As we are in the midst of some unprecedented times, prohibited from traveling and living our normal lives, so many of us have had to make sacrifices and miss out on important milestones. I truly feel for those who have had weddings, pregnancies, family trips or special moments altered or canceled due to this pandemic.

It is really a stressful and uncertain time, but it is important to be hopeful for the future. Eventually, our lives will return to some kind of normalcy. We will once again gather with our friends and family and not have to fear for anyone’s safety. We will go shopping, eat at restaurants and we will most definitely be traveling again!

It feels like a good Sunday afternoon to share my top five aspiring travel destinations for the days when we are finally able to explore the world again. I’ve had lots of time to dream all about my future adventures. I hope this post can be both informative and also an enjoyable escape.

5. Australia

I’ve always been fascinated by Australia. I’ve never traveled to the Southern Hemisphere before, so it would be really interesting to experience opposite seasons and finally be able to see for myself if the old toilet-flush-direction thing is really true.

I would definitely have to go on some kind of safari tour to see all of the different wildlife that lives in Australia. Kangaroos and Koalas are such interesting animals and it would be a dream come true to see them in person some day. Of course, I’d also have to check out the beaches and do some scuba diving.

I think this experience would have to take place over several weeks because there are so many different places to go and see on the entire continent. I’d have to hit up the major cities to experience what they have to offer, then head out into the wild. I’d also have to take a trip out to the Great Barrier Reef. I don’t anticipate myself going to Australia anytime in the very near future, but it is definitely on my short list.

4. Puerto Rico

My desire to travel to Puerto Rico came about pretty recently while having a conversation with another American girl in Madrid. We began discussing things we knew about it the affordability of taking a vacation there from the United States and eventually, I was fully onboard with the idea. I went home that day and told Jacob all about my new plan. Luckily, he is now just as much of a travel addict as I am. We decided that one of our first trips after returning to the United States would be to Puerto Rico.

After seeing photos of the beautiful beaches and the streets full of rich culture, my feelings were confirmed. I can definitely see myself lounging in the sand all day, walking through the water and soaking up some sun.

Some of my favorite things to do while traveling are food tours and history tours. Since I don’t know too much about Puerto Rico’s history or food, adding these activities would be an absolute must. I think some water sports, like snorkeling or kayaking would also be on the itinerary. I haven’t taken too many beach vacations in my life, which would make this one even more enjoyable.

3. Cairo, Egypt

Jacob and I have been talking about going to Egypt for about a year now. One day last summer, while listening to a podcast, Jacob learned some interesting things about the Egyptian pyramids. He became extremely interested and researched more about them.

Of course, he told me all about his findings. He said that some experts are completely stunned at how a society at the time the pyramids were built could have been advanced enough to build such marvelous structures. Most architects and engineers can’t seem to figure out how they could have had the technology needed, hinting that the ancient Egyptians were probably more advanced than we think.

After he told me all this, he said he really wanted to see the pyramids some day. We planned to go at some point while in Spain, but unfortunately, we probably won’t be able to now. We will just have to plan another time in the future to take this trip.

2. Budapest, Hungary

Budapest is an all-time bucket list destination for me. Not only is it a beautiful city, but it also has some personal significance. My grandmother’s family came to America from Hungary when she was young. We still have many Hungarian family traditions that are dear to me.

It would be amazing to travel to the place where my ancestors came from and experience the culture that they brought with them. I would definitely have to go to a spa and see the famous parliament building. Budapest is known for its amazing architecture and being a very photogenic city. In addition, it would be so fun for me to try all of the food there and see how it compares to some of the Hungarian dishes my grandmother makes.

Seeing the beautiful sights and experiencing the culture that’s close to my heart would make a trip to Budapest unforgettable. I hope I get to make this wish a reality very soon.

1. Italy and Greece

I think it’s pretty obvious why these two places are on the list. I mean, who wouldn’t want to go to Italy and Greece?

The reason this is my number one destination is because we actually had this complete, week long, trip planned for Easter break that we had to cancel due to the pandemic. This is the first trip that we plan to take post-COVID restrictions.

Our intent was to fly to Venice from Madrid and spend a few days floating down the canals and wandering through the tiny streets. Next, we would take a train to Rome. I was actually very excited for that train voyage as I’m sure the views of Italy’s countryside would have been absolutely stunning. I’ve been to Rome once before, but I could never say no to going back. Plus, it’s a place that Jacob needs to experience too.

After spending a few days in Rome, we were going to fly to Athens. There, we planned to take in the sights before hopping on a ferry to the island of Santorini. I’ve been dreaming of going to Santorini for years. I’ve never experience anything like Greek Islands in my life and my excitement to finally have that opportunity was through the roof.

As you can imagine, I was very disappointed when I realized we would have to cancel this trip. It’s low times like that when it’s important to put things in perspective and be thankful for what you do have. Everyone in my family is healthy and safe, which is not true for everyone right now, so I’m grateful.

Keep On Dreaming

It’s funny to think about how we sometimes become interested in traveling to certain places. Usually it’s sparked by a mention in a conversation or by something we’ve read or heard. Then after doing some research, we tend to fall in love and decide to add it to the list. That’s such a wonderful part of travel. There are always going to be more amazing places to see and adventures to take and sometimes, it just takes one small act to start it all.

I hope this list helped inspire some people to start planning their next trip. It’s easy when our lives are busy to put things on the back burner and neglect them. Now that we have a little extra time, it’s perfect for researching and planning for our future travels.

Let me know what you thought of my list! What would you add to make your perfect travel bucket list? Comment below!

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