There is a big world beyond the places we know, filled with landscapes, cultures and experiences unlike our own. Sometimes all it takes is one photograph or one story to make a faraway place feel possible.
This month, we’re traveling from Bali’s emerald rice terraces and the wild beauty of South Africa to Santa Fe’s high desert and Utah’s extraordinary red-rock country. Four very different destinations, each offering the same invitation: stay curious, dream bigger and see where the journey might take you.
Whether you’re dreaming of traveling halfway around the world or discovering somewhere extraordinary closer to home, experienced travel advisors like the team at locally owned Kelly Co Travel can help turn inspiration into an itinerary.
TRAVEL SNAPSHOT
BALI, INDONESIA
IDEAL STAY: 7–10 days
BEST TIME TO GO: April–October
WHY IT WORKS: Ancient temples, tropical landscapes, beaches, culture
PERFECT FOR: Couples, adventurers, wellness travelers, culture seekers
Bali is the kind of place that makes the world feel wonderfully different. Hindu temples rise among tropical forests, rice terraces cascade down brilliant green hillsides and centuries-old traditions remain part of everyday life.
Begin in Ubud, Bali’s cultural heart, where art, food and wellness experiences mingle with nearby waterfalls, temples and the famous Tegallalang Rice Terraces. Venture farther to discover sacred sites perched along cliffs and tucked into lush landscapes, or trade the interior for the coast, where beaches and warm Indian Ocean waters invite travelers to slow down.
But Bali’s magic isn’t found in any single landmark. It’s in flower-filled offerings placed outside doorways, the scent of incense drifting through the air and the warmth of a culture that feels distinctly its own. Come for the beauty, but expect to remember how Bali made you feel.
SCENES FROM THE JOURNEY
Tropical Waterfall • Coastal Cliffs • Ubud • Traditional Balinese Offerings • Balinese Temple
TRAVEL SNAPSHOT
SOUTH AFRICA
IDEAL STAY: 10–14 days
BEST TIME TO GO: September–May
WHY IT WORKS: Wildlife, dramatic landscapes, culture, food and wine
PERFECT FOR: Adventurers, couples, wildlife lovers, bucket-list travelers
Few journeys deliver as many completely different experiences as South Africa. One morning you’re watching elephants cross the bushveld; another you’re overlooking Cape Town from Table Mountain or lingering over lunch among the vineyards.
For many first-time visitors, Cape Town is the perfect beginning. Explore the city’s neighborhoods and waterfront, travel the spectacular Cape Peninsula and make time for nearby Stellenbosch and Franschhoek, where mountains frame historic towns, vineyards and celebrated restaurants. Then comes an experience unlike almost any other: safari. Whether staying in a private game reserve or exploring one of the country’s renowned national parks, seeing lions, elephants, giraffes and rhinos in the wild changes the meaning of wildlife encounter entirely.
South Africa doesn’t offer just one reason to make the long journey. It offers dozens—and the feeling that you’ve experienced a part of the world you once only imagined.
SCENES FROM THE JOURNEY
South Africa • Cape Town • African Elephants • Cape Town Waterfront • Cape Winelands • African Safari
TRAVEL SNAPSHOT
SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO
IDEAL STAY: 3–5 days
BEST TIME TO GO: September–October
WHY IT WORKS: Art, culture, Southwestern cuisine, high-desert scenery
PERFECT FOR: Couples, art lovers, food lovers, weekend explorers
Santa Fe doesn’t look or feel quite like anywhere else in America. Adobe buildings glow beneath blue skies, chili peppers scent the air and centuries of Native American, Hispanic and Western influences have created a city with an unmistakable identity.
Wander the galleries of Canyon Road, explore the historic Plaza and the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, then discover why Santa Fe’s culinary scene has become an attraction of its own. Art is everywhere, from traditional works to immersive contemporary experiences, while the Sangre de Cristo Mountains provide an entirely different kind of gallery.
Each season adds something different to Santa Fe, from summer festivals and crisp fall days to snow-dusted mountains and the quieter pace of winter. Take the High Road toward Taos, hike among the aspens or linger over dinner beneath a high-desert sunset.
SCENES FROM THE JOURNEY
Some images Sante Fe Tourism
New Mexico Museum of Art • Santa Fe Art • San Miguel Chapel • Downtown Sante Fe • Shiprock Sante Fe • Farmer’s Market
TRAVEL SNAPSHOT
UTAH’S RED-ROCK COUNTRY
IDEAL STAY: 4–6 days
BEST TIME TO GO: March–May, September–October
WHY IT WORKS: Otherworldly landscapes, hiking, stargazing, outdoor adventure
PERFECT FOR: Hikers, photographers, road trippers, adventure seekers
There are places that make you wonder how nature possibly created them. Southeastern Utah is one of those places.
Make Moab your base and you’ll have two extraordinary national parks within reach. At Arches National Park, more than 2,000 natural stone arches rise from a landscape of sandstone fins, balanced rocks and towering formations. Hike to Delicate Arch, wander among the Windows or stay after sunset to watch one of America’s great dark skies come alive.
At Canyonlands National Park, the Colorado and Green rivers have carved canyons, mesas and cliffs. Island in the Sky offers sweeping overlooks while trails and backcountry adventures take travelers deeper. Come to hike, drive, gaze upward and occasionally stop talking altogether. Some landscapes simply leave you without words.
SCENES FROM THE JOURNEY
Island in the Sky • Arches National Park • Bryce Canyon • Delicate Arch • Canyonlands National Park
