Bill Fischer, CEO of Fischer Travel Enterprises, a luxury travel adviser, said he had no bucket list, but he did share recommendations and personal experiences that he said shaped him as a traveler and a businessman.
For the beauty and power of nature, Fischer recommended Amangiri in the Utah desert: "There's nothing like the sky, the sunsets, the privacy and the feeling of awe in the largess of nature."
His most moving experience, he said, was a visit to the Western Wall in Jerusalem: "History came alive and reached out to me, because I was able to write a prayer on a piece of paper and place it in between the cracks of a wall that has stood for thousands of years."
Walking in the footsteps of Chinese empire builders at the Great Wall of China, he said, enabled him to understand the scope of a dynasty's wealth, power and message to future generations.
Fischer said that a sense of discovery is crucial in compiling and realizing a bucket list. He cited his "discovery" of the Caribbean island of Nevis as an example: "There are thousands of places waiting to be discovered. When you find it, it's extraordinary to be the one to bring it to a client's attention."
He added that bucket lists should include not only destinations but also experiences such as meals, good wines and milestone celebrations with family or friends.
For a family bucket list, Paris is No. 1: "No one ever forgets his or her first trip to Paris."
New York, however, is the island at the center of the world, where "it is impossible not to fall under the spell of the most intoxicating city on Earth," he said.
Another bucket-list-worthy destination, in Fischer's opinion, was Twin Farms in the Vermont Adirondacks: "It's the perfect place to appreciate nature, enjoy wonderful food and reconnect with oneself and friends."
South Island, New Zealand, also made Fischer's cut, for its people, climate, cuisine and unique surroundings: "Even the most jaded traveler finds contentment, surprise and comfort there."
Follow Gay Nagle Myers on Twitter @gnmtravelweekly.