Paradise, of course, is a very personal thing. It seems that National Geographic defines paradise as an island, because almost all of the listed locations are islands. I have also chosen several islands because their mystique is undeniable, but I have also included other places which evoke the idea of perfection and tranquility (the magazine’s words are "beauty, serenity, and heavenly pleasure).

 

         Gary’s Places of a Lifetime – Paradise Found

 

           1. Aegean Islands, especially Santorini, Rhodes, and Mykonos, Greece

 

           2. Hawaiian Islands, USA

 

           3. Amalfi Coast, especially Positano, Ravello, and Capri, Italy

 

           4. Bali, Indonesia

 

           5. South Pacific Islands, including Polynesia, Micronesia, and Melanesia

 

           6. Canadian Rockies (Banff, Jasper, Yoho, and Kootenay National Parks), straddling the Alberta-British Columbia border in western Canada

 

           7. Li River Karst Geology, Guilin, China

 

           8. Olympic National Park, Washington, USA

 

           9. Torres del Paine, Chile

 

           10. British Virgin Islands, Caribbean