I compiled a list of 15 places that I deemed impressive; these may not all be well-known attractions that tourists have set their eyes on, but behind every beautiful location, there is a backstory and a reason to visit.

15. Newfoundland, Canada

Other than escaping the political craziness in America, you can go to Newfoundland for sight-seeing. Newfoundland is tucked away in the northeastern corner of Canada; it is one of North America's oldest cities and is home to streets with the most bars per square foot. Other than that, it is home to coastal towns and communities.

The best times to go to Newfoundland is late June/early July because you can see the icebergs, whales, and various species of birds. If you are a nature lover, this is the place for you.

14. Cape Town, South Africa

Cape Town is home to beaches, mountains, harbors, and gardens. Tourists can take a cable car or hike all the way up to the top of Table Mountain to enjoy the view of the town. Beneath Table Mountain are beach communities--sometimes, you get to see penguins on the sand. In addition, there are amazing restaurants and open bar catamaran cruises.

There are also many universities in Cape Town with study abroad opportunities.

13. Krakow, Poland

This city was once Poland's capital in 1038. There's a legend attributing the city's founding to Krakus, the mythical ruler who defeated the Wawel Dragon.

Krakow had seen many invasions, the major ones were the Mongols in 1241, the Swiss in 1655, and the Russians during WWI. Nonetheless, this place is also the site of Renaissance architecture and had a knack for preservation after each and every invasion. Consequently, Krakow is arguably Poland's most significant historical and cultural artifact.

12. Prague, Czech Republic

Founded in 800, Prague grew from the Vysehrad Castle to the capital of the Czech Republic. It had seen the Golden Age, Hussite Revolution, Hasburg Rule, Dark Age, Industrial Revolution, and the historic Velvet Revolution that ended communism in Czechslovakia.

It is said that Prague has the best beer and coffee. There are many pubs and beer bars in Prague where you can get good beer and pick up bottled delicacies from around the world.

Prague is home to diverse architecture--many Romanesque chapels and cellars, Baroque palaces and gardens, Cubist architecture, underground spaces, and worldly Art Nouveau buildings.

11. The Palace of Pena, Lisbon, Portugal

This palace was built during King Ferdinand II's reign and serves as one of the greatest expression of the 19th-century romanticism in Portugal, with influences from the Manueline and Moorish styles of architecture. It is built in such a way that it is visible from any point of the park that it is located in.

10. The Alcazar Castle, Segovia, Spain

This is one of the most distinctive castles in Spain due to its similarity to a bow of a ship. The Alcazar was originally meant to be a fortress but has served as a royal palace, state prison, Royal Artillery College, and a military academy in its existence. This castle is one of the inspirations for Walt Disney's Cinderella Castle.

9. Petra World Heritage Site, Wadi Musa, Jordan

One of the New 7 Wonders, Petra is HUGE (50 square kilometers). This means that even if someone spends 24 hours exploring Petra, they still wouldn't see it all. Petra was established by the Nabataeans in 312 BC near the biblical Mount Hor in Wadi Araba, the large valley running from the Dead Sea to the Gulf of Aqaba. Petra was the crux of an ancient trading route.

The reason Petra is largely intact is because it wasn't discovered until 1812. There were people still living in these cave-like homes (in the city) until the Jordanian government moved them out in the 1980s.

The canyons are carved by water, and when it rains or runoff from the mountain melts, there is a torrential wall of water that can kill people, so it is best to go visit Petra in the spring or fall.

8. Fjords of Norway

A Fjord is a long and narrow inlet of sea between the high cliffs in West Norway. It is created by a succession of ice ages. On the inner and outer ends of each fjord, there are small communities and villages with their local traditions and orchards.

You can go fishing, camping, scuba-driving or kayaking in this natural playground of salt-water activities.

