VACATION DREAMS TO TAKE IRL

If you dream of living happily ever after, you might join the locals in their traditions at Bled Island, in Slovenia. The grooms carry their brides up the church steps.

The stunning Baroque church sits in the middle of Lake Bled and looks like it comes straight out of a fairytale. A special “wishing bell” is perched atop the main hill.

Legend has it that whoever rings the bell and gives their honor to the Virgin Mary will be granted one wish -- a dream come true.

As if straight from a fairytale, with its ornate turret design, beautiful limestone exterior, and over-the-top embellished interiors, Neuschwanstein Castle is the stuff of princess dreams.

Towering over the Alpine foothills of southwest Bavaria, the castle was constructed in 1886 by King Ludwig II. The 19th century, Neo-Romanesque style fortress was designed to serve as an escape and shelter for the introverted ruler who often felt overwhelmed by his very public life.

If you dream of visiting other planets, you can try a trip to Cappadocia, Turkey first. The surreal geological formations, known as “fairy chimneys,” seem like they com from another world.

Formed by volcanic eruptions, these alien-looking structures were co-opted and turned into whimsical houses and churches by ancient cave dwellers. Today, some house boutique fairy-chimney hotels, which all but guarantee nights full of beautiful dreams.

Immerse yourself in a daydream in the middle of a lush, green forest, next to strange but beautiful Ochiul Beiului Lake, in Caras-Severin County, Romania.

The lake’s milky shade of turquoise inspired numerous legends. In one, it is said to relieve the sadness in one’s heart by filling it with a sense of serenity.

See more beautiful Romania lakes here.

If you dream about sugarplum fairies and Santa Claus, you might want to see where they rest their heads at night. It’s Lapland, Finland, of course.

While it’s most famous as a backdrop for wintertime fairytales and daydreams, with its snow-covered forests, sunshine at midnight, and dreamy Aurora Borealis, Finnish Lapland is a heavenly summer destination as well, with fields of wildflowers and mountains rising up to greet the sun.

Trees, rocks, ground -- everything in this forest is cloaked in plush green moss, as if decorated by magical nymphs or leprechauns.

The Hall of Mosses, in Hoh Rain Forest, part of Olympic National Park, in Washington State, reminds us of Where The Wild Thing Are, a bedtime story that has inspired many childhood dreams. Rest your head on a soft moss-covered log and drift off into a dream...

It seems like a strange dream, the trees of the Crooked Forest, in Nowe Czarnowo, Poland, appear as if they are sitting. Steeped in mystery and folklore, the reason for the bizarre curved shapes of these trees is still up for debate.

Scientists hypothesize that they were formed by humans, possibly for use in furniture or boat building. But dreamers think it may have been the work of witches, giants, or even aliens.

Illusions proliferate in our dreams. But Lake Sørvágsvatn, in the Faroe Islands, offers up a bit of eye-trickery in real life. The lake sits about 30m above sea level, but from certain angles of view, it appears as if it is hundreds of meters higher.

This incredible optical illusion, paired with the extraordinary surrounding meadows, cliffs and indigenous wildlife, make for a dream summer destination, about halfway between Norway and Iceland.

Have you ever had the dream in which you are falling endlessly into an unknown abyss? If it was fun for you, head to Preacher’s Pulpit, in Ryfylke, Norway. Locally known as “Preikestolen,” this dramatic, rocky plateau juts out about 600 meters above the placid waters of Lysefjord, offering breathtaking views.

Formed about 10,000 years ago, during the Ice Age, Preacher’s Pulpit provides the perfect backdrop for some Nordic-inspired daydreaming.

Dreams warp our perceptions, delighting us with alternative realities. Resembling something you might see in a funhouse mirror reflection, the Krzywy Domek, or Crooked House, graces the seaside town of Sopot, Poland.

You may feel like you have stepped into a scene from Alice In Wonderland, with the house’s distorted doors, windows, and rooftops. So sit a spell… Alice might just drop by for a spot of tea and some crumpets.

Read more about Beautiful Vacation Part 2 in Beautiful Otherworldly Vacation Spots, Wonderful Waterfall Trips to Take Now, and Beautiful Chimp Family Vacation

And check out more beautiful things happening now in BN Wellness, Impact, Nature/Science, Food, Arts/Design, and Travel, Daily Fix posts.

Want more stories like this? Sign up for our weekly BN Newsletter, Like us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest. Join our BeautifulNow Community and connect with the most beautiful things happening in the world right now!

Do you have amazing photos? Enter them in this week’s BN Photo Contest. We run a new creative contest every week!