My Current Travel Bucket List

If you ask me where I am going next, odds are I’ll tell you wherever it was cheapest to go next. The places on my travel bucket list differ greatly from the places I am actually going to, but that doesn’t mean the bucket list doesn’t exist. I have big dreams of taking long trips in places all over the world – some more attainable than others. Today I wanted to share the places at the top of my list!

I did my best to put these in order, but we all know I could never actually pick. 😉

Patagonia: Argentina + Chile

Coming in at number one is hiking Patagonia in Chile and Argentina. I’ve always preferred mountain vacations, but I was sold on the Andes when I went to Peru a few years back. Gazing at the jagged mountains while sitting on Machu Picchu convinced me that South America is a continent worth exploring.

I also never turn down the option to visit a Spanish speaking country. I am totally not fluent (like at all), but I love the challenge of trying to reach back into my high school file and attempting to have a conversation with a local (or at least order an empanada without stuttering).

Things I want to see there: Whew! This list is long y’all. My main focus when I visit Patagonia will be seeing as much of the mountains as possible. This includes: El Chaltén + Mount Fitz Roy, Torres Del Paine, and Bariloche. If I could make Iguazu Falls work, I wouldn’t be upset about it. I am sure the more I research, the more I will find, but for now those are the musts!

Thankfully, this trip is actually in the works right now. My friend and I are planning on spending an entire month exploring this region in 2020. If you have experience in Argentina or Chile, please let me know in the comments!

Austria + Slovenia + Croatia

This region y’all – so incredibly beautiful… or so I’ve heard. A few years ago, one of my good friends visited Slovenia and as he was posting photos on Instagram, I was getting more and more into the idea of going. Then AirBNB did an Austria feature on their Instagram and I was SOLD.

The mountains in each country combined with the charming, yet unique cities seems like a vacation I would be obsessed with.

Things I want to see there: This list feels like it’s a mile long as well. In Austria I would love to explore Vienna, especially during Christmas time. In Slovenia, Lake Bled and Triglav National Park are at the top of my list. And for Croatia, I would love to explore Dubrovnik and see Plitvice National Park.

Great Smoky Mountains

Why I haven’t just taken off towards Gatlinburg one weekend is beyond me, friends, but it’s bound to happen soon! Just an 8 hour drive from St. Louis, the mountains of Tennessee are way too close to not make the list. Not to mention that they are insanely beautiful.

I’m thinking this trip will need to happen in the fall — nothing is better than a hillside covered in colorful trees. Thankfully, this October is looking pretty open. 😉

Things I want to see there: The mountains of course, but I would also love to explore Gatlinburg, TN and Asheville, SC.

Turkey

A few years ago my mom and I visited Europe. On our flight home from Venice, we ended up with a 6 hour layover in Istanbul. If you’ve been to the Istanbul airport, you know that security is no joke there. So while 6 hours is a long time, it would’ve been pushing it to try and explore the city. As we were taking, after looking out the airport windows for 6 hours, I decided that this city was on my bucket list.

The architecture of Istanbul is unique and the city is flooding with culture. When you look up this city on Pinterest, you are met with a page full of color. From the Grand Bazar to the Blue Mosque, Istanbul’s palette is diverse. From what I’ve read the food scene is also unbeatable, and we all know I am not going to complain about that.

Things I want to see there: Obviously an Istabul trip wouldn’t be complete without seeing one of the many mosques, so those are a must for me. Trying some Turkish coffee and Baklava definitely makes the list. And I would love to get lost at a Turkish Bazar.

Yellowstone National Park

If you didn’t know, I have 3 older sisters. When the older two were kiddos, my dad took them to Yellowstone all the time. Okay, okay. I’m sure they didn’t actually go all the time, but maybe I’m just bitter that Ashley and I never went. 😉 Needless to say, the family talking about how amazing Yellowstone is has definitely made me want to go see it for myself.

According to my dad, the amount of wildlife in Yellowstone is insane and the springs and mountains are to die for. (Though he would never admit that it has prettier springs than good ole Missouri. ;))

Things I want to see there: All the classics y’all. A herd of bison, Old Faithful, mountains, waterfalls, hot springs. I want to see it all.

South Africa

Cape Town, specifically. In all honesty, I follow a Youtuber who goes to Cape Town every year and he makes it look really cool. So that’s how Cape Town made the bucket list. Also, I found a really cute AirBNB there once in a random search, which never hurts the cause.

If you look up photos of Cape Town, you’ll see this is one of the few cities in the world that has both mountains and beaches. And both are insanely beautiful. On the city side of things, Cape Town has amazing food and wine, that is supposedly super reasonable.

Things I want to see there: Obviously, the mountains. Are you seeing the trend yet?? But specifically, I would love to see Table mountain and the Cape of Good Hope. For the beach side of things, I would love to snorkel and try to surf.

Northwest Arkansas

This past March, my friend and I took a quick trip to Fayetteville, Arkansas and I don’t know if I’ve ever felt the desire to go back to a place as strongly as here. Y’all. This place was just insane and I know there is so much more to discover.

From beautiful overlooks, to caves, to some of the biggest springs in the country: Arkansas is a nature lover’s dream. No wonder why they call it the Natural State!

Things I want to see there: I would love to see the elk and the Buffalo River in Ponca. Also in Ponca is Hemmed-In Hollow falls: the tallest waterfall between the Rockies and the Appalachians.

Lifetime Goal: Antarctica

This post wouldn’t be complete without sharing my all time travel goal. I don’t remember when I discovered that you could ski in Antarctica, but as soon as I knew, I was sold. This one feels far away, because your girl isn’t dropping $10k on a trip anytime soon. Maybe one day… or maybe I’ll find a cheaper way to do it. 😉

Thanks for reading friends! 🙂 I’d love to know what’s on your bucket list, let me know in the comments!

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