Livinglovingandexploring!

I’m sure I’m not alone when I say this, but I can’t wait to get out of dodge! This whole pandemic has just shut so many things down, including the ability to travel. I’m certainly not the only one who has noticed that!  

Today, I’m dreaming up ten vacations that I would love to leave for, like yesterday! Let me know which ones you want to tag along with me on, and maybe we can meet up in the faraway future!

1 – Iceland! As you may (or may not have) seen, I just finished reading an adorable kids series about Puffins in Iceland, and now it’s at the top of my list! If I were to go, here are a few things we’d do for sure!

• See the Northern Lights! From what I can see, there are a few places that are most likely to occur: Jokulsarlon Glacial Lagoon; the Blue Lagoon; Landmannarlaugar; Vik; Myvatn; or Snaefellsnes Peninsula.
• Hike around the Hornstandir Nature Reserve! No shops or services, just uninterrupted wildlife, complete with every hiker’s dream of seeing the Hornbjarg cliff (I’m NOT a hiker btw, but I enjoy nature – so that might hurt me LOL).
• Staying in Husavik – apparently, one of the smaller towns that’s quickly becoming known for whale-watching! Sign me up!
• Thingvellir National Park. For anyone who doesn’t know me, I LOVE national parks! I can’t wait to bring my boys to them ALL!
• The Golden Circle route. Think waterfalls, Hotsprings (the word geyser came from Iceland), and the ancient town of Þingvellir, where Iceland was founded in 930.

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2 – New York! I can’t have a list of places I want to go without including New York, as I have YET to be there!  

• The Museum of Jewish Heritage. I’m nowhere near an expert on WWII history; however, I’ve read a lot about the Holocaust. Being able to see something like this in person would be an unforgettable experience.  
• National 9/11 Museum. I can’t go to New York without paying my respects to everyone that was affected on September 11th, 2001. I have a very dear friend who lived there when this happened. Listening to his stories is just devastating.
• Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. The USA has a fascinating history, with millions of people coming here to begin a new life in the land of opportunity! I think seeing this place would bring those stories to life in more ways than one!
• Niagara Falls. I love waterfalls, and this is THE waterfall to see, as far as I know, anywho!
• The Vanderbilt Mansion. I can’t fathom the money that this family has had for however long. I’m reasonably sure that rich people can’t comprehend the money these folks have. Seeing their mansion would be impressive!

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3 – Australia! I’ve been dreaming of going to Australia ever since I first watched Steve Irwin on Animal Planet when I was a kid! (May he rest in peace!) Also, quite the opposite of Iceland – HELLOOOOO sunshine! Here are my top 5 things I’d HAVE to try to squeeze in!

• The Great Barrier Reef – I feel as if there’s not much to explain here. Natural beauty, breathtaking photo opportunities, and wildlife galore!
• Sydney – I can’t go to Australia without seeing the Sydney Opera House! Plus, I’d love to know where all of the people ventured about when the Olympics went on in 2000!  
• Kakadu National Park! Do you see a trend here yet? Kakadu is one of Australia’s best known national parks and attracts tons of visitors each year! There are over 5,000 ancient rock art sites and a vast cultural center where you can learn about the aboriginal people that still inhabit the area and rock art!
• Tasmania – I don’t know about you but, until I started digging around with the thought of actually going to Australia, I was not aware that Tasmania was an island incorporated in Australia!
• The Australia Zoo! Again, thanks to Steve Irwin, this particular zoo is at the top of my bucket list of zoos! The zoo is situated about an hour away from Brisbane! I can only imagine the animals they’d have for me to see and admire!

