- I've lived in Italy and explored a lot of it, but I only recently visited Sicily for the first time.
- I wish I'd made time to golf in one of the region's famous courses or take a local cooking class.
- Next time, I'd skip Taormina. I think being on "The White Lotus" made it extra crowded.
Although I'm an American, I consider myself an expert in all things Italy. I lived in Rome and Tuscany for years and have visited the country at least three dozen times.
As of last year, I can also proudly say I've been to all of Italy's 20 regions. Funny enough, the last region I checked off my list is among the most popular ones: Sicily.
I finally visited the Southern Italian region in the fall and was blown away by the gorgeous beaches, delicious local cuisine, and impressive ancient ruins.
I had an amazing time, but there are a few things I'll do differently when I go back to Sicily.
Next time, I'll skip the crowds in Taormina and check out other beaches
I knew I had to visit Taormina after watching season two of HBO's "The White Lotus," which is set in the Sicilian hilltop town.
Unfortunately, I felt like set-jetting had brought big crowds to the small town.
During my trip, I encountered many other tourists and waited in long lines for most everything, whether I was buying gelato or visiting the ancient Greek theater.
I felt lucky that my hotel had a pool and private section of beach that were both fairly empty throughout my trip. They were great for escaping the crowds.
Maybe Taormina will feel less crowded once "The White Lotus" hype dies down, but I don't want to take any chances.
On my next trip, I'll try sinking my toes in the sand at Sovareto Beach on the southwest coast instead. Many say it's one of Sicily's prettiest beaches, and it hasn't yet been catapulted to fame through a major HBO show.
I wish I'd spent more time visiting different Greek ruins
When planning my trip, I knew I wanted to see the Valley of the Temples — it's been on my bucket list for ages.
The UNESCO World Heritage Site is home to perfectly-preserved Greek temples that are more spectacular than anything I've even seen in Greece.
This vestige of ancient culture didn't disappoint, but it made me realize I should've allotted more time for exploring similar sites.
For example, I didn't get to see the Greek temple in Segesta on Sicily's western tip, which is considered one of the best examples of Doric architecture in the world.
On my next trip, I want to make time for golfing
I got a peek at Verdura Resort's famous golf courses during my stay there, which only made me wish I'd made time for the sport.
After all, Sicily is blossoming into a top destination for golfers — its moderate winter temperatures make it possible to play even in January.
Many courses here are surrounded by beautiful views, and I'd especially love to swing a club at Picciolo Etna Golf, which is located on Sicily's largest active volcano.
The food was great, but I wish I'd taken a hands-on cooking class
Even in a gastronomic powerhouse like Italy, Sicilian cuisine stood out as exceptionally delicious.
Throughout my trip, I browsed outdoor markets and got to appreciate the quality produce that grows in the island's rich soil.
I ate fish so fresh I could still taste the briny sea water and finished meals with Sicily's famous desserts, from cannoli bursting with ricotta to the colorful cassata, a sponge cake soaked in liqueur and decorated with candied fruit and marzipan.
Although I love eating, I also really enjoy cooking and learning about food.
One of my hotels even offered a private tour of its fruit trees, vegetable garden, and olive grove, where guests could pick their own fresh ingredients to cook with during an interactive class.
I wished I'd booked that or any sort of hands-on cooking experience with a local chef.
Next time, I need to visit the Botanical Garden of Palermo
Sicily is home to a mind-boggling array of flora. I enjoyed looking at plenty of plant life as I traversed the island, but next time I want to experience even more by visiting the Botanical Garden of Palermo.
Locals told me it's a beautiful open-air museum with statues and sculptures woven between exotic trees and flowers nestled along shady walking paths.
On the bright side, missing this garden and so many other great spots on my first trip to Sicily means I'll just have to go back.
