Good Choice Reading: BLOG TOUR: The Predicteds by Christine Seifert

Guest Post: TOP 10 Best places to visit in the world or where you like to visit.

I am not much of a traveler. After about a day away from home, I just want to get back to reading and writing and sleeping in my own bed. (I know, I sound like an old curmudgeon.) But there are a few places that I love (and not just because these are places where I can enjoy scenery and a good book at the same time).

Here are my top ten favorite places to visit, but keep in mind that they are a little bit unusual:

10. Moab, Utah—Wanderlust is easy to control when you live in Utah. It’s truly one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen. (And I say that as a transplant here, so it’s not like I’m calling my own baby cute!) Moab is hands-down the most breathtaking scenery I’ve ever encountered. Just a few hours from Salt Lake, Moab is the perfect three-day weekend destination. If I don’t get there once a year, I feel incomplete.

If you go, don’t miss…the Moab Brewery. Yummy.

1. Fargo, North Dakota—I’m totally serious here. This is my hometown, and while there’s nothing exciting to see scenery-wise (unless you love wheat fields, snow drifts, and mosquitos), it is my favorite city in the world. Really. I love downtown, the North Dakota State University Campus, the bike trails around the Red River, everything. And the fact that my parents are still there makes it my favorite summer vacation destination.

If you go, don’t forget…to bring mosquito repellant and four seasons of clothing; you never know what you are going to get there.

8. Detroit Lakes, Minnesota—Just an hour’s drive from Fargo, Detroit Lakes is a quaint little town with a beautiful lake perfect for boating, skiing, or just lounging. One of my favorite things to do as a kid was go to Detroit Lakes, even though I worried a lot about sharks. Apparently nobody ever explained much about shark habitat to me.

If you go, don’t miss… Zorbaz Pizza.

7. Edinburgh, Scotland—I had the pleasure of taking twenty-some students on a British Isles adventure last year. Edinburgh was our first stop. It’s a beautiful city—perfect for walking—and it’s loaded with fascinating and friendly people (and good fish and chips).

If you go, don’t miss…The Elephant Coffee House, JK Rowling’s hang-out.

6. Oxford, England—I love books and libraries (and I never miss a chance to visit the local library wherever I’m visiting), so Oxford was a dream come true for me. Wow! If you like old buildings, rich history, and the intoxicating allure of academics, you need to go to Oxford immediately. Just looking at the library made me want to sit in there for hours researching something really obscure, like the history of libraries or something.

If you go, be sure…to get Stuart as your tour guide.

5. Washington, D.C.—I visited Washington with my family when I was just a kid. I still remember how I felt about all the rich history of the place. The Smithsonian Museums were incredible. And, of course, the Library of Congress was everything I imagined it would be.

If you go, don’t forget…to invite me along. I’d love to go back and experience all of it again as an adult.

4. Stratford-upon-Avon—I’m a big Shakespeare fan (seeing Shakespeare plays, not reading them), so Stratford was pretty exciting. Touring Shakespeare’s home and wandering the beautiful cobbled streets was heady.

If you go, plan…to spend at least a day and a night. You’re going to want to see a play.

3. Swords, Dublin, Ireland—This probably seems like a strange choice. Swords is a commuter city just outside of Dublin (and just a few steps from the airport). I was there for three days after being grounded because of the volcano in Iceland. Hanging out in Swords was a great way to experience real life in Ireland, not just tourist life.

If you go, be sure to…walk the streets of Swords and talk to the locals.

1. Cedar City, Utah—Apologies to Cedar City-ites, but it’s not the city that brings me back every year. It’s the Utah Shakespearean Festival. It’s my favorite part of summer, and I wouldn’t dream of missing any of the terrific plays.

If you go, plan to…do some hiking. There’s not much to do in Cedar, but there’s ton of natural beauty to appreciate.

1. Stillwater, Oklahoma—I went to graduate school in Stillwater. Like Daphne in The Predicteds, I moved there at a low point in my life, and I took out my frustration on the city. While I was there, I thought it was a miserable place. But then I came back to visit. Turns out that it’s a gorgeous little city with a beautiful college campus, surrounded by rolling green hills.

If you go, be sure to…check out Aspen Coffee. It’s a great place to relax, unwind, and read a great book. Don’t let Daphne sour your opinion of Oklahoma. There’s some truly great things about it!

Thank you Christine for stopping by Good Choice Reading today!