Sometimes it’s the simplest of joys that makes the most impact with travel. It could be swimming in a fjord, gondola ride in Venice, or something more exhilarating like zip lining through a rainforest—all have been unforgettable adventures. Over the decades, I’ve been compiling a list of epic experiences from our travels—some with kids and some without. I often find myself reminiscing of past adventures and day dreaming about future ones! What’s on your list?
Checked Off:
- Stepping back in time at colonial Mackinac Island in Michigan
- High tea at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise in Canada
- Snorkeling in the Sea of Cortez in Mexico
- Drinking beer at Munich’s Oktoberfest
- Monterey Peninsula and the great 17-Mile Drive
- Iconic San Francisco + Alcatraz
- Snorkeling with stingrays in Belize
- Hiking the Mayan trails in Tikal National Park
- The wild beauty of Canada’s Niagara Falls
- Cruise through the jungle in Costa Rica
- Walk Paris at night
- The luxurious Palace of Versailles
- Canal cruise in Amsterdam
- Walking the ancient cobblestone streets of Jerusalem
- Floating in Israel’s Dead Sea
- Walking on the Giants Causeway in Ireland
- Hiking the Grand Canyon in snow
- Eating tapas in Spain
- Walking across a runway in Gilbraltar
- Dinosaur Hunt in Portugal
- Beauty of Horseshoe Bend in Arizona
- Kayaking in Lake Tahoe
- Summer in Cape Cod
- Puffin Cruise in Maine
- Winter toboggan ride in Quebec City
- New England road trip
- Walking the Freedom Trail in Boston
- Swimming in a fjord in Norway
- Flytographer photo session in Colombia
- Biking the vibrant streets of Bogota
- An underground journey through Colombia’s Salt Mine
- Gondola ride in Venice, Italy
- Hiking through the jagged, unforgettable limestone peaks of the Dolomites
- Stepping into a fairytale in Germany
- Summer toboggan ride in Slovenia
- Exploring the underworld of Postojna Cave in Slovenia
- Taking in the WW2/Soviet history in the Baltics
- Visiting the world’s largest castle, Malbork Castle in Poland
- Snorkeling in the bright blue waters of Barbados in the Caribbean
- Springtime in Washington DC
- Wild kangaroos on the coast of Australia
- Zip-lining through Australia’s rainforest
- Chasing winter fairy tales through Europe’s oldest Christmas Markets
- Cold winter nights and warm Christmas market lights in Prague
To Do:
- Visit all 50 states (currently at 45)
- See the Northern Lights
- Rome: Uncovering ancient wonders and modern magic in the heart of the Eternal City
- Greece’s ancient Athens and islands
- Drinking Malbec in Argentina/Uruguay
- Visit the Iguazu Falls in Argentina & Brazil
- Road trip through Nova Scotia
- Hiking Patagonia
- Ancient ruins of Tunisia
- Safari/beaches of Tanzania
- Safari/wine tasting/penguins in South Africa
- See the Egyptian pyramids
- Summer in the Balkans
- Walking the Great Wall of China
- Historic Edinburgh + search for the Loch Ness monster in Scotland
- Visit the rock-hewn churches in Ethiopia
- Explore the eternal city of Rome
- Discovering Malta’s breathtaking history and natural beauty
- Explore the capital city of Tbilisi + drink wine local wine from Georgia
- Cuban food in Havana
- Take the cable car to the Big Buddha in Hong Kong
- See the wildlife on the Galapagos Islands
- Explore the ancient ruins of Rhodes, Greece
- Visit the vibrant city of Seoul in South Korea
- Visit the Buddhist temples and shrines of Japan
- Admire Stonehenge in the United Kingdom
- See Wales by a canal boat
- Road trip through New Zealand
- See the sunrise at Borobudur Temple in Indonesia
- Walk along the supertrees in Singapore
- Silk Road in Uzbekistan
- Road trip through Iceland
- Hiking Machu Picchu
- Visit the Taj Mahal in India
- Stay in an overwater bungalow
- Hot air balloon over Cappadocia, Turkey
- Explore Moscow’s Red Square
- Sunrise or sunset over Angkor Wat
- Cruise through Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay
- Discovering the ancient ruins of Petra in Jordan
- Drink tea in Sri Lanka
- Visit Dracula’s Castle in Transylvania