Aviation with Krish - 2024 Travel Highlights
by Krish Patel
Travel is something that allows us to experience new destinations and gives us the chance to find our new favorite place. In 2024, we’ve had the chance to explore several new locations and enjoy what they have to offer. Here are some of our favorite destinations we’ve visited this year.
Argentina (Buenos Aires, Iguazu, and Bariloche)
Argentina is a beautiful country that allows you to experience the hustle and bustle of a city, but also offers a refreshing break from the city, with national parks and mountains.
As a major city in South America, Buenos Aires is home to famous landmarks, such as the iconic Obelisco de Buenos Aires, which symbolizes the city. This beautiful structure sits within the city’s center and can be seen on pretty much any walking tour of the city. If you have at least a few minutes, there’s a small park surrounding the obelisk, where there’s a line to get a photo.
Buenos Aires is also home to Teatro Colón, the largest opera house in all of South America. The auditorium houses more than 2,000 seats, with standing room for 1,000 guests. The theater is known for its Italian Neoclassical architecture, which includes a large fresco in the entrance and Italian-style columns. If you enjoy visiting opera houses, this is one you’ll love for sure.
Making our way slightly north of Buenos Aires on the border of Brazil is Iguazu National Park, which is in both countries. With lush forests and striking waterfalls, the nature in Iguazu is breathtaking. You can enjoy this nature either on a hike, or on a boat in the Rio Iguassu.
The Iguazu Falls are considered a UNESCO World Heritage site and also as one of the seven natural wonders of the world.
If you love nature, you’ll also love Bariloche, which is found on the border of Chile and situated near the Andes Mountains. Considered as the Switzerland of South America, Bariloche has a lot to offer to its tourists. With beautiful, snow-peaked mountains, green forests, and beautiful lakes, this is truly a destination to simply take in the nature around you. If you’re visiting in the winter, skiing is a popular activity, however, if you’re visiting during the summer months, hiking is very popular among tourists.
On my trip to South America’s Switzerland, I had the chance to experience the scenery of the Nahuel Huapi Lake and enjoy views of the surrounding mountains. If you want to enjoy a luxury stay in Bariloche while taking in views of the scenery, I would recommend booking a stay at the Llao-Llao Hotel. Click here for our video covering this gorgeous property.
Alaska
As the largest U.S. state, Alaska has a lot of scenic nature to enjoy, ranging from beautiful lakes to snow-peaked mountains. A great time to visit the state is in the summer, when the sun doesn’t set and the temperature isn’t extremely frigid.
Located 50 miles north of Anchorage and situated on the Chugach Mountain Range is the Knik Glacier, which is one of the most stunning glaciers in the state. The vastly untouched frozen landscape and glacier water truly made for a stunning appearance. Note that Alaska is a popular destination and I suggest booking hotel rooms and/or cruises at least one year ahead. Excursions can be booked at least three months ahead.
Found slightly above the Knik Glacier is the snow-covered Cataract Glacier, which is found near the Prince William Sound. Taking a helicopter is required to land on the glacier. There’s a base camp at the site, where dogs live throughout the summer and are trained to pull travelers on a dogsled. While expensive, it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience I will never forget. You can book a dog sledding excursion on the Cataract Glacier through this link.
Making our way south from Anchorage in Seward is the breathtaking Kenai Fjord. The calm, blue water and surrounding land formations truly make this a stunning spectacle that has required millions of years to be formed. You can take a cruise out on the fjord and watch killer whales leap out of the water if the conditions permit. I enjoyed the fjord on a tour that left at 11am and was back by 4pm.
New York City (The Edge)
The Edge in New York City serves as the highest sky deck in the western hemisphere. It’s suspended in mid-air, giving travelers the feeling of floating above the city and enjoying 360˚ views. Tickets to visit the Edge start at just under $45 per person and can become more expensive if you prefer to skip the lines. Beneath the sky deck are establishments for high-end shopping (Rolex, Cartier, Dior, etc.) and dining. Also, I suggest getting an Uber to the Edge because traffic can sometimes be hectic.
