Travel Tuesday: 2017 Bucket List

With a new year comes new travel adventures!  I have not been anywhere since Seattle and that was back in September, so the wanderlust bug is biting hard. I had wanted to get away for my birthday in November, but that did not end up working out. I can’t stop thinking about my next getaway, which most likely is going to be another solo trip!  I know that once before I shared several places that I wanted to visit within the next 3 years, so for today I thought it would be fun to list some places on my 2017 bucket list! There are honestly so many places that I want to visit and the list is constantly changing. I am so determined to check off as many of these destinations as I can. I still have a long way to go to reach my 40 countries by 40 goal. ✈️

ICELAND

This has always been a top contender for me, but lately I became a bit obsessed with
researching this beautiful country.  After coming across many sites, I have found that
Reykjavik is one of the safest places to travel solo. Initially, I was planning this trip with a friend for the end of January and I was really excited about it. When everything happened with my grandma I put everything on hold and then recently found out my friend had to
cancel. I have been debating on whether or not I should just go alone in February. The thing about Iceland that makes me hesitate to go alone in winter is that it is recommended to rent a car since everything is so spread out. I am a bit nervous to drive alone in unexpected weather conditions in a foreign country.  I’ve heard it can be a mix of snow, hail and rain all in one day and sunlight only lasts about 4 hours. I could just pay for tours, which is probably the best option, but of course saving money on this trip would be ideal. Have any of you been to Iceland? I know going in winter might sound crazy, but I have my heart set on it. I would love to see the Northern Lights, visit the Blue Lagoon, and of course check out the waterfalls and glaciers among so many other incredible things in Iceland. I would love to make this my very first trip of the year!

ITALY: VENICE, FLORENCE, ROME & POSITANO

I swear Italy has been calling my name.  I almost went at the end of October to meet my friend in Rome, but the fall season was just too hectic to make it out there. I have thought a lot about going late spring/early summer when the weather is a bit nicer.  This would also give me more time to be consistent with my workout routine so that I feel more confident in a swimsuit!  There is honestly so much that I want to see and do in Italy that I think I would have to go more than once.  These are just 4 of the amazing places that I want to visit over there. I have visions of me standing on the beach in Positano, soaking up the Colosseum view in Rome, indulging in pasta and red wine in Florence and enjoying a Gondola ride in Venice. I recently spoke with someone who is from Italy and he suggested that I do 2-3 nights in Venice, 2-3 nights in Florence, 4 nights in Rome, and 4 nights in Positano. I can easily travel to each place by train. 2 weeks in Italy sounds amazing to me right now. Have any of you been? Any tips or recommendations?

SPAIN: MADRID & BARCELONA 

I was a little bummed that I didn’t make it to Spain last year. This country has been on my bucket list for years.  I need to keep it in my top 5 until I finally get the opportunity to go and visit.  If I was able to do one huge trip, I would love to visit Spain and Italy all at once. It’s only a 2 hour flight from Rome to Madrid, which is not bad at all. I don’t want to go when it’s too hot, but of course would welcome the warmer weather. I swoon every single time I come across photos of Spain. I’m always like why have I not been there yet? I’ve researched it a lot and would probably do 3 nights in Madrid and 5 in Barcelona. There is so much art and history there. I just love getting to immerse myself in another culture. I know I mentioned that years ago before I created this blog, I looked into becoming an au pair in Spain. It would just be incredible to finally visit the country that I once considered living in, even if only for short period of time.

BALI: VOLUNTEER TEACHING

If you’ve watched any of my Instagram Live videos, then you heard me talking about this.  I’ve actually wanted to travel and volunteer for awhile now, but it was not until recently that I took the time to start researching different ways to do it. I have to apply and get
accepted, but I’m very interested in volunteering to teach Kindergarten for 3 weeks in Bali.  I’ve also considered doing this is India and Fiji, but my friend just went to Bali for this a few months ago so she is such a great resource for me if I am able to do it.  She said it
completely changed her life and she actually wishes she did it longer. It seems like a very
humbling experience. I would be teaching in the villages and I would be sharing a room with other volunteers, bunk bed style.  I would have this incredible opportunity to make a
difference for these children. It would be a culture shock with a lot to get used to, but
definitely worth it! I am still looking into this to see if it could be a possibility for this year. I am not sure how long the application and acceptance process would be. Let’s see what
happens!

I am excited to see where I end up this year and use my new lens on my travel camera!  I have a feeling I will be going to at least 2 of these places on my own.  I’m at an age where majority of my friends are married, in serious relationships or mothers. I know that it’s not as easy for them to pick up and leave. You guys also know how I feel about missing out on something because I am waiting around for someone to do it with me.  I am all for the solo experience and it’s actually something I want to continue building on. There is seriously SO much to see in this world.  My wanderlust heart continues to grow. What places are on your 2017 bucket list?