I was reading some websites about the glorious Wisconsin football victory over Michigan when I came across some stunning pictures from a trip one Badger fan took around Phuket, Thailand. Take a look:

This is from the doorway of a beach bungalow. It just looks like heaven to me, so I've been spending some time fantasy trip planning. Thailand is surprisingly cheap, especially now since so many resorts are hurting after the tsunami.

With Phuket on my mind and a new edition of The Amazing Race starting tonight, it seems like the perfect time to run through a list of my dream destinations. Maybe someday I'll get to one or two of them.

10. Switzerland: In 5th grade, I had to choose a country and write a report about it. We had the entire year to do it, so there was plenty of time to send away for information. I chose Switzerland and ever since then I've always thought of it as some kind of fairyland full of mountains, castles, yodelers and cheese. As you can see from the pictures, it's beautiful and it'd be almost like visiting three countries in one!

9. New York City: It seems ridiculous that I've never been to the Big Apple. I don't have an overwhelming desire to go to New York, but everyone that goes there raves about how exciting the city is and how much fun it is to just walk around and people watch. I love to people watch and I suspect that nowhere in the world is quite like New York City for that particular activity.

8. London: I've always been interested in British history and I'd love to explore place like Westminster Abbey and the Tower of London, not to mention stepping back into Tudor/Stuart times and seeing a show at The Globe. Plus, I've heard that London's food is vastly underestimated and that the shopping is fantastic. This wouldn't be an adventurous vacation. It's more of an historical destination.

7. Normandy: Speaking of historical destinations, it'd be impossible for me to keep the beaches of Normandy off of my list. I've read so much about D-Day and I'd like to go there to pay my respects to the brave people that fought there for no other purpose than for freedom. That sounds unbelievably cheesy. You know, sometimes the truth hurts and sometimes the truth's cheesy.

6. Hawaii: Like any good lover of lava, Hawaii is on my list. I think I'd like Hawaii for all the obvious, touristy reasons: jumping into waterfall-fed lagoons, lounging on beaches and biking down mountains at sunrise. I'm sure there's some cool "hidden" Hawaii, but I think this is one of those places where I'd be happiest being on the beaten path. As an aside, I'm so sad that the Badgers will be there in November without me.

5. Santorini: How achingly beautiful is this? The blue sky and sea combined with the brilliant white buildings. In many ways, Santorini is too posh for me, but even us folks in the "lower" classes can enjoy the sunshine on a terrace with an adult beverage.

4. Perth and Fremantle, Australia: Remember when Australia won the America's Cup? They defended the Cup in the rough waters off of Freemantle. Set on the Indian Ocean, Perth is said to be one of the most isolated cities on Earth. And actually, it's pretty much exactly across the world from Wisconsin. Everyone who wants to go to Australia seems to go to Sydney, I'd rather do something different and go to Perth.

3. Oregon: I've always been drawn to the wet and wild Oregon coast. I want to bundle up against the wind and the waves and stroll shores like the one in this picture. But that's not all the state has to offer. There are forests, mountains, wineries, windsurfing in the Columbia River Gorge and much more.

2. Istanbul: Until I fell for Phuket, Istanbul was my number one dream destination. I'd want to visit the Hagia Sofia, the Grand Bazaar and even ancient Troy (I know it's not in Istanbul, but it's close enough). Plus, I'm crazy about Turkish food and all the Turks I've ever met have been beyond friendly.

1. Phuket: Ah, Phuket. Just look at that picture and then imagine yourself escaping a cold Wisconsin winter to relax on that beach.

So those are my top ten. What are your dream destinations? And, don't forget to check out the premiere of the Amazing Race tonight. We'll be doing recaps againt this year. Hopefully I'll be able to keep all the families straight in this first episode. If not, you all can mock me about it later.