Travel Experiences to Add to Your Next Itinerary

The other day, as B & I hiked through the woods, we were discussing our favorite travel experiences. It was really hard to narrow down all the amazing things of my last 33 years to just a few. After further thought, I realized that many of my favorite experiences fall into a few different buckets. So, if you’re feeling wanderlust-y, or in the middle of planning a trip, here are 15 travel experiences to add to your next trip itinerary.

Travel Experience #1: the thing you’ve always wanted to do

When we went to Ireland in May, literally the only thing I wanted to do was visit the Cliffs of Moher. It was something I had been dreaming about since I was a young child, filled with wanderlust & a world geography text book. Even though B & I don’t necessarily make detailed itineraries when we travel, we always make a list of the things each of us have always wanted to do at a destination. You better believe that when we’re in London next month, I’ll be doing my best Mary Popins in front of St. Paul’s & B will be getting his royalty on at Westminster.

Travel Experience #2: always hang around for sunset

As the day creeps on, it can be tempting to pack up, head back to your hotel & get ready for dinner. But, regardless of what time it actually happens, I have never regretted hanging around for the sunset.

Travel Experience #3: do something that terrifies you

One of my newer travel goals is to try new things when we travel, especially if it seems hard or adventurous. This stems from our trip to Alberta last year when, poor Travel Alberta, had to deal with me crossing thing after thing off my itinerary (horse back riding? No, sorry. Guided rock climbing? Can’t deal with heights). So I’ve decided to stop being a wuss & start doing things that terrify me. Sometimes it goes well (going on that five mile hike), sometimes I barely hang in there (the small plane ride pictured above), but so far I’ve always made it out with a great story to tell.

Travel Experience #4: learn something new

For some reason, at some point around age 25, I decided that I would never learn how to ski. It was something I always wanted to try, but I figured I was too old to learn something new. Fast forward to the Green Mountains of Vermont in March 2014 & I was zipping down the bunny slope at the ripe old age of 31. I wasn’t good at it, but darn it, I was skiing.

Travel Experience #5: check that cheesy thing off your bucket list

I don’t really have a bucket list – I like to say that everywhere I haven’t been is on my list. But I have a few travel experiences that have always alluded me for one reason or another. Growing up in Florida, I’ve spent very little time around lakes (hello: beach!), so when we headed to Maine for a mid-Coast road trip in 2011, I was on the hunt for the perfect lake to check one of those items off my list: sitting at the end of a pier with my feet dangling in a lake. Enter Norton Pond!

Travel Experience #6: travel how & where you love, regardless of what others think

I’ll admit it: we love to cruise, a type of travel that isn’t even considered real travel by many people. But I don’t care because I love being on a ship in the middle of an ocean with no wifi & cell signal, book in my hand, sun on my face. So travel where & how you love, even if it’s cheesy, even if you’ve been there before, even if your friends snicker about it. It’s your vacation – own it!

Travel Experience #7: go somewhere new

Seems like a no brainer, right? But think about the last five or ten places you’ve traveled to. I bet at least a few of them were repeat trips. Sure, some of that is unavoidable – say, going to visit family – & some are conscious choices to go back somewhere you’ve been before (see: our annual Finger Lakes trip), but how many times do you go somewhere because it’s easy or familiar? I’m guilty of this when traveling to NYC. Listen to the Dalai Lama: once a year, go someplace you’ve never been before.

Travel Experience #8: go somewhere you have no interest in going because your travel partner wants to

B is a roller coaster fanatic & spent every summer at Cedar Point Amusement Park as a kid. I hate roller coasters & have no desire to spend the day at an amusement park. But he also follows me around the world (often carrying my bag along the way), so every once in a while, an amusement park ends up on our agenda. I have no interest in going, but my travel partner surely does.

Travel Experience #9: your own backyard may be awesome

I’ll admit it that maybe I’m a little biased on this one: I live in Washington, D.C., which is full of awesome (free!) things to experience. Just driving to work every day means getting to see the monuments that people travel very hard to see. But I know that, like most people, I take my hometown for granted. Whether you live in Washington or Wichita, I’m betting that your own backyard is actually awesome.

Travel Experience #10: go somewhere you’ve always wanted to go

Usually when people say this, they mean something grand like Petra or the Great Wall of China. But think a little bit smaller & bet you’ll be surprised at the list you can come up with. I had always wanted to go to Chicago, yet didn’t make it there for the first time until 2008 – & then fell in love & almost moved there two years later. So go ahead & visit the place you’ve always wanted to go – even if it’s not very far away.

Travel Experience #11: just wander the streets with no itinerary, no plans – & no map

Way back when, before iPhones & GPS & the 24 hour news cycle, people traveled with paper maps. Or they jotted directions down on the back of an envelope. Or they just winged it. Some of my favorite travel experiences have come from just wandering the streets with no plans & no map.

Travel Experience #12: you really can go home

As a young girl living in Cleveland, I spent every Saturday morning at the West Side Market with my father, an excellent cook, picking up a few items for the week. The sights, sounds & smells are the definition of my childhood. So imagine my delight when B & I went back 2010 on a “Christina goes home tour” & it was exactly the same.

Travel Experience #13: always hit up the farmers market

I love hitting up farmers markets & public markets when we travel. They’re not only a great way to pick up a fresh breakfast, they almost always make for good people watching & are a great place to discover local brands. Try it – it’s always a Saturday morning well spent.

Travel Experience #14: go somewhere you love on a regular basis

Remember when I said in #7 to go somewhere new? Well yes, you should do that, but there’s something magical about returning to a place that makes your heart sing.

Travel Experience #15: sometimes the touristy thing is awesome

There is nothing more touristy in New York City than spending the day at the top of the Empire State Building, touring the Statue of Liberty & hanging out in Times Square. But they’re touristy for a reason: because they’re awesome. Touristy things are popular for a reason. I find that the perfect trip consists of a balance of the touristy things (see our “must do” list above) & enjoying local neighborhoods & attractions.