Who would have thought that we would be canceling travel and postponing plans as we ring in 2022? Could any of us predicted how tumultuous, how ongoing, or what a journey this pandemic would be? Just a couple of weeks ago, our family canceled (again) a vacation we had been hoping for. I know we are not the only ones.
And yet, we humans are creatures of hope. For Christmas, my mom gave me and my family new passport holders with an extra new pocket for our vaccine cards. She also gave me cute travel bags and tags that made me smile. My brother bought me a subscription to a magazine all about the northeast so I can daydream about future trips to Maine and New Hampshire and to the Berkshires and Nantucket.
As I type, I am isolated at home with a break-through infection. Though I am grateful to not be dangerously ill, I am also frustrated and down. The news is on in the background, spewing more negative. I worry about who is next.
Clearly, there is much to share concern about. But instead of welcoming 2022 with those obvious burdens, I say we attempt to buoy our spirits rather than dampen them. What better way to do that than with a travel bucket list?
Here is mine! Draft 1, of course. Always a work in progress. Enjoy! I hope the images bring you joy.
The top of the list are the places I have not yet been. The bottom of the list include places that are near and dear to my heart, that I will always have on my travel list for years to come.
Prague
Why? Beautiful architecture, bohemian vibes
Japan
Why? Sushi, sticky rice, climb Mt. Fuji, explore Jason’s old haunts
Bruges, Belgium
Why? Chocolate, proximity to Paris, little Venice feeling
San Juan Islands, Washington
Why? Natural beauty, whale watching
Tanzania
Why? Safari, Mt. Kilimanjaro, locals
Germany
Why? The Black Forest, Kris Kindle Markets
Nantucket
Why? Sea swept landscapes, quaint shops and streets, seafood
Norway
Why? Fjords, Hygge, northern lights
Maine
Why? Acadia National Park, fog, lobster, quiet
The Cotswolds
Why? Winding, cobbly roads, cute cottages, village pubs
French Polynesia
Why? The French influence, tropical fruit, weather, water
Switzerland
Why? Ski, apres ski, train rides, cable car rides, alpine horns, cute dogs, the scenery of course
Machu Picchu
Why? To hike, to be awed with the past
Charleston, South Carolina
Why? The food, southern charm, strolling afternoons
Ketchikan, Alaska
Why? The scenery, the salmon, the lumberjack contests, the wildlife
Barcelona
Why? The music and dancing, the food and traditions, the beach
The Netherlands
Why? Bike rides through the fields of flowers
Traverse City, Michigan
Why? The boats and cute shops, and that any town touching Lake Michigan is like going home again
Berkshires, Massachusetts
Why? I’d like to eat my way through the craft food shops and pretend Ina Garten is my BFF (this is one of her favorite getaways) while taking in the scenery.
Buenos Aires
Why? The street food, language, fairs
Sarajevo
Why? The landscape, the history, to see the power of how humans can rebuild
Redwood National Forest
Why? The trees, duh! Harper and Jameson would get a kick out of this, I think.
Already been, but sign me up again …
Washington D.C.
Why? I was lucky enough to live here for a summer, but there is so much to explore in this city. I love it. Yes, there is some grittiness, too, but this is part of its allure. D.C. is the most European-like city I have been in the U.S., and I always look forward to a visit. The museums, the pace, the learning – it’s all amazing.
Vermont
Why? It’s my new favorite place. The charm, the cheese and syrup, and way people honor its simplicity.
Isle of Skye
Why? I was lucky enough to visit here once. I want to explore it again. I am convinced the best people in the world live in Scotland or Ireland- funny, charming, warm, unabashedly themselves. I must visit again.
New York City
Why? Broadway, bagels, Central Park
Kauai, Hawaii
Why? Spend hours doing absolutely nothing, sounds of wildlife, the views, the isolation and quiet
Chicago
Why? Always home, pizza, my favorite art museum in the world, memories, music, sports
Lucca, Italy
Why? Bicycle the walled city, romance, Tuscany, wine
Door County, Wisconsin
Why? This one feels like a little secret, shared only among a few. Who would travel to the northernmost peninsula of a state like Wisconsin? We would, over and over again. Of all the places my son has been fortunate to go, his favorite remains “Wisconsin.”
Paris
Why? Well, this is the best place in the world. For as many times as I have been, it will always be on my list to visit again. The food, the museums, the music, the feel, the everything. We want to catch part of the Tour de France some year, as well. And maybe a match in the French Open.
The world is a beautiful place, isn’t it?
What is on your list? Please comment. I would love to read.
