Traveling is my #2 “thing” in life (behind cooking/eating, natch. ;) ) It’s what keeps me going.
(source)
The thought of my next big adventure – what I want to see, learn and experience next – is sometimes all I can think about!
(source)
No less than five times a week I’ll turn to Ben and say,
“Babe, can we go to ______ someday?”
(The “blank” being the latest locale I’ve got my heart set on seeing.)
“Uh-huh!” he’s learned to reply, less I give him the “Noooo, whyyy????” if he says otherwise. ;)
Well the list is getting long, my friends. So long that I thought I’d better document it before I forget one single place that I’ve thought, at one time or another, was important to see.
Then I thought maybe I’d share it with you. Maybe we have similar travel interests and goals. Maybe you’ve been to some of the places on my list and can fill me in on what to expect. The list is not by any means inclusive or closed, but it’s what I’ve got right now. And so…
My Life’s Wanderlist
(in alphabetical order because I’m crazy like that.)
Bali, Indonesia
I’ve got the eat taken care of – now all I need is the pray and love (in Indonesia!) to experience.
(source)
Bangkok & Phuket Thailand
I can’t imagine a world more vastly different than my own, but I love being challenged and immersed in the unfamiliar.
And my friend went to Phuket for her honeymoon and saw baby elephants on the beach. Ummm, yes please.
(source 1, source 2)
Cannon Beach, Oregon
Once of my Dad’s most favorite places in the US.
(source)
Castle Tour of Europe
I will never forget the castles I toured when I went to Germany in my teens. The sheer size of these hand-made masterpieces is incredible!
(source)
Charleston, South Carolina
My Dad lent me Charles Kuralt’s America book when Ben and I went to New Orleans a few years ago, in which Charles describes some of the most memorable places he’s been to around the country. In addition to NOLA, Charleston and it’s blooming azaleas in the spring was included. Boy I’d sure love to see those someday!
(source)
Zip-lining in Costa Rica
I zip lined once in Puerta Vallarta, but I’m pretty sure I wasn’t harnessed or strapped in correctly…eeks. I’d like to do it right in the canopy of Costa Rica.
(source)
Croatia
Less touristy than it’s European coastal-city counterparts. Mmmm. :)
(source)
Dubai, UAE
I just really need to see this for myself. Plus I feel like it might rain gold coins there, or something.
(source)
Egypt
I’ve had a life-long fascination with Egypt and its pyramids, tombs, mummies and ancient structures. I would be crushed if I never got to see it in person.
(source)
Lake Louise, Banff, Canada
I learned of Lake Louise’s existence from one of the first food blogs I ever started reading and have been obsessed with getting there ever since.
(source)
Machu Picchu, Peru
Brilliant, ancient civilizations freak. me. out. but I still want to see this craziness.
(source)
Maldives
‘Nuff said.
(source)
Morocco
The colors! The sights! The sounds!
(source)
New England in the Fall
It has been a dream of mine for the last 5 years to take an autumn foliage tour down the east coast.
(source)
New Zealand
Ok, really lame, but I saw a few episode’s of America’s Next Top Model taped in NZ and it was breathtaking. I really want to sail there!
(source)
Niagara Falls
Every North American needs to see this at some point in their life, no?
(source)
Northern Lights in Alaska
I think a cruise to Alaska would be incredible too.
(source)
Paris, France
I have recently become obsessed with spending inordinate amounts of time sitting at a Parisian cafe sipping cappuccinos. I think I could stay here a month.
(source)
Petra, Jordan
If it came down to seeing either Petra or Egypt, I’d pick Petra – which is really saying something. A city carved out of the rock? It blows my mind!
(source)
Provence, France
I want to spin in fields of lavender then ride a cruiser bike to a crumbling farm house and sip red wine.
(source)
Kiss the Blarney Stone, Cork, Ireland
Just…need to.
(source)
Safari in Kenya, Africa
I think this would be the coolest thing in the entire world. Knowing that I could actually be eaten by a lion is both terrifying and thrilling at the same time. Mostly terrifying though. But I still want to do it.
(source)
Sahara Dessert
I know – crazy. I just feel like I want to go for like 5 minutes.
