Dream-Cation: Western European Heritage Tour

I’ve always marveled that one of the characteristics unique to Americans is that we don’t always identify as “American” first. In a single classroom alone you will find Italian, Polish, Mexican, Chinese, and other individuals. In many cases, we would prefer to identify ourselves by the nation of our origin instead, and are proud of where we “come from.”

Since most of my ancestral heritage stems from one particular area of Europe, I’ve always imagined visiting these places in one shot. A few weeks, a few train rides, plus one plane would be enough to get a sampling of the places I can trace myself to: England, Scotland, and Ireland.

1. London, UK

London is at the absolute top of any travel bucket list of mine. In fact, instead of simply visiting I would much rather live there for an extended period of time. However, in lieu of that option at the moment, I will make it the first stop on my trip. I’ll see the main attractions – London Eye, Big Ben Tower, Trafalgar Square, British Museum, et cetera—and return another time for a more immersive experience.

2. West Yorkshire, UK

This particular stop is unique because it is the town to which my last name can be traced. My last name means, “enclosed by woods” and, interestingly enough, is believed to originate in current-day West Yorkshire County.  A quick Google search tells me that the region contains various castles, museums, and other places of interest.  The main attraction for me will simply be taking in the countryside and air of a place I know that, somehow, I am descended from.

3. Edinburgh, Scotland

And thus the Scottish leg of the trip begins! My heritage is primarily Irish and British, but there is also an indeterminate amount of Scottish in there. And, heritage aside, Scotland seems beautiful. In particular I wish to visit Edinburgh. From various travel blogs’ photos, Edinburgh appears to be an almost fairytale-like city to visit.

4. Dublin, Ireland

Ireland is another country that I wish I could someday live or spend an extended period of time in, so for this “heritage tour” I’ll keep my visit to Dublin specifically, with perhaps an excursion into some areas more known for natural beauty. Anyone who is Irish has a tremendous amount of pride, and I eagerly look forward to experiencing the reason for this firsthand.

*See the full trip on Google Maps!
[Picture credits: UK 1, 2, 3, Scotland 1, 2, Ireland 1, 2]