It's hard to imagine wanting to leave Milwaukee during the middle of the summer -- and we're not saying we do.
But everyone has a list of places to visit before they leave this earth, and here's ours (and why). Add your own picks using the Talkback feature below.
Molly Snyder Edler
Staff Writer
1. Iceland: I want to see Bjork perform in her home country. And I like Reyka vodka.
2. Tikal, Guatemala: I have been to Guatemala twice, but I never got to see the ancient Mayan ruins in Tikal.
3. CBS Television City, Calif.: I want to spin the big wheel on "The Price Is Right" before I die. While I'm in California, I want to people watch at Venice Beach, too.
4. Japan: I appreciate many aspects of Japanese culture such as the food and art, but most of all, I love to observe innovative fashion -- particularly flamboyant footwear -- which puts Japan in my top 5.
5. Brazil: I love Brazilian music, particularly Gilberto Gil and Bebel Gilberto.
6. Malawi: Actually, I would like to visit numerous African countries, not only to absorb the beauty, but also to see the injustices that are going on. I am certain this kind of experience would put my "problems" in perspective and inspire me to take action.
7. Niagara Falls: I'm not picky if I check out these massive waterfalls from the United States or Canada, but enough people have told me I have to see them someday, and so I will.
8. Hawaii: A little cliched, but Hawaii sounds like a tropical paradise and a place where I could truly relax.
9. Woodruff, Wis.: As a fan of all things wacky, I plan to take my kids to see the world's largest penny next summer. It's 10 feet and weighs 17,452 pounds.
10. Ireland: I spent an entire summer traveling in England and Europe, but because of health issues, I was unable to make it to Ireland which was supposed to be my final destination. I'll get you someday, Ireland!
Julie Lawrence
Staff Writer
1. New Delhi, India: This would actually just be a starting point for the trip of a lifetime for me. My grandparents took a sabbatical there in the ‘60s and their stories have fascinated me my whole life.
2. Bangkok, Thailand: The colors, the history, the beaches of the Andaman Sea, the food!
3. Tokyo, Japan: What I love are the extremes: The beautiful, ancient traditions on one hand and the bold, progressive technology on the other hand.
4. Wellington, New Zealand: In my mind it looks exactly like landscape scenes from "The Lord of the Rings." I need to go confirm my suspicion.
5. New York City: Never been. Figure I should go.
6. Vancouver, B.C., Canada: In a dream world, I'd take a month and hit up Toronto, Montreal and Quebec as well. O, Canada!
7. The Mediterranean Sea: OK, this is a bit vast, but I could potentially explore three continents were I to cover the entire Mediterranean Basin.
8. Andalusia, Spain: Do I really need a reason? How about the Santiago Calatrava-designed Alamillo bridge at night?
9. Rural Washington state: It's arid, mountainous, and vegetable gardens thrive most of the year. I could live here.
10. Seoul, South Korea: It's difficult to wrap my mind around a city this large. I think it can only be understood through experience.
Drew Olson
Senior Editor
1. Stockholm in the summer: I need to find out if I have any rich, long-lost relatives.
2. Sydney, Australia: I've heard nothing but good things.
3. Penobscot Bay, Maine: Near Dad's birthplace. Need to have some lobster with locals.
4. Austin, Texas: Music and BBQ -- my two favorite things. I'll take Brewers TV guy Brian Anderson, a local, as a tour guide.
5. Tokyo: The city was the most likable character in "Lost in Translation."
6. St. Bart's: Wanna party like a rock star.
7. Dubai: Former Milwaukee Mile honcho Craig Stoehr raves about it and Tiger Woods hangs there. It's gotta be cool.
8. Cameron Indoor Stadium: Never seen a Duke home game in person.
9. Amsterdam: Because I never made it there in college, which is probably good because I may not have left.
10. Rome: For the ruins. For the wine. For the pasta. For the hell of it.
President
1. Cameron Indoor Stadium: Duke vs. North Carolina. Say no more; just get me a ticket to Durham, North Carolina.
2. Vancouver: Its population is about that of Milwaukee's, but everyone says this city is dense, diverse and simply of the world's best. Maybe I'll go for the 2010 Winter Olympics.