7. Shwedagon Padoga, Yangoon, Myanmar

Besides the obvious reason that Shwedagon Pagoda is beautiful, you should go if you have architectural interest. The Schwedagon was constructed on a massive scale, with the stupa alone holding 8,688 solid gold blocks and the top of the top holding 5,448 diamonds.

If you were to visit the Shwedagon, you must be aware of the cultural sensitivities and rituals that needs to be respected during a tour of the Shwedagon Pagoda. Tourists need to have a respectful tone while within walls, as there are temples and monks, and the sanctity of their prayers and meditation should be honored.

6. Basel, Switzerland

Basel is known as Switzerland's cultural capital; it is home to 40 museums, from world-class institutions like the Kunstmuseum Basel and Splelzeug Welten Museum Basel. Basel also hosts its famous carnival Fasnacht every spring; it is renowned for its vibrant parade of 20,000 masked marchers, dancers, and drummers. There are also medieval buildings spread along the banks of the Rhine and a thriving art scene.

Lastly, Basel is the meeting point of 3 countries (France, Germany, and Switzerland). Visitors can stand beneath the monumental meeting point with its 3 flags and enjoy the opportunity to visit 3 countries in one day.

5. Hawaii

As we all know, Hawaii is one of the most popular vacation spots for people around the world. People enjoy Hawaii's perfect weather, whose tempearture remains relatively steady throughout the year. Hawaii also have over 750 miles of shoreline and over 400 named public beaches. You can also take a helicopter tour over volcanoes and drive to the summit of Haleakala for dawn.

Hawaii is the only state in the US where everyone is a minority. Each of these various immigrant groups brought their unique cultures with them, so if you are to visit Hawaii, you can directly see America's melting pot of all cultures.

4. Taj Mahul, Agra, India

Mughal history is one of the most fascinating in the world; the Taj Mahal is reminiscent of the Mughal era as it was built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in the 17th century, to remember his second wife, Mumtaz Mahal.

As for the architecture, the Taj Mahal is one of the most stunning monuments ever built. It is made up all semi-translucent white marble and took 22 years to complete. A visit to Taj Mahal takes you back in time to the luxurious lifestyle of the Mughals.

3. Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Abu Dhabi was built with growth in mind, and it features a grid-like design that was based off of Manhattan. It is easy to get around the city, so the private tours are carried out effortlessly. The locals of the city are deeply devoted to their traditions which came from their Bedouin heritage and Islamic religion. In Abu Dhabi you can experience the Arab hospitality from friendly locals.

2. Scandinavia (region)

This area is made up of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden who are ranked the safest, cleanest, friendliest, and happiest countries on Earth.

Did you know that these Scandinavian countries provide the most generous work-family policies, allowing working parents flexibility with jobs? The Swedes get up to 16 months of paid leave after having a kid, and extra tax credits to defray the costs of child-rearing. Forget about sight-seeing, I would rather live here!

In all seriousness, Scandinavia has intertwined histories and changing boundaries with influential societies that hold traditions close while accepting new people and ideas. They strongly cherish individual freedoms, privacy, and tolerance.

You can also experience natural phenomena such as The Northern Lights, The Midnight Sun, and The Polar Nights. If you love the outdoors, this is your destination! Scandinavians love to celebrate their holidays and traditions outside.

1. Beijing, China

Okay, I may be biased here since my family is from China; however, China really fascinates me as there are thousands of years to its existence. Although it was officially united as one nation by Qin Shi Huang in 221 BC, written records have shown that the history of China can be found from as early as 1500 BC under the Shang dynasty.

However, I'm not merely impressed by the duration of the Chinese existence; I am inspired by the culture and traditions that were passed on to each generation through language, holidays, morals, and ideals.

China summed up in a few words: dialects, ethnic cuisines, Great Wall, Spring Festival, red envelopes, dragons, harmony, temples, and more than 50 ethnic groups.

Although many people say that the past is not significant, I say that the past plays a significant role in shaping civilizations and influencing their traditions, values, and architecture.