Top 10 ‘Amazing Race’ destinations

By Sarah Schlichter

updated 11:28 p.m. ET Feb. 22, 2007

The all-star edition of “The Amazing Race” started Sunday, featuring some of the most popular teams from seasons past — including frat brothers Kevin and Drew, season seven winners Uchenna and Joyce, and the fabulous gay duo of Danny and Oswald. But while we're thrilled to see some of our favorite teams celebrated as all-stars, we'd also like to take a moment to celebrate the other stars of “The Amazing Race”: the destinations.

From the green hills of   Scotland to the golden sands of   Namibia, the race has literally taken us around the world and back, showing us some incredible scenery along the way. Out of the dozens of locations where the race has been filmed, we've chosen 10 all-star destinations — one from each season — that stuck out in our minds for their striking landscapes, historical significance or intriguing cultural tasks. Got a location to add? Share it on our   message boards!

Season One:   Alaska
All-Star Moment: As the penultimate destination in the race's first season, Alaska's snowy landscape was the backdrop for a dramatic dog sledding competition between lawyers Rob and Brennan and married couple Frank and Margarita. And who could forget poor Team Guido, still stranded in the frozen tundra while Rob and Brennan won the million-dollar prize in New York City?

Our Members Say: "My wife and I are both pretty athletic and love the outdoors. We were scheduled to hike Mt. Anderson (6,900 feet) the first day. One small problem — at breakfast, one of the naturalists, through a telescope in the dining room, noticed a grizzly bear on the trail. Regardless, we started up the trail and stopped at a clear spot (about 400 yards from the bear) and noticed that the bear was just hanging out in the same spot eating berries. We ended up going on a different trail (wise choice) — Middle Ridge in an effort to avoid

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a confrontation." Read more of Alaska - A Very Unique Experience by soxfan

Season Two:   Namibia
All-Star Moment: The teams had to navigate themselves through the seemingly endless deserts of Namibia en route to the Matterhorn — not the mountain in Switzerland but rather an enormous sand dune. Once there, the teams climbed to the top, grabbed sandboards and took a wild, head-first ride all the way down.

Our Members Say: "The Namibian Desert has some of the biggest dunes in the world and amazing landscapes. Jeeps can drive you in to see the sights for $10 - $15 per person. But I chose the cheaper (free) option of walking." Read more of Nairobi to Cape Town Overland by Alan

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Season Three: Aberdeen Scotland
All-Star Moment: Wacky hijinks ensued when “The Amazing Race” traveled to Scotland and the teams tried their hand at a few traditional Highland games. One member of each team had to successfully complete a caber toss, hammer throw and shot put before racing to the finish line. Their reward for mastering the ways of the Highlanders? An all-expenses-paid stay at Dunottar Castle, the pit stop for this leg of the race.

Our Members Say: "Aberdeen is quite gray — gray stone buildings combined with Scotland's generally gray weather. Even the sand on the beach was grayish. It ain't the Caribbean, but the icy-looking North Sea has its own sort of beauty." Read more of A Year in Scotland by soliteyah

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Season Four: Amsterdam, Netherlands
All-Star Moment: Dating virgins Millie and Chuck got spectacularly lost — and did some spectacular bickering — as they tried to guide themselves by boat through Amsterdam's famous canals. While Millie and Chuck eventually won the leg by finding the Fast Forward, the other teams faced perhaps the show's stinkiest Detour option yet: searching a 15-foot pile of cow manure for their next clue.

Our Members Say: "The live-aboard boats along Amsterdam's canals make you want to rent one for your next vacation. When you check out the ads for them, you'll be even more convinced. Many are very luxurious, complete with every convenience. They go for about $1,000 a week. Please don't take the canal boat across from the Rijksmuseum — I want that one!" Read more of Amsterdam — the Best of Europe's Canal Cities by Drumnotes

Season Five:   Rotorua, New Zealand
All-Star Moment: Dating couple Colin and Christie thrived on this leg's extreme physical challenges, including an exhilarating whitewater ride on a small board known as a sledge. Colin channeled his inner rodent to try zorbing — rolling down a hill inside a giant plastic ball like a hamster in a wheel. Colin and Christie's mastery of these two quintessential New Zealand adventure sports led them to their sixth first-place finish in 10 legs.

Our Members Say: "We were then picked up by the Rotorua Economic Development Commissioner and given a tour of the area by helicopter. The delightful sunny day showed off the New Zealand landscape in its best light. We choppered over beautiful lakes and large plantations of radiata pine. Cows and sheep were all over the rolling hills. We also took a swim and visited a hot tub in the geothermal waters of the area." Read more of New Zealand February 2002 by WFDoran

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