Chichén Itzá, Mexico
Found in the Yucatán State of Mexico, Chichen Itza is considered to be one of the world’s seven ancient wonders. It truly is a sight to behold. The archaeological site is situated approximately two hours from Cancun and provides reference to the Ancient Mayan civilization, with Mayan ruins and pyramids from thousands of years ago.
London, England
As one of the most iconic cities in the world, London has a lot to offer to its tourists, ranging from museums to famous landmarks.
Of course, one of London’s most well-known sites is the Big Ben, or Elizabeth Tower. The tall and iconic clock tower from centuries ago stands at the north end of the Palace of Westminster and is located in central London, making it easy to get to by car. The best time to view Big Ben is sometime at night when it’s dark because the clock tower beautifully glows, allowing for a perfect view. If you stand on the sidewalk of the Westminster Bridge, you’ll also be able to enjoy stunning views of the London Eye and River Thames.
One of the most fascinating sites in London is the British Museum. It’s certainly one of the best museums I’ve ever visited and makes for a great site if you’re fascinated by art, history, or human culture. The museum is situated in London’s centrally located Bloomsbury neighborhood on Great Russell Street. Best of all, visiting the museum and its many galleries is free for tourists.
Once you’ve entered the museum, you’ll find yourself in the Great Court, above which is a stunning geometric glass ceiling. The center of the space is the Reading Room, which is a quiet exhibit that showcases famous quotes from works of classic literature. This center of the Great Court was completed in 1857 and considered one of London’s best sites for learning.
Some of my favorite exhibits are the Lewis Chessmen, East Asia, and Ancient Egypt. The Ancient Egyptian exhibit is one of the museum’s oldest sections that features artifacts such as the Rosetta Stone. In the East Asian exhibit, you’ll be able to view fascinating works of ancient Chinese pottery, making that gallery a favorite of mine.
Paris, France
As the French capital, Paris has a lot of sites to offer to its tourists. December is a very nice, festive time of year to visit. There are Christmas lights and decorations everywhere, and the Christmas market near Vendome offers a variety of food options, including fresh hot chocolate and pastries.
Earlier in December, the Notre Dame Cathedral reopened after years of construction from a fire. It truly is stunning, with tall bell towers and glass windows. During the day, it’s very crowded in front of the cathedral, making it virtually impossible to get a good photo from right in front. For the best photo, I’d recommend standing from the Petit Pont bridge because less people will be in your way.
If you’re fascinated by museums, one of the best is the Louvre. Its focal point (excluding artifacts and works of art) is the pyramid outside the museum, which was added in 1989 and designed by I.M. Pei. In the summertime, the fountains around the pyramid are turned on, and young children enjoy them very much. The Louvre’s building is stunning and used to serve as a French fortress during the medieval times.
Inside, the museum contains approximately 500,000 artifacts and displays 35,000 works of art. With exhibits covering works of art and history, it’s very easy to find something interesting here. It would take about nine months to see everything inside the Louvre!
Some of my favorite exhibits include the European renaissance, Ancient Mesopotamia, and Ancient Greece. You’ll be able to enjoy stunning paintings from the renaissance era, many of which depict Biblical scenes and emphasize major figures of the Catholic Church.
The Ancient Mesopotamia exhibit contains the original Hammurabi’s code. It’s the oldest set of written laws known to mankind and depicts Hammurabi receiving the laws from the God of the Sun.
The Louvre’s Ancient Greece exhibit showcases several statues of Greek gods from myths, including Zeus, Apollo, and Venus de Milo. While most people visit the Louvre to see the Mona Lisa, I was more impressed with the painting of the Wedding at Cana, the Louvre’s largest painting.
2025 and Beyond
Aviation with Krish continues to venture into 2025 to bring you more travel content and reviews. I want to thank all of the viewers for subscribing to us on YouTube and the readers for reading our articles on the website. As we continue to look forward to your ongoing support, I want to wish all of you a very happy New Year!