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!
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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.
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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.
I will be going to Chile, France, Poland, Uzbekistan and London this year.
I like your list. All good places to go to. I hope you get to go to all of them.
Let’s switch lists! Haha! Where are you leaving from if you don’t mind my asking? That’s a lot of great places!
We are leaving from NYC.
I have been to 74 countries already, I looove to travel.
You have a really good list going on. I have been to all of those places. You don’t need to travel far to see beauty.
Wooooooow! Was it expensive to take all those trips? Was it for work or pleasure?
I’m going up to NY in February actually. Just for a few days though..
Of course they weren’t for free but going off season, looking for deals or staying at airBnB places helped. You will enjoy NYC! It’s a vibrant and energetic city!
I see you are following my “other” blog. Just wanted to make sure you are really sure you want to follow it. The one you are following right now is a blog for “hip surgery recovery”.
I just want to make sure you are not following the medical one by accident, and wanted to follow my travel blog all along.
Whichever one I follow is the one I know lol. Chances are I follow that one too but shoot me a link. I follow people who interact with others on WordPress. Tired of blogs who post but never reply or read anyone else’s work.
You are more than welcome to follow my medical blog but it might be boring to hear in what kind of pain I am, what I am doing at physical therapy and so on. It’s more interesting for people who are going through it. Stick to the travel blog. Way more fun.
I’ll just follow both 🙂
What’s the link to the other one?
It is http://www.journeyofthetortoise.me
If you want to follow my travel blog, please go on http://www.miles-away.blog. There should be a “follow” button on the right lower corner.
I think this is what you wanted to do originally.
Oh, here it is! I see you have one of WordPress’ new .blog domains. Nice! Now following 🙂
Great destinations! Hope you have a wonderful time.
I went to California and Vegas back in 2011 and I have wanted to go back ever since. I only stayed in Vegas for 4 days though. I highly recommend you stay for at least a week. There is so much to see and do.
I’m planning to go to Cuba, Mexico and then fly to Hawaii later this year. Can’t wait!
I only have 4 days but I’m pretty sure I’ll go back to Vegas at some point. I wish I could take the week!
Your 2017 travel list is impressive! No plans for Jamaica though? But we’re awesome! *pouts*
Have a great time in Vegas! No plans for Jamaica in 2017 but maybe in a few years. This is what I love about travel – so many places to see and I have so much time to see it all!
Thank you! I hope you make it to Jamaica soon! And yes, so much to see. It never gets old 🙂
Wanderlust ! 😍😍😍 I wish I had many friends across the world. Do check my blog. I need your feedback. 🙂
Hey, thank you. I got lucky with that.
If you need professional assistance with your blog, see http://www.alexischateaullc.com for services and fees.
Thanks!
Oh my god sure. Don’t forget to share your feedbacks as well. 🙂
This is my personal blog. Off the clock. 😋
Ohhh. 🙂
I love your list!
Thanks Bethany!
That hot lava spray looks pretty spectacular but yeah I’d be a bit wary, Hope you get to some pf the other destinations too. Louise
Thank you! Lava is best viewed from a distance or in pictures I think. No idea why my friend wants to see the volcanoes so badly.
Alexis you have a great list. I first went to Jamaica in 1972 and fell in love with it. You are lucky it’s easy for you to stay there. This summer I’ll be going to California and New Mexico. In October I’ll be going to Seattle. The hiking in New Mexico is great if you like hiking. The problem with California is that the best beaches are in the south and the wine is in the north. It’s not really a problem, more like an excuse for two trips. My Dad’s family is from Quebec, Montreal; and Quebec City are great, almost like a trip to Europe. I look forward to reading about your trips. .
I didn’t know that about the wine and the beaches. Darn it! Thanks for letting me know. I’ll have to find a way to have a good taste of both.
You should go back to Jamaica. A lot has changed since then, but it’s still a great place to vacation!
Looks like you get quite a bit of traveling done, so I’m fairly certain you’ll breeze through your 2017 list in no time.
I prefer the beaches in San Diego myself if I gave to deal with traffic and crowds I’d rather be norther California than L.A. I lived in Monterey and went to University in Santa Cruz so I got spoiled. There is are lot of great wineris in that area and awesome food too. They have a garlic festival, an artichoke festival, you name a food they have a festival. Then you buen it off by hiking in Big Sur. Easy to fly into San Jose or Monterey and do it all in four days. I can’t wait to go back.
Hi Alexis!
I’m going to the Gran Canaries and Murcia both in Spain, as well Vegas this year.
I lived in Jamaica for 11years ( parents are Jamaican). Do miss it sometimes. Was there just under a year ago.
Can I come in your suitcase? I want to go to Spain most of all, but lord knows I would never come back lol.
Maybe we’ll cross paths in Vegas. Who knows?
And if your parents are Jamaican, so are you. =P
Good choices. I have been to 4 of 5 of those places and I can say that they’re all very different from each other, but you’ll have a blast at all of them! If you’re coming to Canada and you love wine, there’s the annual wine festival in the summer in Niagara. 🙂
Ha! I was definitely planning a summer trip so thanks for letting me know about that festival.
Which one of the 5 haven’t you been to?
Hawaii, but I’ll get there one day.
I’m sure you will too. Make it a goal 🙂
Dear Alexis, great list. Mind if we made it awesome? Consider Kenya’s coast. We have re-engineered our hotels, infrastructure &security. Start with Mombasa then Kilifi and Malindi. Unforgettable. I offer to give a list of attractions, whenever you wish
Thanks Daniel, but having grown up in the third world I’m never in any rush to go back lol. I prefer first world destinations, at least for now.
Thanks again!
Nice choices but those are all (except Vegas and Jamaica isn’t huge) really big places! I recently went to San Diego and loved it. I think many people chose LA over San Diego and that’s a mistake, IMO. Definitely go to wine country and San Francisco. If you like hiking you’ll also love Yosemite. I also love the big island of Hawaii the best of the islands but Waimea Canyon in Kauai is spectacular.
Jamaica is bigger than most people think, with plenty to do. Vegas I’m not so sure about. Haven’t been there yet.
Thanks for the headsup with San Diego and especially Hawaii! Kauai is the island I did most of the marketing copy for, so that’s the top of my list for sure 🙂
She has an image to uphold!👸🏽