Wow, we’re a week into 2016 already! And while I have yet to have any exciting adventures in exotic locales this year, that should be changing soon. Stay tuned for more details shortly….
In the meantime, I thought I’d share some of my new year’s resolutions. “Travel” is pretty much always at the top of my resolution list, and this year is no exception. But rather than talk about the places I hope to go this year (I’ll get into that in another post soon), I wanted to talk about some of my broader, travel-related goals for 2016. Because much like life, travel is a process, and just as we’re always (hopefully) evolving as people, I believe we can and should evolve as travelers too. So here’s my list….
Melissa’s Travel Resolutions for 2016:
- Stay Longer. In the past, I’ve been a lightning-quick traveler—a day trip here, a long weekend there. I haven’t ever really had the luxury of getting to do a months-long, backpacker style trip, and I’ve often felt overwhelmed by all I want to see in the world and figuring out how I’m going to fit in as much as possible into my travels. This is the year I want to slow down a bit, spend more time in the places I visit, and really get to absorb them. That means longer (and perhaps fewer) trips, but also basing myself in places where I can see a lot without having to go too far. A certain tiny country is calling my name this summer….
- Be More Spontaneous. In the past, I’ve had trips planned out like military operations years before they happened. And that hasn’t really changed; I still know exactly what new cities and countries I want to hit well into 2017. Old habits die hard. However, within that broader plan, I want to leave room for more spontaneous getaways, and give myself the freedom and flexibility to seize travel opportunities that pop up unexpectedly. For example, the other night at dinner a friend casually mentioned she might be traveling to Costa Rica this year, and would I be interested in joining her? Um, absolutely! Was Costa Rica on my list for this year: no. But who could pass up a chance for a spontaneous getaway to a country I’ve longed to see for years? I just need to make sure I save up enough vacation days to make such spontaneity feasible….
- Try new activities. Travel isn’t just an opportunity to see sights and eat way too much local food; it’s also a great chance to try something new that you might not get around to at home. For a while now, I’ve been wanting to learn to scuba dive and ski, and while I don’t know if my travel locales for 2016 will accommodate either of these goals, I do plan to do some more hiking, possibly kayaking, and any other new-to-me activities that strike my fancy while I’m on the road.
- Get Back to Nature. Or in my case, get to nature, period, since I’ve never really spent much time there. I’ve always been a city traveler, hopping from Prague to London to Buenos Aires to Istanbul without bothering to explore the countryside very much. But lately, I’ve been drawn more to settings that let me reconnect with the natural world. I see lots of lakes, mountains, and waterfalls in my future.
- See Friends and Family. When I chatted with my mom the other day about my upcoming travels, she immediately reminded me, “Don’t make any plans for Memorial Day weekend!” And indeed I won’t, because my plan for that weekend is to be with my family in Florida for as long as possible. The older I get, the more valuable family and friend time is to me. I want to not only visit my parents regularly, but also visit (and hopefully do some cool trips with) friends around the country I don’t get to see that often. Seeing new countries and exploring the planet is great, but sometimes, there truly is no place like home (or wherever the people most important to you live).
- Explore More Locally. I’ve lived in Washington DC for well over a decade, and I’ve seen pretty much all the big ticket sights here many times. But I’m embarrassed to admit there are a number of places I should have visited long ago that are still on my list. Library of Congress? Never been. Botanical Gardens? Been meaning to go for ages. Not to mention the endless supply of restaurants, bars, shops and galleries the city offers. In between my journeys around the globe, I’m determined to take advantage of living in one of the coolest cities in America (for this politics and history nerd, anyway) and enjoy my time at home to the fullest. No more excuses!
Do you have any travel resolutions or goals for 2016?