Being invited on holiday ten years ago by family friends when I was just 15 was the beginning of many years of adventures in this special town in Austria. Their love for it prompted it to become a home from home for them and I am privileged to have shared many trips, celebrating birthdays, Christmas and seeing in New Year surrounded by family and friends. I learned to ski in these beautiful mountains and have spent many hours having fun exploring the town and the local area. Schladming is special to me not only because of the breath-taking scenery, beautiful churches and quirky bars and restaurants but because of the memories I have made there with the people I love. My next visit in a few short weeks will see us toasting in 2020 and may my adventures long continue in this beautiful little place.

This place is special to me because I get to live here! I originally came here from the prairies and was meant to stay for only three months. That was over 20 years ago! I love the mountains, trees, ocean, wildlife...I even love the rain! This place is paradise to me and I can't imagine living anywhere else.

This place is special to me because it is emotionally connected to my childhood. My dad was born in this region and we took this trip several times by ourselves and with our extended family when my sisters and I were little, and we have many fond memories and funny anecdotes from these trips. The south of the Dominican Republic is beautiful and it is very rich in biodiversity.

Imagine what an ocean of fresh water would be like and this beautiful slice of Ontario comes to mind. Georgian Bay, (part of the (Great) Lake Huron, features more than 30,000 islands and 2,000 kilometres of shoreline. It is world renowned for incredible swimming and boating, boasting endless beaches and long smooth rocks, decorated with majestic pines. It has a rich marine heritage and is home to some of the most impressive waterfront properties in North America. I feel very lucky to have this gorgeous piece of nature an hour’s drive from my home.

This is a special place to me because I love an underdog and Eastern Oregon is often overlooked. There is loads of information about the west side of Oregon, and it is for good reason; they have amazing food, nature, and culture. Frankly, most of Eastern Oregon feels empty and intimidatingly vast. I wanted to highlight a few of the lesser known but majestic places to visit. You might not get a five star hotel or a life changing meal, but the stars are impossibly bright, the skies are huge and ever changing, and the sounds of nature reign supreme.

Northern Öland, an island and a county in the south of Sweden, is one of my happy places. My family and I have spent almost ten years in a row there now, it was love at first sight. It's the garden, the cottages, the barns, the beaches, the sea, the landscape ... Evening bike rides between corn fields, or getting fresh cranberry scones from the bakery in the mornings, our dog trying to "rescue" all of us as we swim and play in the sea. Whenever the gray northern weather strikes, I imagine myself walking on the beach, sun set and the sound of the waves.

The golden deer is the symbol of the flag of Öland, and nightingale is the county's animal. The small island just outside of Öland, called The Blue Maiden, is thought to be a magic place in Swedish folklore, it's where the witches were believed to meet up ...

This place is special to me because it perfectly connects past, present and future. Attracted by it‘s myth I visited Bad Gastein. Located absolutely idyllic, 1002 meters above sea level, surrounded by the Austrian alps of Salzburger Land, there is a lot to discover: charming Belle Époque buildings, it‘s iconic waterfall in the town centre and the alpine scenery. The thermal springs made it to an popular bathing resort in former days. There was an endless coming and going of famous artists, royals, novelists and composers. After it has been temporary forgotten it‘s been rediscovered by young creative people, who became aware of it’s great potential. Little boutique hotels and alpine lodges with new concepts opened. Bad Gastein is absolutely worth a journey to experience this unique historic atmosphere, the new established urban chic, combined with the stunning scenery which invites to ski and hike.

Supai is the most remote village in the United States, accessible by helicopter, horse or on foot. Despite it's tiny size, it packs in several of the most beautiful waterfalls in the world, surrounded by a lush desert oasis. Located in the Havasupai Indian Reservation in NW Arizona, Supai is a bucket list item!

This place is special to me because I'm in awe that such a little strip of coastline can hold all this abundance of wildlife and wonder. In one stroll you can experience ALL the weather, hike the trails, swim or enjoy the ocean, shop for eclectic local wares, eat home made food, and drink a locally brewed beverage. My children often have their classes on the sand dunes or watching the salmon spawn in the fall. I'm very grateful to live here.

This place is special to me because of many reasons. When I first visited Cyprus a couple of years ago I couldn't imagine how many changes this trip will bring into my life. I was so inspired by nature and beautifully hidden villages of the island, that right upon my returning home I started to draw... after many years of telling myself it was too late to start. Now I think Cyprus is a real heaven for any artist and is worth visiting at least once in a lifetime. This island is a mix of all best things you can see on Greek land and can sometimes even offer some extra bonuses :) On this map I tried to show my favorite places near Limassol, the places I love to return to and the places I can recommend to everyone, who's visiting the island for the first time.

This place is special to me because it is unlike any other place I have been to before. Holmön is a small island with a strong sense of community in the Baltic Sea between Sweden and Finland. In the process of moving through the island’s environment, working on student projects and engaging with locals, my classmates and I had ourselves become a part of its community.

The island is removed from the hustle and bustle of a busy outside world and characterized by its physical limitations. It depicts a place of excitement, exploration and powerful contrasts. The local climate is marked by large seasonal temperature differences which offer plenty of outdoor activities all year round. During the winter months Holmön has around 50 residents who are regularly cut off due to weather and ice conditions. Every summer tourists take over the island — more than a 1000 people a day attend the annual mail rowing and folk festival. My map gives a brief overview of selected activities the island Holmön has to offer.

This place is special to me because Portsmouth NH is my hometown, even though I spent half my life moving around the country. I finally did move back, and just about every morning I have the privilege of walking through this picturesque and historic neighborhood, which is the south end of the city alongside the Piscataqua River.

Our vacation spot where we suspend reality to relax, indulge, and let go. Our favorite spots are Bread and Roses for breakfast, lunch, and a late afternoon coffee jolt (laying on the beach is hard work). After dinner we head to the Front Porch to hear the piano man and theater lovers belt out showtunes. We'll catch musical theater at the Ogunquit Playhouse. We'll take leisurely walks along Marginal Way (it's better than a treadmill and the view of the seemingly endless ocean is calming). When rains comes we hangout in our rental cottage to read, watch mindless TV, and nap.

This place is special to me because...it’s isolated, you can only reach it by airplane or boat, and it’s sorrounded by salty seas, a hidden gem in the Gulf if St. Lawrence. There are over 300kms of white sandy beach to explore, the biggest skies you’ll ever see, often dancing with colourful kites, because of all the wind! There’s history, great seafood, artisans, and the most spectacular views. You can walk for hours on a beach and never see another soul, or you can go cave-surfing, kayaking or just chill. The moment I set foot on this archipelago it stole my heart, I actually cried when it was time to leave. I bought a charm of the islands, and it hangs around my neck everyday, to remind me of the “bliss” I found here, on the “Maggie’s”.

This place is special to me because the beautiful natural landscape of Hokkaido in autumn