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?
Sheri 08.15.2011
I LOVE this list! And it makes my work day a little brighter :) My hubby and I just got back from a three week trip to Vienna, Budapest and Paris – all amazing! My friend was getting married in Vienna (in a beautiful castle .. to a winemaker of course.. but who doesn’t live that way?) Thanks for the inspiration!
Andrea 08.15.2011
What a great list! We were at Cannon Beach a few weeks ago and it’s amazing! Made us want to move to Oregon. Charleston in the spring is beautiful and Niagara Falls is worth seeing, but really touristy.
Amanda 08.15.2011
So glad to see Morocco made it on the list especially since that is where I was living when I discovered your blog and spent three days reading it from start to finish. The great thing about travel there, is once you can get the flight booked, you can see so much of the country for relatively cheap! I also have to put in an extra vote for New England, specifically Cape Cod in the summer…I think you will just fall in love with it and want to become CapeCod Girl Eats!
A.J. 08.14.2011
I would recommend not only going to Cannon Beach, OR, but also going to the other small towns along the Oregon coast. Make a week or two of it. The Oregon coast is so gorgeous!!
You should think about adding a camping/hiking trip in the Rocky mountains to your list. I just finished a trip to Colorado, and it was AMAZING. I never thought I was the camping type until I went on this trip. It was so freeing… no makeup, no cell phone, nothing except me, nature, and my loved one. Even if you do not like camping, there are a lot of opportunities for beautiful day hikes through the mountains.
amelia 08.14.2011
I used to live next to Yosemite (which is amazing) and now live near Cannon Beach (not surprised it is your dad’s favorite). If you ever make plans to visit either, I can give you any tips you want (other places to go, driving, etc.).
Karen B. 08.14.2011
Where we overlap that I haven’t been – New England (on my list for YEARS), New Zealand, Croatia, Santorini, Phuket. Places I want to go back to – Tuscany, France, Yosemite, Anywhere in Oregon, Charleston, Savannah, rafting/camping down the Grand Canyon, Brazil (so much to see), CA Central Coast (1000 times isn’t enough). Oh the places I want to go in addition – Yellow Stone, Disney (with my kids), Lake Tahoe, Bryce Canyon, Colorado (Aspen?), Argentina, any European adventure, any Asian adventure. So many places to go!
Ellen 08.13.2011
Every place on your list sounds amazing. Of the places you listed, I’ve only been to Niagara Falls, and I saw it in a blizzard…so maybe don’t visit there in March. If you haven’t been to the following places yet, add them to your list: the Columbia River Gorge near Portland, OR, (actually, all of Portland should be on the list); and the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State. I loved both places and cannot wait to return to them someday.
christina 08.13.2011
Charleston is my favorite place in the world. i consider it my hometown and just adore it. someone else mentioned the bridge run, which is just the best race ever.
Savannah is basically Charleston’s sister city. very similar. i live almost halfway in between them in Beaufort. If you ever come to SAV, i would show you a place that has better mac & cheese than paula deen’s!
many of the places you’ve listed overlap with my wishlist, too. i also want to visit israel, india, argentina and some other places in africa.
Sarah 08.13.2011
I love traveling. There are so many places I want to go. I would love to visit Ireland. Also, I want to go see all the canyons in Utah and of course the Grand Canyon.
I’ve been to Niagara Falls. It was awesome. I defintely recommend crossing over to Canada. You get a much better view. We stayed in Canada. You can buy this pass that grants you admission to many of the attractions. It also comes with the great bus service. We rarely used our car at all. When you ride the Maid of the Mist, definitely go right in front so you can feel the water and the spray. Waterproof disposable cameras are a must on this trip. Then you can get photos like this (http://www.flickr.com/photos/radiantstar/50247484/in/set-1685691)
I’ve also been to Savannah, GA. I went at the end of March. The weather was perfect. It was in the 70s and 80s. The squares with the Spanish moss and the azaleas were gorgeous. It was fun to just walk around and see all that.
Laura @ First Class Great Outdoors 08.13.2011
You have so many great places on your list! I have a friend traveling out west right now, and she has officially made the Oregon coast her favorite place in the US. I just added Lake Louise to my travel wish-list last week. My Canada-loving husband is pretty happy about that.
