Another dream - spending the night under the stars (hopefully w/ someone I love but unfortunately that's beyond the scope of time, money, & energy) on the Mediterranean or Caribbean. aaah!

New York City - ✅

6/30/2009

Since I have never been here, I have no idea how to even begin to describe all I would want to do here.
Perhaps catch a broadway show
Definitely go shopping, including just window shopping
Eat fabulous food
Soak up the energy and excitement
Statue of Liberty
Central Park
Visit the Daily Show
Times Square
Wander
Rockefeller Center
and oh so much more!

1/4/2024:

I've been there! Many times!

Broadway Shows I've attended: Billy Elliott, Wicked, Cinderella, The King and I

I've made it to Bloomingdales, the 5th Avenue Apple Store, Columbus Circle, etc plus I've now been there twice to look at the Christmas Windows!

I've eaten fabulous food (Lady M cakes!)

I still haven't made it to the Statue of Liberty but I did visit Central Park, attended a taping of the Daily Show, have been to Times Square enough to be totally over it, and I've been to both the Top of the Rock and the top of the Empire State Building.

Other highlights I didn't know about back then:

Natural History Museum

Bryant Park, Library

Walking across the bridge to Brooklyn

Greenwich Village

Bloomingdales on 53rd

Dylan's Candy Store

Grand Central Terminal shops and restaurants

Watching Fourth of July Fireworks over the Hudson River with Manhattan in the skyline

Maine

I want to go to Maine.  Or at least a good part of the upper East Coast.  It doesn't have to be just Maine, although I think it would be really fun to go to the flagship L.L. Bean store.  I don't really have the coastal style thing going for me, meaning I can't picture myself wearing polo shirts and boat shoes, but... it would still be fun to go shop there and see all the clothes and bags in person that I've seen in countless catalogs.  A friend spent two years there going to nurse anesthetist school so she was giving me the scoop.  

So - another addition to my list!

Thanks to Kateen for putting this thought in my head!  I'm more a Hawaii/sunshine/warmth type of gal, but this does sound intriguing:

Quebec has a winter carnival from Jan-Feb and they have a hotel made of ice (and it's closer than flying to Sweden to see theirs), plus snow sculptures and sledding down hills in inflatable rafts, etc.  Sounds cold but kind of fun!

Next trip - Washington DC? ✅

11/12/2008

Velva and I are talking about going to Washington DC for our next trip! I've never been there before and am on a museum kick so I would LOVE go to the Smithsonian buildings. I just recently learned that they are conveniently located along that National Mall thing with those monuments so how great is that? Velva's thinking we should go sometime in May. There's a Worldmark timeshare place just across the border into Virginia so that's apparently nice and close. I don't have any specific plans so I don't have any specific grand plans to share just yet. Check back later for those. Feel free to give suggestions!

1/5/2024 update: Not only did I visit there, I moved here five years after this post and have been here for ten years now!

Travel Wishes - Asia ✅

✅

11/9/2018
I had this goal of going to 6 continents before settling down (I'm skipping Antarctica), and so far I'm doing good: Africa, Europe, N. America, S. America down; Asia & Australia to go...

Asia:

I have visions of going to one of those spas you see pictured in Bali, or maybe it's Thailand ... I would love to have the Eastern/Asian serenity experience 

1/5/2024 update: I made it to Bali and had the full serenity experience! I have been to spas in Sanur and Ubud, plus have visited the Water Palace, the famous temple Lempuyang, and have been on the island of Bangka scuba diving for a week. I also did a live aboard in Raja Amat (scuba diving).✅

Dubai - I would love to spend even just one night in Burj al Arab, luxury hotel, and go to the water park there and maybe go dune buggy driving and all those things.  

I did a Dubai stopover on the way home from my first trip to Indonesia, coming home from Bali. While I didn't sleep in the Burj al Arab, I had afternoon tea there with gorgeous view of the coastline! I went to a mall and went up the Burj Khalifa. I also went to the Gold Souk. All in all, very satisfying! ✅

Thailand- I'd like to go to their fabric stores because I love their bright beautiful clothes.  And I like our version of Thai food so I think I might like the food there too.

Maldives - aaah -- I'd love to go there and spend some time paddling around in the water there and sleeping in an overwater bungalo (luxury, hopefully).  The only hangup is that I don't like seafood so I'm not sure what I'd eat.  The pictures of that place just look aaa - divine.

1/5/2024 update: I made it there too! Thanks to a very generous friend who backed out of her trip, I was able to take her place and stay at a lovely resort for 2-3 days before heading off on another live aboard. I did just find with the eating! ✅

Hong Kong- I want to go there and shop their knockoff section and get whatever else appeals to me.  That would be fun. :-)

Yep - made it there in 2016! I didn't find the knockoff section but I *did* find the stores with loads of pens! ✅

Unexpected delights: Singapore x 2 now. First time was en route to Raja Ampat. Their airport is incredible! I enjoyed the Botanical Gardens, Orchard section, Gardens by the Bay and their super trees, 13 miles of walking around, a quick sweaty run, and ate at a Mr. Bean restaurant!

Second trip in 2022, I was on the way to Bali and was able to attend a practice session of Formula 1, Marina Bay Circuit!

Intro

I hate to call this my Bucket List ... it's just my list of things I've given thought to and want to do or experience someday. Sooner better than later. :-)  It's more for me than for you but I'm always interested in tips and wisdom from others and maybe it'll inspire you to make your own personal list and start crossing things off.