Each passing year brings with it new reasons to celebrate, and 2016 is no different, with the year marking several important anniversaries. Here are 10 destinations you should visit in 2016 while they celebrate important milestone moments from their history. 

(MORE: Stunning But Overlooked Destinations Around the World)

1. Argentina: 200 Years of Independence

Argentina will be celebrating its 200th year of independence from Spanish rule this year because on July 9, 1816 the Argentine Declaration of Independence was signed at Case de Tucumán (or Casa Histórica de la Independencia). To mark the occasion, festivities and parades are expected in the capital, Buenos Aires, and visitors will be able to buy and taste a number of traditional dishes from vendors, including dulce de leche and carne asado.  But even if you don’t want to join the crowds in the capital, Argentina is home to numerous beautiful sights that would make for excellent getaways, from Tierra del Fuego Island (home to a colony of penguins) to Glacier National Park in Patagonia. 

2. America’s National Park Service: Centennial Anniversary

The National Park Service is turning 100 years old on August 25, 2016. Since its establishment, the national park service has protected and managed important sites across the country, including monuments, battlefields, parks, lakeshores and seashores. Today, there are 408 sites under its care, including 59 National Parks such as Yosemite and Yellowstone. The park service is rolling out a variety of initiatives and events all year long to encourage visitors to visit these parks, including Find Your Park and the Every Kid in the Park initiative. 

3. Botswana: 50 Years of Independence

This September, Botswana will mark the 50th anniversary of its independence from British Colonial rule, when it was known as ‘Bechuanaland,’ according to Lonely Planet. Since gaining independence in 1966, the country has remained a stable democracy and is a beautiful destination to explore, featuring rich wildlife and diverse landscapes that include the Kalahari Desert and the Okavango Delta. One park not to miss is Chobe National Park, home to largest elephants in the world. 

4. Valletta, Malta: 450th Anniversary

Malta’s capital city, Valletta, is celebrating its 450th anniversary this year, reports The New York Times. The UNESCO World Heritage site is a fortress city, renown for its stunning limestone buildings, its impressive bastions, its historical cathedral and its grand harbor. Started in 1566 by the Knights of St. John, the entire city took only 15 years to be built by hand, and is known as “a city built by gentlemen for gentlemen.”

5. Mount Rushmore, South Dakota: 75th Anniversary

Mount Rushmore National Memorial will be celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2016.  Featuring the 60-foot granite faces of four U.S. Presidents, carvers led by Gutzon Borglum worked for 14 years to complete the monument in 1941. Visitors can see the monument year-round, and the walk also features a half-mile walking trail and museum. In addition, there are lighting ceremonies every night from May through September. 

6. Latvia: 25 Years of Independence

Latvia will be celebrating its silver anniversary (25 years) of independence from the Soviet Union in 2016, making it the perfect time to visit this beautiful country. Featuring stunning castles, dense forests and colorful historical cities, Latvia is an exciting destination. Numerous castles and manor houses have been restored and transformed into unique inns and museums just in time for the anniversary as well, which is why Lonely Planet included the country on its “Best of Travel 2016” list.

7. Dublin, Ireland: 100th Anniversary of Easter Rising

This year is 100th anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising in Dublin against British rule, a crucial step towards Irish independence a few years later. and As a result, there has never been a better time to explore Ireland’s capital city, a city renown for its thriving music scene and its history. To commemorate the historical event, The New York Times reports that the city will be unveiling a series of new and updated attractions, including an exhibition center at Richmond Barracks, a restored Regency-style courthouse, a new performance space at the National Concert Hall and an extensive refurbishment at the National Gallery of Ireland.

8. Barcelona, Spain: 90th anniversary of Antoni Gaudí's Death

The city of Barcelona is filled with stunning examples of Antoni Gaudí’s work, and this year marks the 90th anniversary of the architect’s death. Visitors should be sure to check out the Gaudi Exhibition Center at the Museu Diocesà de Barcelona, visit the UNESCO World heritage site of Casa Vicens and see the Sagrada Familia cathedral - Gaudí’s most ambitious work - which is scheduled to be finally completed in 2026.

9. Natchez, Mississippi: 300th Anniversary

Originally a wooden palisade fort built by the French in 1716 on a bluff overlooking the Mississippi River, Natchez is one of the oldest towns in the country and it will be celebrating its 300th anniversary in 2016. Today, the original Fort is part of the Natchez National Historical Park. Visitors will also be able to attend a number of events planned for Natchez’ tricentennial anniversary.

10. England: 400th Anniversary of Shakespeare’s Death

Shakespeare, one of the best known writers in the world, is said to have died on April 23, 1616, making this year the 400th anniversary of his death. As a playwright and poet, he is believed to have written 38 plays and 154 sonnets, according to the Smithsonian Magazine. With the anniversary around the corner, there is no better time than now to head to Stratford-upon-Avon, the town where he was both born and where he died. Visitors can tour the five houses linked to his life and see a show performed by the world-famous Royal Shakespeare Company.

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