Then there’s Yosemite – There are no words to describe how wonderful that place is. I just returned from my second trip there. While I hope to visit every national park in the US, I would go to Yosemite every year if I could.
elise 08.13.2011
i am with you every step of the way! you have great choices. and the photos sold me on all the locations i hadnt considered before!!
oh man. i just love love looooove to travel. i got the travel bug in college when i studied abroad in barcelona. ive been back to spain 5 times since. i need to branch out of my euro bubble though.
my sister has been gone for the past 7 months now, seeing the entire world. shes done this a few times. works a couple of years to save money then quits her job and explores. i joined her for a few weeks in europe, but since shes a single lady and im married with a full time job, there are a few reasons why i cant drop it all and take off like she did. still, its absolutely amazing to read her emails about her travels. im so jealous but so happy for her. shes been to 90% of the places on your list which blows my mind. anyway. my husband and i just booked a trip to thailand in december…we will be in both bangkok and phucket for a bit over a week. so excited!
Sher 08.13.2011
I love your list! I have been to Costa Rica (not ziplining though–I’m too chicken haha), Cannon Beach, OR, and Charleston on your list. You will love all those places! Have you ever thought about teaching English overseas? They have programs in Europe where you could knock half the places off your list! Or you could teach English somewhere in Asia and do the same thing! Travel is my number one–always has been! I studied abroad in Japan, St. Lucia, Jamaica, and Australia. My husband and I are planning to teach English in China starting next August for about 10 months–you should consider something similar if you love to travel so much!! It’s worth it!!!
debbie 08.12.2011
oh I love travel so much! This just gave me the trouble bug!
Brenda 08.12.2011
Other places I wanna go – are all surrounded natural spas…Baden Baden, Germany, the hot spa capital of Europe, Onsen tour of Japan (has been my dream forever)…The Blue Lagoon, Iceland
http://www.germany.travel/en/erholung/gesundheit___wellness/gesundheit___wellness_1.html
http://www.tokyoezine.com/2011/03/25/onsen-in-japan/
http://www.bluelagoon.com/
Brenda 08.12.2011
Overlap? – Croatia – thank you Rick Steves for introducing me to this beautiful place, and Northern Lights in Alaska. Everywhere looks gorgeous, but these are the places I have specifically thought about wanting to go.
Tracy @ Tracy's Treats 08.12.2011
You have a wonderful list! I love how extensive it is…it’s so hard to narrow down because there are so many interesting places to visit!
Cristy 08.12.2011
Charleston IS bomb. But so is Provence, Tuscany, Paris and, hello? Safari in Kenya? That was life-altering. For me, anyway. My sister’s been to Petra and it’s unbelievable from the photos. Love your photos of Santorini and Morocco. Now I want to go there even MORE!!! Oh, and you forgot your picture of the slide that goes into, where was it? Sardinia? :)
Julie 08.12.2011
Well I live in Charleston SC. Ever since I read that you and Ben enjoyed NOLA so much I’ve thought that you all would LOVE Charleston! It is such a cute, beautiful, southern, colorful, active town with amazing food to boot :) we also have the Best 10k- cooper river bridge run. I like to think that I live in the best city in the east! Anyway, I’ve studied abroad in Germany and loved their culture along with their castles (Neuschwanstein = amazing!!!). While abroad we went to Paris for (only) four days and i fell in love. I will definitely be going back to both places again!
I have been itching to go back to Europe recently, but I also have Always wanted to do an African safari as well!! I know it’d be breathtaking. I also really really want to go to Costa Rica specifically to visit the rainforest- i just have to experience one.
Amanda Yancy 08.12.2011
You’re right on about Alaska – it’s totally gorgeous! My husband & I were married on an Alaskan cruise. Sailing through Glacier Bay was breathtaking! We didn’t see the Northern Lights, but that’s on my to-do list as well when we return someday! We’ve also done a British Isles cruise and spent time on land in London & Paris. We saw castles, looked for the Loch Ness monster, visited Stonehenge and kissed the Blarney Stone. Paris in itself is definitely worth a visit! The Eiffel Tower sparkles at night with what must be millions of twinkle lights. It’s more beautiful than any picture could show!
Catherine 08.12.2011
All of these places look incredible! If I had more time (not working) and more money (from working) I’d love to travel the world. However, I’ve been to two of the places you listed:
1. Ziplining in Costa Rica is AMAZING. Beautiful views and incredible experience.
2. Safari. I actually went to Mt Kilimanjaro and then a safari in Tanzania. Best trip of my life. Hands down. You’ll never see anything like it.