Amy and the Great World

Travel

2016 Travel Wishlist

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Happy New Year!!!

I hope your 2016 is off to a lovely start. I rang in 2016 with a huge group of friends in a tiny forest service cabin in the Montana wilderness. It was fun, relaxing, blissful and all-around amazing to get back into the wilderness for a bit–even a wilderness where we had champagne, a keg, and fresh Ciabatta bread ;).

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A new year is a great time for taking stock and making goals for the new year, as we all know. I’ve moved away from specific resolutions as I hardly ever keep them and end up feeling guilty, and that’s no fun! However, I always like to make a list of some general goals to work towards in the new year. I’m sure it comes as no surprise to all of you, but I always include some TRAVEL goals and let’s face it, those are some of the most fun ones to make!

2015 was my biggest travel year yet. Although I will be moving to Hungary in just a few weeks, I don’t expect 2016 to be quite as travel-filled, as I will be coming back to the States in May for my sister’s wedding, so a lot of money will be reserved for that. But that doesn’t mean I won’t be taking advantage of my European location!

Hungary

I suppose this one is obvious since I am moving there in just a few weeks!!!! Still, I am looking forward to exploring more of Budapest and the rest of Hungary. Eger and Pecs are at the top of my list! I can’t wait to find more off-the-beaten-track places just like we did in the Czech Republic. Although my first contract is only for six months, I hope to extend so we can really get to know the Hungarians and their culture. I guess this means I should make yet another Bucket List!

Romania

As I will be neighbors with this country, it’s high time to visit the region, Transylvania, that I’ve wanted to visit since reading Dracula a decade ago. Every time I see a picture of this gorgeous area, I immediately want to jump on a plane! It looks so naturally gorgeous, and I love me a cute little village in a spectacular setting.

Slovenia

We were this close to visiting Slovenia last year, but our need to leave the Schengen zone quickly had us going straight to Croatia, rather than going to both Slovenia and Croatia. It’s also a neighbor of Hungary, so it’s time. There is so much to see in this tiny, undiscovered little country–from Lake Bled to Piran on the Mediterranean coast!

Italy

Somehow, I’ve only been to two cities in Italy! I would love to visit Rome and the Amalfi Coast, and Florence and Tuscany. I’m not sure both will be able to happen this year, but I hope to visit one of these regions! E really wants to visit Rome near Easter–it sounds awesome and yet crazy!

Western Canada

I will be coming back to America in both May and July, once for my sister’s wedding and once for the wedding of a dear friend. Along with visiting family, I’d like to visit the western part of Canada. I’ve been to Seattle countless times, but never to Vancouver, which seems like a crime! Also, considering I lived in a state right below some of the most beautiful areas of Canada for a large chunk of my life, it’s a shame I have yet to visit any of this part of the world.

Switzerland/Germany

I’ve been obsessed with the German Christmas markets ever since last year, and if we spend another Christmas in Europe, you bet I will be back! I would also love to re-visit the gorgeous Switzerland–I haven’t been in over a decade, and E has never visited!

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Greece 

If we hadn’t needed to leave Europe for visa reasons, I think we would have been all over Greece as a honeymoon spot (although I can’t say I was disappointed in our choice of Costa Rica and Panama!). I’ve wanted to visit both mainland Greece and the islands for as long as I can remember, I hope this is the year we can make it happen!

What’s on your 2016 travel wish list?

Linking up with Emma, Jessi and Angie! 

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Comments

  1. That’s a great list! And wow… two visits to the U.S. in the spring! Weddings, man! But secretly, I kind of like weddings as a reason to drag myself back 🙂
    So many places to explore in Eastern Europe… I just wish they weren’t so far away! It will be fun having an entirely new region to explore.

    • I know–I have so much I’m dying to explore around here but with two trips back, we’ll see how much we actually get to. I do love going back for weddings–and my sister’s wedding will be especially wonderful, I think!–although I wish they weren’t so close together. Why don’t people do more winter weddings so we have another excuse to go back then? 😉
      There is so much to explore here–but it is kind of big! I mean, just between Romania and Hungary there is much more land than in Western Europe.

    • Thanks!! I loved Italy the two times I went–I still have so much to see there!!–and the Greek isles are such a dream. I hope we both make it to those places soon! 🙂

  4. Your plans sound great! Hope you’ll love it here in Hungary! There are tons of hidden gems to explore in this wonderful country, even in Budapest 🙂 Pécs and Eger are definitely worth seeing, and I’d also recommend Sopron, Tihany, Esztergom, Szentendre, and the Bory Castle is Székesfehérvár 🙂

    • Thanks SO much, Barbara! I’m writing all of these down :). I’ve only heard of Szentendre–I’m so excited to add more places to the list! And I haven’t even dipped a toe in Budapest 🙂

  10. Western Canada is absolutely gorgeous, particularly the Rockies! (Granted as a Calgary native I’m a tiny bit biased!) I’d also love to hit Slovenia – perhaps after Croatia this summer :):)

    • Ooh Slovenia after Croatia is perfect–they are neighbors, after all!! 🙂 As I’m from Montana I’ve heard all about the gorgeous Canadian Rockies so I can’t wait to visit!!

  13. I’d also love to visit Slovenia, I almost went in November but decided to go to Krakow instead and save Slovenia and Lake Bled for spring/summer!

    C x | Lux Life

    • Oh how did you like Krakow?? It’s on my list too…maybe we’ll make it there this year as well. I think Lake Bled is the summer is probably a good choice, although it might have been pretty in the autumn 🙂

  14. Sounds like you have some fun plans! Romania is on my list as well! Maybe look into the events they do around Halloween! I believe they have a big party at Dracula’s castle!

  16. I am all over a German Christmas market this year! Sounds like you have an exciting year ahead – Transylvania would be amazing! Make sure you take a copy of Dracula on the journey with you – and maybe a crucifix too!

    Sophie 🙂

  17. Mainland Greece – I cannot recommend it enough, we stayed in Monemvasia in the Peloponnese (at the Kinsterna hotel) last Autumn – untouched by tourism and just incredible! Go there!

  18. Really great wishlist! I also want to visit Transylvania. I love to go and explore countries in the south-east of Europe. Last year I visited Albania, Bosnia, Serbia, Bulgaria and Georgia. I had really amazing time there and I really wish to go back to the region. Really beautiful nature and breathtaking views! This year I’d like to move a lot and go on trips to many places. I hope that I will manage to do that as I have a lot of work to take care of at my current job – manwithvanknightsbridge Thanks for sharing! I wish you happy traveling! 🙂

    • Wow, you’ve visited so many places. I’m impressed that you have a business and still travel so much!! I’m really interested in Bulgaria and Bosnia as well, but I had to cull down my list a little bit :). Happy travels to you in 2016!! 🙂 thanks for reading!

      • I had a lot of work during the whole year and when the summer came I just needed to go away for a while. That is why I made a trip for nearly a month with a friend. I’ve always had interest in visiting those countries so I just decided to do it. I recommend you to visit Bulgaria and Georgia. If you are interested in history Plovdiv, Bulgaria is a great town. It is the oldest city in Europe that is still a city and in Georgia : Svaneti (the oldest medieval town in Europe that is still preserved). Happy travels to you too!

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