Each yearwe find plenty of reasons to travel -- like checking off bucket list destinationsand staying at a new hotel that just opened. While many of those wanderlust to-doscan be accomplished in any year, there are some events special only to 2016.From a wild butterfly migration and historic site anniversaries to highlyanticipated museum openings, these are 11 awesome sights you can only see thisyear.

1. The Rio Summer Olympics

Yes,

the Summer Olympic games come around once every four years, but 2016’s is sure

to be a blast. Taking place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from August 5 to 21, the games are expected to attract hundreds

of thousands of fans. When you’re not watching your favorite sport, the city has

plenty of other activities to offer like stellar restaurants, nightclubs, and

museums.

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2. The Monarch Butterfly Migration

Flickr

Each year

Monarch butterflies migrate south, but 2016 is set to be a special one. More

than three times as many butterflies are expected to pass through Michoacán and

Mexico, making it a spectacular site to see. “[The goal is] 225 million

monarch butterflies returning right here to Mexico every year,” U.S.

Interior Secretary Sally Jewell told the Mexico News Daily.

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3. The Opening of Light City

Courtesy of Light City

Baltimore,

Maryland will host a new international festival and interactive

initiative “Light City,” which

can be found in Charm City from March 28 to April 3. Paying homage to the city’s historical significance as the first to light its streets with gas lamps, the first

large-scale, international light festival in the U.S. will feature 28 original innovative art installations — placed along a one-and-a-half-mile waterfront art walk — from

local, national, and international artists, 50 concerts

and 100 live performances, all complimentary.

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4. The Relocation of the Tsukiji Fish Market

Flickr

The

Tsukiji Fish Market has been a staple for Tokyo locals and tourists alike.

Starting as early as 3 a.m., fishermen arrive with their catches while

wholesalers, food-processing firms, and large retail chains wait to make their

purchases. Now after 81 years, the world’s biggest wholesale fish and seafood market is

set to move to its new location by March. Book a trip to be one of the last to

set foot in the historic market — or one of the first in the new one!

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5. Shakespeare's 400th Anniversary

Herry Lawford/Flickr

2016 marks

400 years since Shakespeare’s death, so it only makes sense to commemorate the

great playwright in a big way. King’s College London has coordinated

a program of performances, screenings, concerts, and exhibitions that will run

for the entire year. Guests will be able to see everything from his will to

some of his classic plays performed live.

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6. The Transit of Mercury

Flickr

Get out

your telescopes! A transit of

Mercury across the Sun is set to take place on May 9 and there are

some key spots where you can get the best views of this rare astral event.

While it can be seen in North and South America, western Europe, and

sub-Saharan Africa, the best locations include western Morocco, the Canary Islands, and Chile’s Atacama desert. The last time it occurred was back in 2006.

7. The opening of the National Blues Museum

Paul Sableman/Flickr

Music

lovers rejoice! Beginning in April, a new museum is opening in St. Louis,

Missouri fully dedicated to the history of Blues music. When the doors open

guests will be treated to interactive technology and artifact-driven exhibits,

a theatre, special event space, and more.

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8. The Copa America Centenario

Flickr

If you can’t wait until 2018

for the next World Cup, you’re in luck. This June soccer fans can take in the Copa

America Centenario, the centennial edition of the South American tournament.

Bonus: the tournament is actually being held in the United States for the first

time. Sixteen teams will play in 10 venues all over the country including

cities like Boston and San Francisco.

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9. The Pearl Harbor Anniversary

Bryan Dorrough/Flickr

December 7, 2016 marks 75

years since the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. This major wartime event was the

catalyst to involving the United States in World War II, making it one of the

most significant moments in the country’s history. To mark this special

anniversary, the National WWII Museum has a weeklong series of events scheduled

from December 1 to December 8 in Hawaii. You can book a pre-planned trip

for around $9,000, which includes a four-part symposium led by historians and

special access to the ceremony at the USS Arizona commemorating the attacks.

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10. The Carmel-by-the-Sea Centennial

Flickr

If you’ve never

been to this stunning beach town, 2016 is the year to do it. Carmel-by-the-Sea in Monterey County,

California is celebrating its Centennial Anniversary this year with year-long

special events and celebrations throughout the city. Events include Monterey

Symphony concerts, art festivals, winemakers’ celebrations, historical

exhibits, lectures, and more. The year of celebration will culminate in a

Centennial Parade on Saturday, October 29.

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11. Namibian Giraffe Conservation

Courtesy of Country Walkers

You can only see (and be an active part of) the collaring of

Namibian giraffe in the name of conservation in 2016. Country Walkers Safaris has created a special once-in-a-lifetime experience for those who are eager to be involved in wildlife

conservation in Africa. The nine-day journey in Namibia gives guests the

opportunity to actively participate in the preservation of Africa’s natural

beauty and wildlife on a unique safari that focuses on the conservation of its

most iconic species.

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