top Travel Desintation of 2010 - Odense, Denmark
I was in Copenhagen for the TBEX Conference which is a lovely historic city in itself, but I really fell in love Odense, just over an hour train ride from Copenhagen and the birth place of Hans Christian Andersen.  What makes this city with a small town feel so special is the locals pride in Hans Christian Andersen and their work to keep his stories alive.  Hans Christian Andersen statues from his numerous stories are placed throughout the city, and trying to figure out which story the statue is from is half the fun.  Without Hans Christian Andersen, Odense would still be a historic city with tree lined streets, but the community spirit evidenced everywhere you look is what really makes it special. See Top 10 Things to See in Odense, Denmark for more info.

The statues from Hans Christian Andersen stories in Odense help make it a top travel destination.

What was your top travel destination of 2010?

Top 10 Things to See in Odense Denmark

I had never heard of Odense until a recent trip to Denmark, but I became almost immediately enchanted with Denmark's third largest city and home to Hans Christian Andersen, Odense's claim to fame.  Odense has a welcoming feeling, but its more than that.  Perhaps its the local pride of Odense citizens at keeping the stories of Hans Christian Andersen alive that permeates life in Odense.  Regardless, I didn't stop smiling during my visit. 

 #1.  Probably the only place in the world, where in the tourist areas, the traffic lights feature a walking figure of Hans Christian Andersen, and likely the last photo I will ever take of a traffic light.

 

#2.  The Hans Christian Andersen Museum is worth a visit and you can even visit the house he grew up in.  The photo above is the view from the room where Hans Christian Andersen was thought to be born.  Hans Christian Andersen became famous while he was still alive so many of his personal belongings are on display at the museum, including intricate paper cuttings that he used to do. 

 

#3.  Right beside the Hans Christian Andersen Museum, is The Tinderbox, a children's cultural center where children's own stories come to life.  I can't recommend The Tinderbox enough if you have children.  Creativity in numerous forms is encouraged and judging by the enthusiastic children we saw, kids love it!

#4.   In summer this park is home to three plays a day centering around Hans Christian Andersen.  It is also a popular outing with locals who will bring along a picnic lunch.

#5.  If you're lucky enough you may just happen to run into Torben, who is out of costumer here, but has played Hans Christian Andersen over 6000 times all over the world.  He's quite the character and his love of Hans Christian Andersen is evident.  We ran into him on a Sunday afternoon.  Talk about meeting the locals!

 

#6.  While public access is not allowed into this historic building, I included it because it is a seniors home where additional care is provided to those who can no longer live on their own.  It is in the heart of Odense.  I loved how central it was and think it says a lot about a community that devotes prime real estate to some of its oldest citizens.

#7.  This street is right across the street from where Hans Christian Andersen grew up.  It's in the central part of Odense and with its cobblestone streets and well cared for historic houses it's hard to imagine that at one time this was one of the poorest areas of town.  Today, it's quite the opposite.  I could have wandered these streets for hours!

#8.   Biking the river in Odense, past parks and historic rambling houses with well maintained gardens is a great way to see a part of the city enjoyed by locals.  Bike rentals are readily available in Odense and its a very bike friendly town, with 50% of its citizens biking to school or work everyday.

 

#9.  There are a couple of very old historic churches in Odense which are beautiful and reminds you that Odense is rich in history.

#10.  Statues of characters from Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tales are everywhere.  Our guides said that locals feel it is their responsibility to keep the memory of Hans Christian Andersen alive.  I must say they do a good job of it and it's fun to try and figure out which fairy tale the statues are from.  Any guesses on the second photo?  I admit I had to ask our guide.

From my observations, I think its safe to say that the citizens of Odense would have made Hans Christian Andersen proud. 

You may also be interested in:

 The Tinderbox, Where Children's Dreams Come to Life in Denmark

My Top 10 Experiences in Denmark

5 Things You Should Know Before Cycling in Denmark

J Day in Denmark

More Tours & Sightseeing in Odense Denmark

The Tinderbox, Where Children's Dreams Come to Life in Denmark

As I open the door to The Tinderbox, I find myself finding in a new world, with my years magically disappearing.  I am a child again!  Magic is everywhere, cows sword fight with princesses and kings engage in a game of chase across a swinging bridge.  This is The Tinderbox, a children's cultural center beside the Hans Christian Andersen Museum in Odense Denmark where children bring their own stories to life.

 

It all starts here, in the dressing room of The Tinderbox, the dressing room of all dressing rooms.  Many of the costumes found in The Tinderbox are those from characters in Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tales and many I don't recognize, perhaps from fairy tales long forgotten, or never read.  Hans Christian Anderson wrote over 120 fairy tales, among those:  The Little Mermaid, The Emperor's New Clothes, The Princess and the Pea, The Ugly Duckling, and the Snow Queen, to name a few of his more popular works.

 

A knight puts on his finishing touches before engaging in a sword fight with a swan or perhaps a nice cup of tea with a pea pod.  Anything is possible at The Tinderbox, including inadvertently getting in the middle of sword fights or games of chase as I discovered.  Fortunately I was unscathed.

Even Hans Christian Andersen himself takes on a new persona at The Tinderbox with exaggerated features, namely his height and large nose for which he was often described as odd looking. 

 

The Tinderbox has life size sets in which children can bring their own stories to life.  Here some princesses are enjoying a nice cup of tea, resting, before they engage in a rowdy game of chase with two cows almost knocking us over!

The Tinderbox also has a stage where families can enjoy an interactive play.  Unfortunately we missed it, but I have no doubt it would be in the keeping of the creative spirit of The Tinderbox.

Another part of the life size set, although I couldn't figure out what the building was on the right.  Any ideas?  I also loved the hanging clouds.               

 

As we made our way to the second level of The Tinderbox we were treated to an impromptu puppet show.  Unfortunately, it was in Danish so I didn't understand the play, but still enthusiastically clapped when it was finished.

The Tinderbox also has a wood carving room.  It is from an old Danish story that is famous among Danish children.  I had never heard of it before, but observed a boy intently whittling a piece of wood.  This was one of the quieter rooms in The Tinderbox, but provided another creative outlet.

 

The Tinderbox also has a large art studio which seemed especially popular with older children.  Our guides said that families often spend hours at The Tinderbox.  Fortunately there is also a restaurant and cafe.

 

Just a few of the creations that came out of the art studio at The Tinderbox.

All to soon, it is time to leave The Tinderbox and I quickly return to my 30-something self again, but The Tinderbox has sparked something in me.  On the plane ride home, I read four Hans Christian Andersen fairy tales, something I haven't done in a long time.  I am, for a short time, brought back to my childhood self again.  I think Hans Christian Andersen would approve.

For more information on The Tinderbox see:

The Tinderbox Homepage

For more information on Visiting Denmark see:

 Top 10 Things to Experience in Odense Denmark

My Top 10 Experiences of Denmark

5 Things You Should Know Before Cycling in Denmark

J Day in Denmark

Please note this tour was complimentary of the Odense Turist Bureau as part of the TBEX Conference