15 Travel Photos That Will Make You Want to Hit the Road Now

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By Keith Jenkins

One reason why I love to travel: the colors! Whether they’re the natural hues of the great outdoors or the vibrant paints of man-made creations, they always make for enjoyable, often awe-inspiring, moments — and photos. For inspiration on your next brilliant vacation, scroll through these bursts of color from around the world.

Berlin

(Photo: Keith Jenkins/Velvet Escape)

Colorful murals adorn buildings on Kreutzigerstrasse in Friedrichshain, an artsy district of Berlin filled with bars, boutiques, and bustling nightlife. Throughout, you’ll spot a kaleidoscope of street art.

Rio de Janeiro

(Photo: Keith Jenkins/Velvet Escape)

The Selaron steps in Rio de Janeiro; the tiles are the work of Chilean-born artist Jorge Selarón, who started the mosaic project outside his Rio home in the 1990s and just kept going — there were more than 200 steps and 2,000 tiles when Selaron died in 2013.

Penang, Malaysia

(Photo: Keith Jenkins/Velvet Escape)

One of the most prominent heritage buildings in Georgetown, the capital of Penang, Malaysia, is the Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion. Often called the Blue Mansion because of its stunning blue façade, the mansion was built in the 1880’s by one of the most powerful Chinese trading and shipping tycoons, Cheong Fatt Tze. The distinct blue color of the mansion was derived from a blend of lime and natural blue dyes from the indigo plant. Today, the mansion is a national treasure and is one of the highlights of Georgetown.

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Valparaiso, Chile

(Photo: Keith Jenkins/Velvet Escape)

The first thing that struck me about Valparaiso, Chile, were the colors. The houses cling to the steep slopes of the hills and are painted in various hues of red, blue, yellow, orange, and purple. In addition, many walls are adorned with fascinating murals, the most beautiful of which can be found in the Cerro Bellavista, Cerro Concepcion, and Cerro Alegre neighborhoods.

Lisse, Netherlands

(Photo: Keith Jenkins/Velvet Escape)

The most popular flower-growing area in Holland is around the town of Lisse (a 30-minute drive southwest of Amsterdam), also home to the famous Keukenhof gardens. My favorite area lies to the north of Amsterdam between the towns of Schoorl, Callantsoog, and Schagen. The endless fields of flowers will simply blow you away!

Melbourne, Australia

(Photo: Keith Jenkins/Velvet Escape)

Melbourne’s Central Business District (CBD) is a vibrant grid of boulevards and lanes. The main streets are lined by a dizzying array of grand Victorian buildings and shiny skyscrapers. These are packed with an equally impressive variety of shops, restaurants, and cafés — but venture into the lanes and arcades that connect the main streets and you’ll discover some of Melbourne’s best secrets, including amazing street art, like this electric piece in Centre Place.

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Toronto

(Photo: Keith Jenkins/Velvet Escape)

Sometimes the rainbow is on the plate. I found this one at Toronto restaurant Luma.

Portofino, Italy

(Photo: Keith Jenkins/Velvet Escape)

Portofino is an Italian seaside village on the Riviera Levante, located about a 2.5 hour drive from Milan. Tucked between the surrounding hills and a gorgeous little harbor, the village, with its brightly-colored houses and quaint alleys is absolutely picture perfect. Probably because of its relative seclusion and its incredible beauty, Portofino has been a favorite vacation spot for the jet set since the 1950s. These days, celebrities and VIPs moor their stunning yachts in one of the secluded coves along the coast.

Réunion Island

(Photo: Keith Jenkins/Velvet Escape)

Réunion Island looks like a tiny speck in the Indian Ocean on Google Maps, but zoom in and you’ll find a spectacular island with towering mountains, breathtaking canyons, aquamarine lagoons, bright towns and villages, and stunning waterfalls. It truly is an enchanting island; a mecca for adventurers and hikers or for those seeking an active holiday infused with lovely beaches, awe-inspiring scenery and fascinating cultures. Ask around for places to witness stunning performances by traditional Maloya dancers, pictured here.

Ravenna, Italy

(Photo: Keith Jenkins/Velvet Escape)

Ravenna is a small, historic town in the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna. Ravenna enjoyed a prosperous period during Roman rule in the 1st century A.D. before being occupied by a succession of other powers, including the Ostrogoths and the Byzantines. Each ruler left his mark, many of which can still be seen till this day, especially in the mosaics adorning the eight remaining early-Christian buildings that make up the town’s UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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Curaçao

(Photo: Keith Jenkins/Velvet Escape)

Curaçao is popular as a beach and water-sports destination, with some of the best diving spots in the Caribbean, but its on-land offerings are also stunning. Walk through the historic area of Willemstad, a UNESCO World Heritage site, or hire a car and explore the countryside to spot cheery houses like this one.

Mauritius

(Photo: Keith Jenkins/Velvet Escape)

Everyone has visions of what paradise is like, most of which involve tropical islands with white sandy beaches, palms swaying in the soft breeze and crystal-clear water. Mauritius ticks all these boxes with ease. I caught this blazing sunset at Angsana Balaclava Resort.

Amsterdam

(Photo: Keith Jenkins/Velvet Escape)

It was a sunny winter day and I happened to pass the back of the famous Flower Market in Amsterdam. I’ve walked down this stretch a million times, but with the bright sunshine on the houses, flowers and bicycles, this scene looked fresh and new, even though it’s really so typical of the city.

Budapest

(Photo: Keith Jenkins/Velvet Escape)

It’s said that the Romans settled in Budapest because of the abundance of thermal springs. The Széchenyi Bath is arguably one of the most beautiful and elaborate thermal bathing complexes in the city. Built in 1913, it resembles a palace and there are both indoor and outdoor pools and separate areas for spa and medicinal treatments.

Iguazu Falls, Brazil and Argentina

(Photo: Keith Jenkins/Velvet Escape)

The Iguazu Falls are a series of spectacular waterfalls that straddle the border between Brazil and Argentina, with the Iguazu River forming a natural border between the two countries. Most of the falls are on the Argentine half, but my advice is to visit both the Brazilian and Argentine sides, if possible. The former gives you a stunning panorama of the falls (because from here, you look across to the falls on the Argentine side), while the latter allows you to get a close-up view.

What are the most colorful places you’ve visited?

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