(source)
Santorini, Greece
I sort of feel like I’m cheating on Praiano by wanting to go to Santorini, but I’ve always wanted to go, and cough I was really jealous that Lena from the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants got to spend an entire summer there cough.
(source)
Savannah, Georgia
I want to hunt down Paula Deen and make her feed me macaroni and cheese.
(source)
Seychelles
I blame House Hunters International for my recent obsession with Seychelles. I feel like they’ve taped 10 episodes on this tiny island off the eastern coast of Africa in the last year. Stunning natural beauty!
(source)
Taj Mahal, Agra, India
The sheer size and meaning of this monument is something that has always intrigued me.
(source)
La Tomatina Festival, Bunol, Spain
My inner type A is petrified of the mess, but my inner wild child is winning out. :)
(source)
Tuscany, Italy
I want to explore every inch of Italy – including the picturesque wine country that reminds me of A Walk in the Clouds. I know – wrong country, but same cozy, romantic feeling!
(source)
Venice, Italy
I am literally waiting on pins and needles for the moment I arrive in Venice. I hope to the high Heavens that it hasn’t sunk by the time I get there!
(source)
Vietnam
Just feeling like I really need to see this place.
(source)
Yosemite National Park, California
North America has some of the most breathtaking scenery and landscape in the world. I’d love to check out what Yosemite has to offer!
(source)
Zanzibar
Clear water. Dolphins. Hammocks. Sign me up.
(source)
Zion National Park, Utah
The beauty of this place absolutely blows my mind – and it’s just a few states away!
(source)
Now all I have to do is convince Ben that taking a year off to travel the world is a good idea…
Raise your hand if you’re with me! ;)
~~~~~
Where do we overlap on My Life’s Wanderlist? What’s on yours?
I was just in New Zealand for the past 6 months. SO. BEAUTIFUL.
That is one extensive list. I was super excited when I saw Peru on there. I went there 2 summers ago and I loved it. I’m definately going back. Unfortunately I didn’t even see Machu Picchu, but I did see hundreds and hundreds of penguins on a boat tour out of Paracas. You have to make Peru a top priority!
Yosemite, New England in the Fall, and Charleston are wonderful. Yosemite is awe inspiring!!! I can not wait to go back.
Yosemite is practically in my backyard and I just went last year (at the age of 38!) What was I thinking? Should have gone sooner. Have been 3 times since. So beautiful!
I’ve been to Yellowstone so I should get some points for that :)
It’s beautiful–come out and enjoy.
Oh, such amazing photos! Love your list! First would be Bora, Bora. Next, I’d love to visit all of the great flower and water gardens of the world. I love formal gardens and beautiful architecture. Thailand always intrigued me as does Dubai, UAE. Paris for sure. I’d also love more adventure type trips. The one thing I do fear however is traveling over water. It wouldn’t stop me but I can’t stand to think about it.
I’d like to start off by saying not only do I love the idea of making this list and posting it, but I LOVE that you alphabetized it!! I’m so anal like that, too!!
In your castle tour you must see the Windsor Castle. I toured that in 2004 and it was amazing…the detail, the ceilings, the history. A definite must!!
i LOVE this list!
Our lists definitely cross over several times but most especially for Egypt. Both my husband & I have had this huge draw to that country & I’m willing to go tomorrow even with the current state of Cairo in particular!
Travel is why I became a travel agent! :) I’ve been to a nice number of the places on your list, but would return to most in a heartbeat too!
Oh, awesome, awesome, awesome! I love lists! Especially life lists. :)
Oooh I love this post! Food+Traveling have tied for first place in my heart, haha i love them too much to choose a favorite!
I just finished up a post on Santorini today :)
One of my brothers and my sister absolutely loved Croatia. They’ve been to several countries (in Morocco now!), but Croatia definitely tops their lists! My dad LOVES Egypt, and my Grandma feels the same way about Alaska! You have a great list going here girl :D I’ve always wanted to go to New England and Ireland..hopefully one day!
