This month USTOA launched its first-ever blog, “Travel Together,” to share the rich and engaging experiences enjoyed by the more than 6.5 million people who travel with USTOA members each year (check it out at www.ustoa.com/blog).

The purpose of the “Travel Together” blog is to bring readers up close and personal with local people and experiences that will amaze, awe and, hopefully, inspire. Over the next several months, readers will see stories on Egypt, South Africa, Australia’s Northern Territories, Manitoba, Croatia, Taiwan and Colombia. Blog contributors include AFAR magazine Ambassadors and the travel video team from Tripfilms, as well as industry leaders. (The blog will also host consumer offers and agent incentives … be sure to check back in September for more information and see how you can use the information for your clients.)

In the spirit of traveling together around the globe, below is a list of our top 10 global destinations and events that we believe should be on every travelers bucket list. USTOA Active Members visit each of these locations, providing guests with memorable experiences to be shared with travel companions as well as the native people met in local markets, restaurants, museums, sites and attractions. Visit www.ustoa.com/dream to find USTOA members that visit each of these destinations.

1. The Great Wall, China

PHOTO: by David Cogswell

As one of the Seven Wonders of the Medieval World, the Great Wall of China is an experience not to be missed on any trip to China. Built more than 2,000 years ago to defend against the Mongols, China’s Great Wall stretches over 4,000 miles offering magnificent views and the opportunity to reflect on the enormity of the material and labor required for its construction.

2. Chichen Itza, Mexico

PHOTO:Pyramid Kukulkan temple, Chichen Itza, Mexico.

One of the greatest Mayan centers of the Yucatan peninsula, Chichen Itza is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Mexico’s most recognized and visited archeological sites. With 365 steps, the Kukulkan Pyramid known as “El Castillo” (the castle) is one of the site’s most iconic images.

3. Churchill, Manitoba

PHOTO: Polar bears at sunset in Churchill, Manitoba.

The Polar Bear Capital of the World, Churchill provides travelers with an inside look at these great white carnivores during autumn as they lumber across the plains toward Hudson Bay to prepare for winter.

4. Vatican City, Italy

PHOTO: St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City

While Vatican City is the smallest internationally recognized independent state in the world by both area and population, St. Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican, its main cultural sites, are the most important buildings worldwide to Roman Catholics, housing significant Renaissance art and architecture.

5. Dendera, Egypt

Now one of the most isolated sites along the Nile, thousands of years ago Denderah was the capital of the sixth Nome of Upper Egypt and a bustling Greco-Roman temple complex. Extraordinarily well preserved, today’s travelers can explore traces of the past at a variety of temples, crypts and shrines, including the beautiful Temple of Hathor, the patron deity of fertility worshipped by pregnant women.

6. New York City, New York

PHOTO: Times Square at night in NYC.

A North American icon (and USTOA’s hometown), New York City has something for everyone, my favorite being Shakespeare in the Park at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park. Tickets are free and are distributed, two per person, the day of the show. This season starts June 3 with “Much Ado About Nothing.”

7. Holi Festival, India

PHOTO: Man sitting on the ground during Holi.

Holi, the festival of color, has its roots in Hindu mythology and is now celebrated with a bonfire followed by a carnival of colors during which everyone plays, chases and colors each other with dry powder and colored water. Travelers experiencing Holi for the first time should visit Udaipur and participate in the regal celebration at the City Palace.

8. Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

The Galapagos Islands are like the world’s best zoo — without the fences. Sea lions loll on the beach, birds land on camera lenses and penguins and turtles swim by people. Nowhere else on earth can travelers get this close to wildlife, making it a rare, educational vacation.

9. Jerusalem, Israel

PHOTO: The Wailing Wall in Jerusalem. By David Cogswell.

Home to three of the world’s major religions, Jerusalem is one of the most unique cities in the world. Visitors should not miss the Wailing Wall, one of the most sacred sites. Millions of pilgrims make their way to the Wailing Wall each year to pray.

10. Saint Petersburg, Russia

The crown jewel of the city, the Hermitage museum should not be missed. Located in the former home of the czars, the Winter Palace, and founded by Catherine the Great, the museum highlights the lifestyles of Russia’s czars. It houses some 3 million works, ranging from the Stone Age to the Contemporary.

For more information about tours and packaged vacations, visit www.ustoa.com. And remember that when booking with USTOA Active Members, you also get the assurance of knowing that they are held to the highest standards in the industry with our $1 Million Travelers Assistance Program. Visit www.ustoa.com for complete details.