About Destination42

Destination 42 was created out of friendship, empathy, and the refusal to let physical boundaries limit the human appetite for discovery.

The Spark Behind the Project

The story of Destination 42 begins with a lifelong friendship and a sudden, quiet shift. For decades, Owen had lived with a passport full of stamps and a mind always turned toward the next horizon. Travel was never just a hobby for him - it was his way of engaging with the world. However, at the age of 68, health limitations intervened, bringing his physical journeys to an abrupt halt.

While adapting to a new routine, Owen often expressed one profound regret: there were still places on his travel bucket list he would never set foot in - from the vast, icy silence of Antarctica to the dense canopy of South American rainforests and the vibrant, bustling streets of Indian cities.

From Obstacle to Idea

The technology to explore these far-flung corners already exists. High-definition satellite imagery, street-level panorama maps, digital museum tours and live webcams let anyone with an internet connection virtually stand on the edge of a cliff or walk through a historical square.

Yet, for many who find themselves grounded later in life, the digital world presents a different barrier: where do you start? The sheer infinity of the internet makes picking a single coordinate overwhelming.

When asked where he would begin if a portal existed to drop him anywhere in the world, Owen gave a quick, characteristic answer: Destination 42.

"42," as Douglas Adams wrote in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, is the ultimate answer to life, the universe and everything. If you don't know where in the universe to go next, 42 is as good a coordinate as any.

What Destination 42 Represents

Destination 42 was built as a dedicated portal to solve the "where to start" problem. It turns the vast, disorganised web into a curated launchpad for armchair travellers.

Curated virtual voyages - meaningful starting points instead of a blank search bar, pairing interactive map locations with immersive street views and local context.
The "42" feature - a randomised discovery engine that drops you into fascinating corners of the globe at the click of a button, capturing the serendipity of real-world travel.
Accessibility first - designed for ease of use, eliminating technical friction so the focus stays on the experience of discovery.

A Dedication

Destination 42 is dedicated to Owen. While health may keep him from boarding a flight to Antarctica or navigating the Amazon, it cannot limit his curiosity. Through the thoughtful application of modern technology, this site ensures that Owen - and anyone else facing similar boundaries - can continue to leap across continents, explore new horizons, and catch the genuine spark of excitement that comes from discovering a place for the very first time.

How we pick a place

We choose a country first, weighted so big countries come up a bit more often without drowning out the small ones. Then we pick a spot inside it where Google has official Street View imagery.

A non-profit site supporting charity

Destination42 is a non-profit website. All income the site receives, including any advertising revenue, goes to support charitable work. The charities that benefit are:

St Mary's Church, Tilston, Cheshire, UK
The teaching of English bell ringing across the world, through the Association of Ringing Teachers (ART)

Free accounts

Sign in or sign up with a one-time code sent to your email - it's the same step, and there are no passwords. Signed-in visitors can choose a continent or a country for their jumps.

Coming soon

Your jump history and favourite places.

Hyper Jump