I love seeing other people’s travel list! To add to yours: Kauai, HI (a desert, tropical forst, and mountain, all on one tiny island), ANYWHERE in coastal Maine (I love Ogunquit!), Sedona, AZ (red red rocks, peaceful, calm, full of spa resorts!). I 100% agree with PARIS. I’m dying to go. dying. Indonesia looks AMAZE. I’ve heard really awesome things about Barcelona too. Where the heck is Zanzibar?! Googling it now. :)
What a fabulous list of places to visit! I’ve never even heard of some of them – umm where have the Maldives been all my life?! A lady at the winery we visited last weekend was telling us about Seychelles (random) and how gorgeous it was there, and I told her I only knew from what I had seen on House Hunters haha. Before that I had never even heard of the place but would go there any day!! There are many places on your list that I would love to visit too – oh if only time and money were endless, right? ;)
Oh what I cool list. I would love to do any or all. I love the castles of Europe are just one thing. (BTW kissing the Blarney Stone is actually in a castle of Europe LOL)
I grew up in Ireland but was never in Blarney. People who know me do not believe this they say I go ON an ON
I’ve been reading your blog for awhile now and have never commented, (I’m kinda shy :)) but I had to on this one! Our travel lists are almost identical- Long story, but I was looking at and researching a human rights internship in Bali today (too expensive though) :( BUT I studied abroad in Cairo, Egypt last year and it was the most amazing time of my life- Morocco is next on my list, and I visited Petra, Jordan as well (no words can explain!!) and have camped out in the Sahara Desert. Dubai is also very high on my list- as well as most everything else you mentioned. and just FYI- i have a degree in International Affairs, with a focus on Middle East studies, hence why those cities are high on my list and my obsession with travel! If you’re interested, or ever have a couple minutes, this is the link to the blog I kept while I was in Egypt-http://www.travelpod.com/members/acroyse04 It was my first time traveling out of the US so it was rather adventurous! I hope you get to cross some of those countries off of your list soon :) Also, I love your blog! (longestcommentever)
I went on a family vacation to Zion National Park when I was 14 and I would love to go back! We did lots of hiking and driving around. It’s gorgeous.
I went to Costa Rica in college and it was SO. MUCH. FUN. We flew into San Jose and met up with our tour guide who took us hiking through the rainforest, to some cute little lodges in the cloud forest, hiking at Arenal volcano, to a coffee plantation, zip lining, white water rafting, to hot springs, to lots of cute little shops and restaurants, to an open air market, and finally to a beautiful all-inclusive resort on a black sand beach which was must needed after all the action-packed days prior to that. We flew back from Liberia. Let me know if you want to know anything else! I think it was ~$1500 for the whole trip which included credit for two classes, but we got group rates on everything there.
If you’re going to Petra, you have to go to Syria on the way… incredible things- especially Crac de Chevalier (spelling?) It’s the most well preserved Crusaider castle in the world… on a fabulous mountain, near the sea. Palmyra.. fantastic… Damascus is also a great place to go to the markets and see all there is to see. And.. lots of great food to be had!
I live just hours from Lake Louise and it is one of my favorite places, in any season. The fresh mountain air really is something else. If you’re into skiing or snowboarding, Lake Louise won’t disappoint!
i’ve always wanted to see the Grand Canyon. i want to ride a mule down, spend the night, maybe a little mild white water rafting,maybe camp another night, ride the mule back up outa there. it’s so close and yet i’ve never seen any part of it. if Ben doesn’t want to ride shotgun to these destinations you so desire….sign me up! =)
One of my favorite posts! You will want to LIVE in Paris…it’s amazing. Morocco and the Sahara Desert were so unbelievably eye opening for me. You must go to Fez! Top contenders on my current travel list=Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro, (all of South America), South Africa, and Thailand….ahhh, to dream.
SOUTH AFRICA. go go go go go!!!!
Wish you were adding Philadelphia, PA to that list. :( I’ll miss you this year at the HLS.
I’ve done the cruise to Alaska.. It was fabulous. Do you have any ideas for a romantic weekend in the midwest? I’m looking for something for next fall for our 5th anniversary. We are just in Dubuque, so close to you! Oh and has to be driving distance. Dh won’t fly.
Try Door County, Wisconsin. We make a yearly trip! Yes, it can be touristy, but there’s so much to do and see to not feel like that.
Yes, Door County is fabulous! I have been there almost every year with my family and my (now) husband. We love it! We actually just got back a week ago.
I like Bayfield, WI even better – it’s like a tiny Cape Cod in the Northwoods.