I've been thinking a lot about upcoming adventures and where I will travel to for the remainder of 2015 and even projecting toward 2016. As always, I have a TON of ideas, but a limited bank of travel available. With having a set amount of PTO (vacation time), I must use it wisely! I recently purchased a new planner than encompasses a portion of 2016 as my mind is wandering to future travels and destinations.
Currently, I have a few weekend destinations that are feasible. I already have monthly trips in mind to my home in New York for weddings and holidays (October, November, December), but of course am thinking even further into the future.
Next year, I hope to hit any of the following states/countries: Texas, Mexico Hawaii, Thailand, Spain, and skiing in the western United States. Each of these areas would afford me different things. Texas is where a group of friends I met in Miami happen to live--a crew of three men who share similar interests in travel and adventure. Mexico may present an opportunity for scuba diving and adventure. Hawaii is my dream location, and I fear that once I arrive I may never return. Thailand would be the perfect combination of adventure, spirituality, culture, wildlife, etc. and I have also dreamed of this location for quite some time (rock climbing will be a MUST). Spain would be amazing for the lifestyle, language, and scenery. Finally, I started skiing when I was three years old, but have never felt the western, powdery snow beneath my skis. As I now live in Florida, if I am going to take a trip to ski, I will certainly make an effort to journey out west (Colorado, Utah, Montana...Canada?).
On a side note, my coworker just returned from Thailand and I cannot WAIT to hear more details. I already purchased a travel book on Hawaii, and have since done the same with Thailand (after research will do the same with Spain) in order to spark more travel ideas. It's always important to learn about the location you wish to visit, and fully understand it before planning a trip. It would be a pity to miss an important piece! Typically, I loan a book from the library when going on vacation, but now I am beginning more advanced research into various locations. I enjoy highlighting, underlining, and writing in my books, so it would be advantageous to purchase books for locations I am more serious about travel to.
Lately, I have been spending almost every evening looking at flights, and have notifications set up on www.kayak.com to alert me when certain deals arise for various locations (i.e. Austin, Tx; various airports in NY; Charlotte, NC in November; etc., etc.). I highly recommend you do this if you have a certain destination in mind. For example, you can set a certain price range (not to exceed $XXX) and will receive notifications for a set date range, flexible date range, or "upcoming weekends." It seems like a great tool, and I've been getting daily notifications for some destinations.
Per my coworker's recommendation, if you're seriously thinking of going to Thailand like I am, you must purchase this book (click for Amazon order site). Even if I don't utilize it in the next year, I know it will come in handy soon!
Dream on, fellow wanderlust hearts. Let me know if you share any thoughts or passions about any aforementioned locations in the comments section!
#ThankfulWednesday? #ThankfulEveryDay
#WanderlustWednesday
ॐ KConn