I traveled more than ever in 2016. I hiked up volcanos, climbed glaciers, rappelled through canyons, and went horseback riding through hoodoos. I visited temples in Indonesia and jungles in Costa Rica. But which adventures were my favorite? Today I am sharing the best places I went in 2016!
Iceland. Iceland has become a hot travel destination and it is easy to understand why. The people are welcoming and friendly (remember when they celebrated all night after their team lost in the Euro-Cup just because they were so proud to have made it so far?) and the landscape is filled with lush green land, mountains, volcanoes, geysirs, waterfalls, and pretty much any natural wonder that you can imagine. And just to remind you – you can book a stopover in Iceland on your way to Europe without paying any extra airfare when you fly Icelandair.
Indonesia. Yes, I went to Bali, but I preferred the more exotic and less frequently visited areas of Borobudur (pictured above) and Mount Bromo (pictured at the very top of this post). Indonesia has just the right balance of culture, history, amazing food, and seaside resorts for relaxing – add it to your bucket list if you haven’t been.
Utah. Bryce Canyon was stunning, and the state is packed with National Parks and State Parks for exploring. During my time there I went canyoneering (a mix of rappelling, hiking, and rock climbing), stand up paddle boarding, hiking, and horseback riding.
Nashville. Live music in every bar and the best hot fried chicken I have ever tasted. Nashville was the ultimate destination for a weekend getaway.
Costa Rica. My sister and I still aren’t sure if exploring volcanos and rain forests or if relaxing at the beach was the best part of this adventure. I will admit that staying at a hotel at the bottom of a volcano did make me slightly nervous.
Austin. I discovered a deep love of brisket tacos, and now I miss them everyday.
Finland. The green seaside landscape reminded me of Maine. Finland felt like home and it felt European and new all at the same time. I loved exploring Turku Castle and the food scene was top notch.
San Francisco. The food in San Francisco is exceptional, and I loved exploring the city’s architecture, shops, and farmers markets. The side trips to Alcatraz and Sausalito were a blast too.
I have no idea where 2017 will take me, but I would love your recommendations!