Travel is one of my favorite parts of my job. In 2019 I traveled more than I ever have before, I spent over 135 days away visiting 11 countries, I went all the way around the world. Today let’s take a look at the best places I went in 2019 – these are the travel destinations you shouldn’t miss.
The Best Places I Went in 2019
New Zealand
Did you know that there is an island just a 35 minute ferry ride from Auckland that is known for its beaches and wine? It’s called Waiheke and it is a slice of heaven. While in New Zealand I also did a wine tour where I biked between vineyards, visited Hobbiton, and saw Milford Sound. I just scratched the surface and I hope to spend more time in this magical country in the future.
Peru
I saw two very different sides of Peru when I visited Machu Picchu and then the Amazon rainforest. Peru is a place with delicious food, history, and adventure. I know that Machu Picchu is a popular bucket list travel destination, but once you are there, take advantage of the opportunity to go to the rainforest. It was one of the most remarkable and unique travel experiences of my life.
Portugal
It was my second time in Portugal. My first visit was a solo trip in 2017, but visiting Portugal with Charles and my sister was so much more fun. Our time was most spent eating, drinking wine, and lounging in the sun, but we still made time to visit a castle! We started in Lisbon, drove up to Porto, then went on to Cascais before ending up in Portimão.
Italy
Italy is my happy place. I love everything about it: the food, the art, the culture, the architecture, and the way the late afternoon light is so golden it makes the buildings look like they are glowing. I spent nearly a month in Italy this summer and it was glorious. I feasted on Pecorino Romano in Sardinia, took a cooking class in Tuscany, visited museums in Florence, biked in Chianti, hit the beach in Positano, and visited the town my great-grandmother came from.
Tanzania
I climbed Mount Kilimanjaro and then I went on a safari in the Serengeti. Tanzania is where two of my dreams came true.
Santa Fe
Charles and I went to Santa Fe on a belated trip to celebrate my birthday. We stayed at one of my all-time favorite hotels, went to the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, and we discovered that we love New Mexican cuisine.
Siem Reap
Sure, it was crazy hot in Cambodia, but I loved seeing the sunrise at Angkor Wat and visiting Angkor Thom, Ta Prohm, and Ta Keo. Not only are there remarkable historic sites to explore, downtown Siem Reap is fun! It’s filled with a very diverse selection of restaurants and bars with live music. My daily routine involved a morning of seeing temples, an afternoon at the pool, and an evening downtown. It was a great mix of activities.
Quebec City
Charles and I joined my sister Kelly and her husband in Quebec City to celebrate New Years. Quebec City had been high up on my bucket list for years, and this was my first time visiting Canada. Yes, it was cold, but it was so beautiful. We spent our days dogsledding, snowshoeing, tobogganing, and eating. Plus, we loved the Siberia Station Spa.
Where did you go in 2019? Do you have any recommendations for me? Share them in the comments.