Traveling is my #2 “thing” in life (behind cooking/eating, natch. ;) ) It’s what keeps me going.
The thought of my next big adventure – what I want to see, learn and experience next – is sometimes all I can think about!
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.
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.
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!
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.
Croatia
Less touristy than it’s European coastal-city counterparts. Mmmm. :)
Dubai, UAE
I just really need to see this for myself. Plus I feel like it might rain gold coins there, or something.
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.
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.
Machu Picchu, Peru
Brilliant, ancient civilizations freak. me. out. but I still want to see this craziness.
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.
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!
Niagara Falls
Every North American needs to see this at some point in their life, no?
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.
Kiss the Blarney Stone, Cork, Ireland
Just…need to.
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.
Sahara Dessert
I know – crazy. I just feel like I want to go for like 5 minutes.
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.
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!
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. :)
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!
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.
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.
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?
Amanda 08.12.2011
Zion is an amazing place! My sister lived in Utah for a year and I went with her and her husband for a crazy trip one year…we went to 7 national parks in 5 days! It was so much fun!
I live in NH so I get to see the leaves change every year, so beautiful and definitely worth the trip…do it!
My parents go to Italy twice a year…they love it there! My dad didn’t like Venice so much, he said it was a tourist trap, but it was some place they had to go to. They just went to Tuscany and really enjoyed themselves. Their favorite places are Florence and down south in Calabria where our family is from.
I want to go to Yellow Stone and Yosemite too!
Deanna 08.12.2011
Love your list… Ironically, my parents are visiting me today from Iowa (I now live in Buffalo) and we headed to the Canada side of Niagara Falls – it was spectacular! They looked at the picture on your blog and my Dad said, “Yep, that’s what it looked like”. Cheers!
Sarah @ goingongoals 08.12.2011
Great list! I want to go to soo many of those places.
One place i really want to go to is Istanbul because its where Europe meets Asia (how cool?!?!).
Kristi 08.12.2011
I live about two hours from Lake Louise as well. It is so beautiful out there! So worth the trip…..if you make it! I have been to Dubai and the Maldives. Dubai is very cool. It is worth it just to see the architecture. The Maldives were just stunning. To fly over the Atolls in the sea plane was just unreal, it was so beautiful.
Bonni 08.12.2011
Love your list!
I’ve been to the Taj Mahal and it is more beautiful in person than any picture can make it appear. The detail and craftsmanship is phenomenal. And it costs only like $7 american dollars to go in and you get a bottle of water with your ticket! i stare at a picture of the Taj everyday at work and think of its beauty when i get stressed.
Melissa 08.12.2011
Hand raised!
This was such a good idea and you’ve inspired me to make my own list! We definitely have similar travel tastes…thanks!
Megan 08.12.2011
Yay! Cannon Beach made the list! We live in Portland – hey if you ever get out this way, let me know and I can give you a list of the best restaurants (from P-Town to the coast)! Seems our tastes are similar, so you won’t be disappointed! Love the list!
Steph 08.12.2011
My travel list is pretty similar! I have been zip lining in a canopy tour in Costa Rica and it was amazing! Especially the last long line. I have also been to Paris and Provence, France…so beautiful and want to go back! I would love to go to India, Thailand, Egypt Greece, Italy, and Maldives, etc as well!
Ashley 08.12.2011
My husband is from Europe and one of his favorite things there are the castles. (and the food!)
Faith 08.12.2011
Oh my goodness, Bamff Canada is on my list of places to see!! We almost went there for our honeymoon, but we ended up only having 5 days and I wanted to spend a lot more time out there. I love the Rockies. We went to Maine instead becasue I LOVE LOVE LOVE New England. You definitely need to see it in the fall and the spring and always. I want to move there someday. Thankfully it is only a few states up and I can visit quite often. The East Coast has some amazing seafood: Maryland blue crabs, Maine lobster, Cape Cod chowder… YES, please!!!
Niagra falls is okay, but I thought the Grand Canyon was so much more amazing. Savanah and Charleston are extremely pretty! I love bike riding around there.
I really want to take a trip to the Smoky Mountians. I love the shenandoah mountains and valleys and the national park and skyline drive.
Mellissa 08.12.2011
Love all of these. As a fellow girl with extreme wanderlust a lot of these are on my list too. Thankfully I have been to Peru, Costa Rica, Egypt, Tuscany, Paris. But I have many more on my list. It always gets longer instead of shorter.
Monica 08.12.2011
I am with you! Sometimes all I can think about is traveling! If only we all had more money, and vacation time from work to use….
I have been to Cannon Beach, Niagara Falls, and just got back from a trip to Alaska. Loved all of them! Have many of the same places on my list as you too. One you should consider adding if you haven’t already done so is rest a convertible and drive the Hana Highway at Maui. Talk about a crazy and beautiful road trip!
Ash 08.12.2011
Umm, I think you stole my entire list… :)
…Add to it anywhere in Basque Country (although I hear it’s been hazardous for travelers lately), and also Sweden, Denmark, and/or the Netherlands. I think Northern Europe seems so nice!
Julie 08.12.2011
I’ve been to Paris, Niagara Falls and we’re going to a wedding in Savannah in 3 weeks! I want to go to New Zealand, Australia and Hawaii…
Julie 08.12.2011
Also, consider Mackinac Island, MI. It was quaint and beautiful- blue water surrounding an island with only an 8-mile radius. You travel by bike, horse or foot- no cars allowed.
natalie (the sweets life) 08.12.2011
we want to New England last fall and it was incredible—do that, soon! you will love it!
Tracy 08.12.2011
Holy smokes! You and Ben better get going!
Kim 08.12.2011
I just zip lined in Costa Rica at the end of July and it’s wonderful! Problem is deciding WHICH canopy to zip line through! I did it in the Cloud Forest of Monteverde because Cloud Forest only exists on 1% of the planet so I thought it’d be even more unique! It was amazing (despite it being a scary windy day!). I’d totally do it again. I have all kinds of advice now if you ever go to Costa Rica! The boyfriend is from there so I have good resources to pull from. :) Great list!
Kristen 08.12.2011
I live in Vancouver and whenever we leave BC we always stop in Lake Louise when we are in Alberta. It is so beautiful there. One of my favourite places for sure.
Gabby Bladdick 08.12.2011
I love your list! Those places would be amazing to visit. I definitely think you should bump Alaska to one of your next vacations. I took a cruise through the Alaska inner passage in 2009 and it was the.best.vacation.of.my.life. I did a series of Tumblr posts (http://alaskanadventures.tumblr.com/) so you can see how absolutely amazing it was. Highly recommended and if you get a great deal (we did Holland America), it won’t break your bank too badly!
Nicole 08.12.2011
I love your list! I too love to travel. I’m from Oregon so I’ve been to Cannon Beach many a time and it is lovely…albeit chilly :) I went to Egypt last fall (shortly before the riots, thank goodness!) and it was AMAZING! Get there! In the next couple of months I will be going to Machu Picchu and Niagara Falls. So excited!
Morocco, Thailand & Petra are all on my list in the coming years. There are so many amazing things, people and cultures to witness in this world. I hope you get to experience all these adventures!