10 Trips to Add to Your Bucket List for the Next Decade

Not to make this a depressing post but *spoiler alert* these are on here for a reason. Unfortunately, a lot of the earth's great wonders and sites are not being maintained to the standards they should be and are on a slippery slope to fading and dying off quickly. In other words, you'll want to get a move on for seeing some of these bucket list destinations.

Here is your top 10 list for trips to take in the next decade:

1. Machu Picchu, Peru

"The Lost City" may soon be actually lost. Machu Picchu is set high in the Andes Mountains and is the perfect destination for an avid adventurer and hiker. However, this world wonder has been the victim of erosion for years and continues to deteriorate.

2. Great Barrier Reef, Australia

The most iconic reef in the world due to its size and playing host to thousands of species off the coast of Australia, this is the largest coral reef in existence. However, it continues to rapidly deteriorate over the years due to threats of the changing climate, overfishing, ship traffic and carelessness of people not being mindful of the coral.

3. The Dead Sea

This body of water is located at the lowest point on earth and is highly popular for its stunning desert views and the density of the water. Unfortunately, it is shrinking at an alarming rate due to climate change and the fact that its main water source, the Jordan River, is producing less water and slowing down.

4. Petra, Jordan

One of the seven wonders, this archaeological site is famous for the carving of entire buildings out of the side of the natural rock face in this area. Petra has been and continues to recede because of a mixture of erosion and saltwater damage.

5. The Maldives

The white sand beaches and awe-inspiring blue waters make the Maldives a huge bucket list destination for many travelers. This place is truly a tropical paradise with islands spotted all up and down the Indian Ocean filled with stunning resorts and over water bungalows. As a result of rising sea levels, the majority of these islands which are only sitting at about 8 feet above sea level, are slowly sinking and disappearing into the Indian Ocean.

6. The Great Pyramids of Giza

One of the oldest and most famous sites on earth, the pyramids of Egypt are a mystery and a must-see in your life time. But, of course, they are not safe from erosion and continue to waste away. They were actually removed from the list of 7 wonders of the world (they still remain on the "classic 7 wonders list") due to their nature and predictability to disappear.

7. Big Sur, California

The state of California is filled with beautiful scenery all up and down the coast, and you are bound to be captivated by any trip on the Pacific Coast Highway. Big Sur is out of this world gorgeous, but vulnerable to droughts, landslides and forest fire destroying its beautiful landscape.

8. The Great Wall of China

While many efforts have been made to restore portions of this ancient wall, it is still being damaged by (of course) erosion and locals selling its bricks. While the wall runs seemingly endlessly from east to west, there are entire portions missing from the wall and it continues to disappear every year.

9. The Grand Canyon

This site was named one of the 11 most endangered historical sites in the United States by the National Trust of Historic Preservation in 2015 due to its threats from mining and tourism traffic.

10. Glacier National Park, Montana

This beautiful national park originally housed around 150 glaciers, but because of the effects of climate change that number has quickly dwindled to a mere 25.

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Yes, some of these effects are due to the presence of tourism. However, if you are mindful, respectful and a smart tourist, you can visit anywhere without leaving a negative imprint on these iconic places. So, if seeing some of the amazing world wonders is important to you, now is the time to start thinking about booking that trip. Unfortunately these beauties won't be with us forever.