Prefer it or not, it is that point of 12 months once more: time to look again on the 12 months and write my annual 12 months in assessment publish!
This publish is all the time enjoyable to place collectively, because it permits me to have a look again and bear in mind all of the superior adventures I’ve had within the final 12 months. It is all the time a humbling activity, too, as I am reminded simply how fortunate I’m to nonetheless be doing what I like as my job, particularly after the final couple of years.
My 2023 travels took me all around the world; I visited 15 nations on 4 continents, and 9 completely different US states/territories. I traveled by airplane, practice, automobile, ship, and even camel, and re-visited a whole lot of locations I like with mates. I did extra highway journeys this 12 months than every other (throughout 8 completely different nations!), and spent nearly as a lot time on the highway as I did in 2019 (which was my most-traveled 12 months ever).
2023 journey by the numbers
Here is my 12 months in journey by the numbers:
- International locations visited: 15 – USA, Spain, Morocco, Portugal, Czech Republic, Norway, Finland, Estonia, Slovenia, England, Scotland, Wales, Ecuador, Germany, France
- US states visited: 9 – Washington state, Oregon, Arizona, New York, Washington DC, North Carolina, Michigan, Massachusetts – and in addition the territory of Puerto Rico
- Whole flight legs: 39
- Days on the highway: 150 (roughly 41% of the 12 months)
Some notable issues that occurred this 12 months embody:
- I visited two new nations! – I actually get pleasure from re-visiting locations that I like to discover them extra in-depth, so I truly have not visited any new nations up to now couple of years. This 12 months, although, I visited each Finland and Estonia for the primary time!
- I gained one other award – On the SATW conference in Puerto Rico, I realized that I gained a Gold Lowell Thomas Journalism Award within the “Instagram Storytelling” class for my posts about Northern Eire final 12 months. It is all the time encouraging to have your work acknowledged in such an expert method.
- I turned an auntie once more! – My second nephew was born in January 2023.
My high 10 journey highlights from 2023
That is all the time powerful to slender down and sum up in only a paragraph or two, and to be truthful I am stretching it on a few these with the intention to match extra in… however I did it!
Listed here are my most memorable journey highlights from the final 12 months:
10. Low season within the Algarve
Identical to I did again in 2019, I made a decision to go to Portugal after a visit to Morocco. However this time I went to part of Portugal I skipped on my first journey: the Algarve area alongside Portugal’s southern coast. I went to the city of Lagos particularly, which is understood for its beautiful cliffs and shoreline.
I beloved exploring this a part of Portugal solo within the low season – and it was much more lovely than I anticipated it to be! Undoubtedly might be again.
>> Learn extra: How to Spend a Fantastic 3 Days in Lagos, Portugal (Without a Car)
9. Visiting new European capitals
In all, I spent roughly 3 months in Europe this 12 months, together with one huge 2-month-long journey over the summer season. I went to 10 (I believe?) completely different nations, and visited some new-to-me cities! Among the most memorable new cities have been 3 capitals I visited: Madrid, Spain; Helsinki, Finland; and Tallinn, Estonia. I can not consider it is taken me this lengthy to go to all of them, to be trustworthy!
I completely beloved my quick break in Madrid, and mainly simply spent my time there consuming as a lot as attainable. I fell in love with Helsinki and its inexperienced areas and laid-back vibe in early summer season, and am comfortable that I spent a number of days in Tallinn quite than simply taking a day journey there.
I get pleasure from visiting lesser-visited locations, too, however the fashionable cities are often fashionable for a cause.
>> Learn extra: 14 Essential Things to Do in Helsinki, Finland on Your First Visit
8. Re-exploring Prague
Talking of European capital cities… one which I re-visited in 2023 was Prague. I used to be first there again in 2013 whereas backpacking round Europe, and I solely *appreciated* Prague then; I did not find it irresistible. However my second journey there was rather more pleasing!
I visited Prague with Elliot, which all the time makes a visit extra enjoyable. We went to a good friend’s wedding ceremony (additionally all the time enjoyable!), and allowed a number of days beforehand to do all of the touristy issues within the metropolis. The climate was nice, the structure is simply as fairly as I bear in mind, and we even went to a beer spa!
I am nonetheless no Prague skilled, however I can definitely affirm that it is a European metropolis properly price visiting.
