The year has only just begun, but I’ve spent quite a bit of time already thinking of places I want to visit. I have four days away from a traditional office each week, and I plan to make the absolute best of it!
Europe, Australia, and South Africa rank pretty high on my list, but I know I won’t have time for extended trips. Four days is just not enough to explore these places for the first time.
Maybe next year?
Thankfully, it’s a big world with many other great places to see. So here are the five travel destinations I have my eyes set on for 2017.
1. California
I’ve been saying it since early 2015:
I really want to go out west.
California is just one of the West-American destinations I have in mind. Why? Because I want to finally see a good beach on American shores, and feel that salty air combing through my hair.
It also helps that California is known for being liberal. That’s always a welcome change from the conservative south.
And we all know California is the American wine country. You know that old saying of where there is a will there is a way? Well in totally unrelated news, know this:
Where this is wine, there is Alex.
2. Vegas
As a tween, I spent a lot of time in New York City, and often heard residents call it The City that Never Sleeps. This is true to some extent, but when I think of a city truly renowned for its night life, Vegas is the one that comes to mind.
Truth be told, I’m not much of a night life person. I’m more interested in the hiking trails and testing out good food. Since Nevada rubs shoulder with popular big bro California, it’s also another liberal escape.
To boot, one of my best friends live in Nevada and he’s been asking me to take a trip out there for years! It’s about time I take him up on that offer.
3. Canada
Though I really won’t have the time for pleasure-trips to international locations, Canada is close enough to feel like home, but far away enough to be foreign. I’m no friend to the cold, but I would love to test out the hiking trails and see some of the many natural wonders Canada has to offer.
I also want to meet up with blogger-friend Camper Christina when I do. She can out-hike, and out-adventure just about anyone I know, and that’s saying a lot. So many of my guy friends are survivalist junkies. I will never introduce them to her. Their egos would never be the same…
Pitch a tent for me Christina! I hope to see you soon!
4. Hawaii
In Alex Travels to Myrtle Beach, I shared the great news that I would be working with an indie-travel agency later this year. At their request, I may indeed find my way to Europe, Australia, and South Africa after all. But failing all that, Hawaii is definitely on the list.
I’ve always wanted to visit Hawaii. Like Jamaica, it’s just one of those stereotypical travel spots you can’t miss. Last year, I had the pleasure of working with a client to do website copy for dozens of villas in Hawaii, and that only intensified my desire to see this place in person.
As usual, the hiking trails are the sirens of my demise, and of course, the beaches are stunning. My friend, John, wants to tag along for the volcanoes. He’s on his own with that. Potentially going out in a literal blaze is not a part of my 2017 resolutions..
5. Jamaica
It’s been a year and a half since I left home, and I miss the friends who without a doubt helped me get to where I am today.
We’ve kept in touch all this time, and they’ve remained an indispensable part of my life. But our friendships were built on adventures! It’s time we had a few more together.
The awesome part about Jamaica is that travel expenses are minimal for me. I have no end of places to stay from one end of the island to the next, and I already know exactly where to go and what to do.
The tough part will be fitting it all into four days. So here’s to hoping this island girl gets to see home before the year is done!
—
What places do you plan to visit this year? Have you already started your travel adventures? Tell me all about them in the comments below.
—
UPDATE: I cancelled my 2017 travel plans until further notice. This is due to the executive orders and political and legal uncertainty facing non-citizens in America. You can read about that decision, here.
These are all on my bucket-list too! Well, except I live in Canada. We did California in April, but only Los Angeles, and it was amazing! We already planning to return and we’re also keen of the wine region!
That’s great! I really wanted to go Canada this year, but waiting til this mess here dies down. That might not be for some time
Was there anything outdoorsy to do in Los Angeles? Wine country had a stronger pull for me.
I went to Vegas in April. The hiking there is pretty amazing.
That’s a good idea, plus this year might be busy with tourists because we’re celebrating our 150th year so they’re pumping tourism.
In LA we did mainly city stuff, but I was really hoping to do Runyon Canyon hike so its on the agenda for next time – it’s the hike by the Hollywood sign & you get a beautiful view over the city.
Dying to do Vegas! Didn’t realise they had hikes there but saw your pics and would love to do it!
Oh, well I suppose it’s a good year to hold off. Hopefully next year I’ll make it then. You seem to have such beautiful trails and beaches there!
I actually had no idea you could hike up to the Hollywood sign. That actually sounds pretty awesome. Is California lush grass terrain, or more like my Vegas desert pics? I mostly ever see concrete and beaches.
You should definitely go to Vegas, but bring a friend. Those trails aren’t safe for solo hiking.
Just getting to know your blog and this is one of your first posts I’ve read then I had to come down to the disclaimer 🙁 sorry to hear. Hope that madman doesn’t entirely ruin your travel year. Stay strong!
Thanks Rochelle! My first trip was supposed to be for spring break and here we are, so I’m already behind. Hopefully things change soon! We’re monitoring the situation.
Of all those places, Hawaii is at the top of my list (I’ve been there twice and want to go back!). After that, and still staying in the US, Callornia, specifically San Francisco. I’ve been there many times all of them wonderful. I do doubt that traveling in the US as a non-citizen would be a problem. If you want to know problems, sometime I’ll have tell you about our woes when trying to go from what was then Communist Czechoslovakia to Communist East Germany. In any event, thanks so much for following my blog – I am honored. Stop by anytime and I wish you good fortune and times with your travel.
Hi Noelle,
Hawaii was at the top of mine as well. Aside from Jamaica, I’ve never been to any of the places I listed, so it would have been great to see them.
As for your remark about traveling as a non-citizen not being an issue in America, I will just assume you haven’t seen the news about the immigration orders, deportations etc. One of our family friends has just been detained for deportation, though he was here legally, and is married to a citizen with a 5-y-o daughter. So I wouldn’t be so quick to pass that judgement. I’m from the Third World. We know problems and woes better than most.
All the best to you!
Guess I don’t!
Alexis: We have been to many of the places on your list. I can only hope once the “dust settles” as you so eloquently described, that you have the opportunity to visit them. They are definitely places worth visiting and anyone able to or that can travel to see them should definitely do so. Best of luck to you.
Thank you Irwin. It would be a real shame not to be able to travel at all this year, but I guess we’ll see.