100 Counties, 5000 Ideas by National Geographic (TLC Book Tours)

 

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you travel?

 I have never left North America!  Mexico and Canada are the only other countries that I have visited.  I would really like to travel to more locations that I have read about around the world.  A book like 100 Counties, 5000 Ideas gives me a lot of great ideas on where to travel, and to enjoy thinking about traveling from the comfort of my home.  I have a lot of places I would like to visit on my bucket list.

 100 Counties, 5000 Ideas is a large soft covered book.  It starts with a map of the world with countries labeled and then goes through countries alphabetically from A to Z.  Countries are from six of the seven continents, only Antarctica excluded.  Each country has beautiful pictures to show what you can see in that country and a description of highlights in the country that may include landscapes, cities, cultural heritage, cruises, monuments, nature and wildlife, festivals and traditions depending on the country. Each country has a sidebar list of “What to see and Do,” “When to go” to different parts of the country through the year, “Travel Advice” including pros, cons, and safety.  There is also a “Traveler’s notebook” which includes the main contacts, travel documents for US citizens, time zone, language & currency, population, capital, religion, celebrations, and shopping.

 I thought it was interesting to read about countries I’m already familiar with, but also to learn more about countries I’m not as familiar about.  We have a large, diverse, and beautiful world to explore.  A few items on my bucket list are:  seeing the Machu Picchu in Peru, visiting the islands of Portugal, Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, or visiting Angkor Wat in Cambodia.  What are some places you’d like to visit on your bucket list?

 I had fun also seeing how the United States was represented.  My current state, Wisconsin, was not represented, but my birth state of Michigan was.  It did a good job highlighting the various areas of the United States from Washington DC to Yellowstone National Park.

 Overall, 100 Countries, 5000 Ideas is a great book to plan travel or to learn about all of the countries around the world.

 Book Source:  A Review Copy from Hachette Book Group as part of the TLC Book Tour.  Thank-you! I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.