>> Learn extra: Going to a Beer Spa in Prague: What It’s Really Like
7. Scotland and Wales highway journey
That is form of a giant one to lump all collectively as a result of it was a fairly lengthy journey by three completely different nations, however I did it multi function go together with my two blogger mates Keryn (from Twist Travel Mag) and Tamara (from Your Time to Fly). We began with a highway journey round Scotland to see all of the well-known websites (Edinburgh, Inverness/the Highlands, and Isle of Skye), after which drove by England to spend per week driving round Wales.
I have been to Scotland many instances, however it was nonetheless nice to see some new spots and re-visit previous favorites. And most locations we went in Wales have been new to me! My favourite stops there have been St. David’s alongside the Pembrokeshire Coast, Tenby, and Hay-on-Wye (a well-known e book city!).
I nonetheless have not written a lot about this journey but, however I promise the content material is coming in case you wish to copy any a part of it.
>> Learn extra: 25+ Awesome Things to Do in Edinburgh, Scotland
6. Highway tripping the Lofoten Islands
One other European highway journey I did was in Norway with Elliot after our time spent in Prague. We flew to the north of Norway to discover the Lofoten Islands, that are well-known for fishing villages and severely epic views.
The climate was fairly abysmal throughout this journey (it rained each day and SNOWED on June 1st), however I nonetheless actually loved visiting this small nook of the world. As a result of the Lofoten Islands aren’t big and we spent an entire 5 days there, it meant we might take issues sluggish and luxuriate in ourselves and not using a set itinerary (which Elliot all the time loves!).
The landscapes have been all the things I had hoped for, and I’ve fond reminiscences of cozy fishing cabins regardless of the rain.
>> Learn extra: 15 Things to Know Before Visiting the Lofoten Islands in Norway and 12 Awesome Things to Do in the Lofoten Islands in Norway
5. Ringing within the New 12 months within the PNW
I started 2023 in a cute motel room within the city of Forks, Washington. My good friend Shawna and I’ve traveled over New 12 months’s a number of instances now, and final 12 months we selected the Pacific Northwest for our journey!
We highway tripped from Seattle across the Olympic Peninsula and into northern Oregon, spending New 12 months’s Day strolling the magical trails of the Hoh Rainforest in Olympic Nationwide Park. It was a enjoyable, relaxed journey, and I am so excited I lastly received to go to this little nook of Washington state particularly.
>> Learn extra: Olympic National Park in Winter: Things to Do + Helpful Tips for Visiting
4. Re-visiting Morocco
I first went to Morocco in 2019, and completely beloved my time within the nation. A lot in order that I deliberate to take a tour with my readers again to Morocco in March of 2020 – which in fact received canceled. My good friend Ashley was speculated to be on that 2020 journey, and when she determined to lastly re-book it in 2023, I supplied to go along with her. It ended up being the BEST choice.
Ashley and I’ve been running a blog mates for years, and we even traveled collectively as soon as earlier than. However not like this. In Morocco, we shared all the things from a resort room to meals to infinite inside jokes. I’ve by no means laughed till I cried so steadily, and I believe possibly we turned greatest mates on this journey?
To not point out that Morocco was simply as gorgeous and engaging and scrumptious the second time round.
>> Learn extra: 10 Things to Know Before Visiting Chefchaouen, Morocco and What to Wear in Morocco: A Complete Morocco Packing List for Women
3. Christmas market highway journey
This journey is the freshest in my thoughts since I solely received residence two weeks in the past, however it completely deserves this spot on the listing! I met up with my good friend Tamara once more (I additionally traveled along with her within the UK this 12 months), and we spent 10 days highway tripping round Germany (and a little bit of France) particularly to go to Christmas markets.
I might been to European Christmas markets earlier than (on a river cruise), however I am undecided I might ever get uninterested in them; they have been simply as magical as I remembered. We visited greater than a dozen cities with Christmas markets, and I most likely drank my weight in mulled wine.
A few of my favourite markets have been those in Munich, Trier, Ravenna Gorge, Ludwigsburg, and Stuttgart (all in Germany). And the Christmas decor in French cities like Strasbourg and Colmar is actually subsequent stage.
