Our Travel Wish List Continues to Evolve with Baby B
Ah, the travel wish list. The benchmark for personal travel successes.
Although we are constantly setting goals for ourselves, we’ve never been the type to actually write extensive travel bucket lists. On the surface, it seems like a pointless exercise. Every time we complete a travel goal (or life goal), we inevitably replace it with another. So why bother, right?
While having coffee with friends the other day, we got to talking about life goals and travel. For us, the two always seemed to be intertwined, as many of our life goals revolve around travel experiences.
The conversation made us realize that, at times, we forget how fortunate we are to have been able to travel to over 60 countries together as a couple. It’s an accomplishment that neither of us thought was possible. But, the irony is that the more travel goals we achieve, the more we add to the travel wish list.
It’s as if our travel wish list is destined to never be completed!
Now, with precious Baby B in our lives, our travel wish list has evolved. How could it not? Having a baby is kind of a big deal!
With our first international trip as a trio behind us, we now find ourselves re-thinking our travel wish list. Our travel plans now need to include our little man, which changes things slightly. With that in mind, we thought it would be fun to actually write down our travel goals.
It will be interesting to revisit this list 5-10 years from now, to see what experiences we’ve actually been able to accomplish.
Here are 30 items on our current Travel Wish List
- Climb to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania (okay, maybe this one’s not for Baby B)
- While in Tanzania, we’d also like to experience a wildlife safari in the Ngorongoro Crater and the sun-drenched beaches of Zanzibar
- Soak in the Blue Lagoon geothermal spa in Iceland, followed by a road trip across the county
- Island hopping in the South Pacific, with Bora Bora, Vanuatu and Fiji leading the charge
- Cruise through icebergs and hang out with penguins in Antarctica
- Attend a live Super Bowl game in the United States
- Swim in a desert oasis in the Sahara Desert of Northern Africa
- Walk the Camino de Santiago in northwestern Spain. While in Spain, we’d also like to spend an extended period of time on the Mediterranean Coast, ideally spending a few weeks in Barcelona, Valencia or the Costa Brava region of northeastern Catalonia
- Experience the diversity of Madagascar, searching for endemic species like lemurs and chameleons, driving down the Avenue of the Baobabs and hiking in the Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park
- Road trip through western USA, focusing on Utah, Arizona, Nevada and Colorado – we have see the Grand Canyon and Monument Valley at least once in our lives
Breathe the fresh mountain air while hiking in the Swiss Alps of SwitzerlandCompleted summer of 2012!- Witness the bright lights of Seoul Special City, the largest metropolis of South Korea
- Swim to the edge of death in the Devil’s Pool of Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe
- Stuff our faces with delicious Italian food and wine in the vineyards of Sicily
- Visit the Kremlin and Red Square in Moscow, followed by a trip to St Petersburg, Russia
- Cage diving with Great White Sharks in Cape Town, South Africa, followed by a wildlife safari and overnight lodging in Kruger National Park
- Hike, kayak and explore Denali National Park in Alaska, maybe via an Alaskan cruise?
- Snorkeling with whale sharks in the Bay Islands of Honduras. We were unsuccessful in Belize last year, so maybe our luck will change in the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System!
- Jeep safari through the giant sand dunes of the Namib Desert in Namibia
- Float down the canals of France, passing ancient villages in a personal river boat
- Visiting the United Kingdom in the summer so that we can go hiking in the Lake District and explore its villages, castles, lakes and natural beauty
- Winter in Scandinavia, including a snowboarding trip in Norway and reindeer sledding in Sweden
- Surfing the Pacific in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua
- Sail around the historical Maltese Islands in the Mediterranean Sea
- Hiking to the crater of Mount Bromo, an active volcano in East Java, followed by island hopping and beach bumming in Bali, Indonesia
- Explore the picturesque villages of Cinque Terre National Park on the rugged coast of the Italian Riviera in western Italy
- Scuba-diving in the Maldives Islands and spending time on our own private island
- Experience all that is New York, including the Empire State Building, Time Square, Statue of Liberty, Yankees Stadium, Central Park and a slice of traditional New York pizza
- Hike, kayak, surf and explore the lush Hawaiian Islands, specifically Molokai and Lānaʻi
- Last but not least, a camping road trip across the length of Canada, from Vancouver to St John’s, Newfoundland – ideally in a rented campervan
Okay, so maybe Baby B is a little young for some of these adventures. But we’ve got his whole life to start crossing off these experiences and replacing them with new ones!
~~~~~~~~
What’s on your travel list?
Share your dream adventure in the comments section below, we’re always looking for new travel inspiration!
[ad name=”World Nomads 468 Banner”]
When is the best time to swim with Whale Sharks in Honduras? I was going to try again in Mexico this July b/c my first attempt at Isla Holbox didn’t work out either. I’m dying to do it! Oh and swimming at the edge of Victoria Falls looks spooky!
I have heard that the best time to spot whale sharks in Honduras/Belize/Mexico is in April and May, during the full moon. But, we were in Belize in May, on the full moon (supposedly the most optimal time to see the whale sharks) and we didn’t see any after 3 attempts.
Apparently the success rate is much higher in the Philippines and South Africa because they use helicopters to spot them. But that’s also a heck of a lot more expensive to get to coming from Canada/US!
Baby B is very lucky to have you two as parents! I love the idea of raising kids and sparking the travel spark in them early. And P.S: do go to Cinque Terre, it is STUNNING!
Thanks Caro!
We hope to introduce him to as many cultures and experiences as possible.
Yes – Cinque Terre looks incredible! 😉
Best of luck going through your travel wish list. We’re trying to figure out whats top on our travel wish list at the moment. It’s either wildlife in Africa or the Arctic; recently been thinking Alaska for an Arctic experience.
Cool list…I think we had similar when our kids were young (then they got into sports, life got busy and our travel fund went into goalie equipment lol! 🙂
I think Baby B wishes to grow up faster to travel with you guys.
Such a great list and there are loads of those that you will be able to do with a child. You’ve inspired me to write a list of my own. I am always saying ‘oh yes, I’d love to do this or that’ but I’ve never actually written it all down.
You will LOVE the camino I’m sure, and Alaska is one of the most beautiful places I’ve visited. Antarctica is at the very top of my list, but probably will have to wait the longest because of the expense.
One of the best things I have ever done is cycle across Canada. On my dream list would be to cycle around Australia – the entire way! Definitely a challenge but a dream none the less. More likely to happen soon – I hope to walk the Camino Trail. Have been greatly inspired by this trek and hope to do it in the next couple of years.
I’ve done a few of these including one of my favorites, hiking in the Swiss Alps. One I would also put up there for me is the Lake District.
Honestly, there are so many places to see that I think adding to your list is inevitable. Your list ties back to what I said boldly in my travel bucket list. I said my travel bucket list can change YOUR life – not because of my destinations but because what my bucket list can teach us about our lives. Our journeys never end and if our bucket list isn’t gorowing we are either 1) near the end of our lives and have accomplished much or 2) stopped living even though we are still alive.
By the way, I see some of your destinations changes your life by sharing all positive words on your site. I just want to congratulate you for putting up your great thoughts.