3. Italy: Not sure which city, but need to get to my family roots somehow.
4. Cape Town, South Africa: Not really sure why, just seems like a place I should go to.
5. Arthur Ashe Stadium at the USTA National Tennis Center: Somehow I'd like James Blake to invite me to cheer him on in his J-Block at the U.S. Open. 22,547 fans in one tennis stadium. It's gotta be awesome.
6. Sydney, Australia: Has to be cool. Long trip, but heard it's well worth it.
7. Austin, Texas: Is it really as cool as most say? I need to find out.
8. Dubai: Why not? Situated on the Persian Gulf coast of the United Arab Emirates, it would be interesting to see its massive developments and check out the world's tallest and most expensive hotel, Buj Al Arab.
9. London: Heard mixed reviews about London. But, drinking in a London Pub is very appealing.
10. Norway: This one's kinda random. But, the northern lights would be pretty amazing. Good snowshoeing, I'm sure, too.
Bobby Tanzilo
Managing Editor
1. Asselheim and Grunstadt, Germany: These are the Rhein-Pfalz towns where the German part of my family comes from. Plus, it's Germany's best wine area (I hear), so that's even better.
2. The "tiny countries of Europe" tour: My wife and I have discussed this many times: Andorra (181 sq. mi.), Luxembourg (999 sq. mi.), Monaco (0.76 sq. mi.), San Marino (24 sq. mi.), Vatican City (0.17 sq. mi.), Liechtenstein (62 sq. mi.).
3. More Italy: Even after about 10 trips to Italy, I have a long list of places I'd like to explore there -- Sardinia, Trieste, the Dolomites, Le Marche, Assisi and other Umbrian towns and cities, Sicily and its satellite islands like Favignana and Stromboli. I'd love to see Alberobello in Puglia because I want to see this city peppered with those awesome stone huts (trulli) with the conical roofs that are native to this area. The next place we'll like go is Val Pellice, Val di Susa, Val Chisone and the other Alpine Valleys of western Piemonte. This is a part of my favorite world region that I've only seen from planes and trains. I'd love to get out and smell the air, feel the stones and check out the views. For a country about the size of Arizona, there's a lot of cultural diversity as well as an amazing variety of topography.
4. Argentina: My great-grandmother was born in Buenos Aires and that has sparked my curiosity for this sprawling, interesting, multi-cultural melting pot of a country.
5. Ireland: I've never been there and I suspect everyone should see Ireland.
6. Algeria: As a high school fan of The Cure, I found Albert Camus and through "The Stranger" and "The Plague," I found Algiers and Oran and rai music. So, I've always had a minor fascination with Algeria. But I'm never sure when is a "good" time to go. Now doesn't seem like it.
7. Sweden: Thanks to books and music once again, I'd love some time to explore this country and its capital of Stockholm, built on dozens of islands.
8. The islands of Scotland: I love the language, I love the literature, I love the music, I love the people (heck, I even love the food! Haggis? Bring it on!) and I love the colors of Scotland which are unlike the colors you see anywhere else. I've never been up to the Orkneys or the Outer Hebrides. Never been to Mull or Skye. I'd happily go to any of those and even to St. Kilda way out in the North Atlantic.
9. New Zealand: Everyone I know that has been there raves about its beauty. They can't all be wrong, can they?
10. The American West: Sure, it's not real far but I've never seen it except from planes.
Andy Tarnoff
Publisher
1. Australia: An entire planet's worth of ecosystem in one continent. And I'd like to see what life is like 9,000 miles from home.
2. London: Missed the U.K. on my recent trip to Europe, and living in New England as a teenager doesn't count.
3. Cuba: The last frontier of unspoiled Latin culture. A must-see before it becomes Florida's weekend getaway.
4. Israel: For historical and spiritual significance, an important trip.
5. Ibiza: Ever since I saw the E! special on this Spanish party place, I wanted in.
6. Antarctica: How many places can one visit that are so untouched by mankind?
7. Japan: I imagine "Lost in Translation" and cell phones I'll never see in the states. I hear the water actually tastes fishy, though.
8. Alaska: I want to meet people who think a Wisconsin winter is balmy. And the unspoiled beauty (for now) is intriguing. Bonus points if I drive there from Milwaukee.
9. Iceland: Natural hot springs in an exotic location -- though I'm not crazy about paying $15 for a beer.
10. New Zealand: See Australia, but without all those pesky Sydney rush hours. Plus, Flight of the Conchords!