>> Learn extra: 5 Things You Must Do at a German Christmas Market
2. Highway tripping round Slovenia
After our epic journey to Morocco, Ashley and I made a decision we have to plan one other journey collectively ASAP. We settled on a June highway journey round Slovenia, a rustic I might been to solely briefly 10 years earlier than, and a spot Ashley actually wished to go to.
True to kind for us, the journey was stuffed with tons of laughter, unbelievable surroundings, and one or two misadventures. We drove throughout Slovenia on this journey, visiting Ljubljana, Lake Bled, Triglav Nationwide Park, Piran, the karst area, Maribor, and extra. We went on hikes, ate cream cake, slept inside a beehive, and marveled at surroundings round each nook.
Slovenia is severely one of the vital lovely locations on the earth.
>> Learn extra: 12 Fantastic Things to Do in Ljubljana, Slovenia (& Why You’ll LOVE This City!)
1. Cruising the Galapagos Islands
Whereas I had so many actually unbelievable adventures this 12 months, selecting my #1 on this listing was truly straightforward: it needed to be the cruise I took with my dad to the Galapagos Islands. Going to the Galapagos has been on my bucket listing for years, and I am so glad my dad wished to go together with me – it was enjoyable to share this once-in-a-lifetime journey with him.
This cruise was all the things I dreamed of and extra. We noticed large tortoises up shut, swam with sea lions, hiked in some insane landscapes, and even noticed penguins!! (Who knew there have been penguins on the equator?)
The Galapagos Islands are an absolute must-visit for any wildlife lover.
>> Learn extra: 11 Things to Know Before Going on a Galapagos Cruise and Pros and Cons of a Galapagos Small Ship Cruise
This is not all the things, both! There was additionally a romantic weekend in Scottsdale, Arizona with Elliot; a pair visits to Washington, DC; a solo journey to the Brunswick Islands in North Carolina; exploring Ludington, Michigan in the summertime; and a visit to Puerto Rico for a pair days with Elliot.
All in all, an unbelievable 12 months of journey!
My “bests” of the 12 months
Listed here are a number of random “bests” of 2023 that I assumed can be enjoyable to share.
Finest new vacation spot: In all probability needs to be the Galapagos Islands! Although the Lofoten Islands, Olympic Peninsula, and Helsinki are all locations I beloved, too.
Finest place I stayed: Once more, that is powerful. However I believe the posh camp we stayed at within the Sahara Desert in Morocco has to win for sheer uniqueness (we even arrived by camel!). I additionally beloved the historic fisherman’s cabin Elliot and I stayed in at Nusfjord Arctic Resort in Norway, and trying out the newly-opened Bracken Cover on the Isle of Skye in Scotland.
Neatest thing I ate: I am undecided I am correctly remembering each single factor I ate this previous 12 months, however my most up-to-date journey to Christmas markets in Germany definitely involves thoughts. The Flammlachs (flamed salmon) sandwich I had in Munich was positively a favourite, as was a very crispy Käsewurst (tacky sausage) in Freiburg.
Finest historic web site: I visited loads of historic websites this 12 months, however maybe essentially the most spectacular new-to-me one was St. David’s Cathedral in Wales, which dates again to the 1180s. It was declared an official pilgrimage web site by the Pope, with two pilgrimages to St. David’s equalling one to Rome. The Cathedral is gorgeous, and even has some medieval tile preserved inside.
Finest tour I took: The “Ultimate Spanish Food Tour” I took with Walks/Devour Excursions in Madrid nonetheless makes my mouth water to consider. It is positively probably the greatest meals excursions I’ve ever taken, each by way of content material/context and the quantity of meals included.
Finest wildlife encounter: Swimming with penguins within the Galapagos! I did not even anticipate to see penguins there, not to mention anticipate that I might be swimming shut sufficient to achieve out and hug them (which in fact I didn’t do!).
Finest picture I took: I am most likely forgetting a number of photographs right here or there, however these are two I am positively happy with: one from a misty Cape Flattery in Washington State, and one other of a blue footed booby chook diving to catch fish within the Galapagos.
I hope you additionally had a memorable 2023, and this is to a fair higher 2024! I’ve loads already within the works, together with visiting Peru, taking my mother on a river cruise, seeing Taylor Swift in Sweden, and rather more! I can not even think about what subsequent 12 months’s wrap-up will appear to be.
How was your 2023? What was your high journey spotlight?