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4 – Maine! I have this dream of visiting every state within the USA. I’ve had this dream for a long time, and I’m still not quite there yet. The majority of the states I have yet to see are up in the NW. So, here I come to Maine! The top 5 things I’d have to do:

• Visit Acadia National Park. From what I’ve read and heard about this park, it’s stunning! Plus, another National Park to check off my list!
• Stephen King’s HOME! I mean, by now, you all know I’m a reader! So this is a MUST!
• Ogunquit Beach. This beach is one of the top twenty-five BEST beaches in the USA!
• The Desert of Maine. This is an odd one. I expect to hear the word desert when someone mentions Arizona or California, but not Maine. They refer to a 40-acre space with forest and sand-dunes as the Desert in the town of Freeport! It’s just odd enough that I’d have to see it!
• The Portland Head Lighthouse. The oldest of the lighthouses in Maine, it was built in the 1700s! Since meeting my mother-in-law, I’ve come to be fascinated with lighthouses!

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5 – Louisiana! I’ve wanted to go to Louisiana and see New Orleans for quite some time! A good friend of mine got to go a few years ago, and I’ve been jonesing to go since!

• The French Quarter. Preferably during Mardi Gras, as their Mardi Gras is the only one said to be better than the one I can go to each year if I wish. Plus, this puts me right smack dab in NOLA! The things I could see and do here are numerous! 
• Cane River Creole National Historical Park. Tyler (my hubby) wants to see some plantation homes, and Cane River Creole has two of the biggest cotton plantations around! The history here would be unforgettable!
• The bayou. I’m not even really sure how to go about seeing “the bayou” as it’s just gigantic. I think to go on a boat ride through it, or something along those lines would be super exciting!
• Longfellow-Evangeline State Historic Site. A very well known poet – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow – wrote a poem in 1847 titled Evangeline. This site explores the immense diversity seen throughout the area for years.
• Bonnie & Clyde Ambush Museum! We’ve watched numerous shows regarding the real-life couple and visited the car they perished in when we were in Primm, Nevada!

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6 – Ireland! Tyler and I were fortunate to have finally gotten to take a once in a lifetime trip to Ireland in March of 2019. It was unforgettable. It was also a delayed honeymoon, marking five years. It’s only natural that I’d want to go again and see even more of this stunning place!

• Connemara National Park. Another National Park, this one is said to be one of the most beautiful on the island!
• St. Stephen’s Green. A vast public park smack dab in Dublin. I think it would be neat to explore there and then do some shopping along Grafton street!
• Blasket Islands. No longer inhabited, but a one of a kind place to see. You can rent a cabin/home to stay in with only the necessities to get you through! Nothing but nature and ocean surrounding you!
• St. James Gate & the Bushmills Distillery. Tyler is a big fan of both of these “bad boys” and would love to take the tours and do the taste testing. I’ll probably more so be taking photographs, but I have to do some things he wants LOL!
• Sean’s Bar – if we’re going back, then we have to see the oldest pub in Ireland. Well, really in all of Europe!

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7 – China! When Disney’s Mulan came out in 1998, I couldn’t get enough! I still can’t now, and love to watch the classic with my boys! In reality, I’d love to go and visit the country behind the legend!

• The Great Wall. I feel that this doesn’t need more justification; however, when I think of China, I think the Great Wall and then immediately think of Mulan!
• Jiuzhaigou National Park. I had no idea that China had so many national parks, but to read up on this one, it sounds impressive!
• Mount Everest. When I told Tyler I wanted to see Mount Everest, he immediately informed me that “We’re not going to the top.” Well, LOL, that is the truth! I just want to take pictures and gaze upon its’ stunning beauty!
• The Forbidden City. Kingdoms, emperors, incredible treasure. All things that make me think and stare in awe and wonder! We don’t have kings and palaces here! Which only whets my appetite to see them even more!
• Visit Tibetan Monks. This is one that Tyler wants to do – upon a bit of research, it can be quite hard to visit the monks in the TAR region of China as it’s heavily guarded. But you can still go to other monasteries within China, and you might come across them!

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8 – Oregon! I’ve been fortunate enough to have been here already – Crater Lake is astounding, by the way! But, my number one reason is a girlfriend of mine who lives there now, and if I’m going anywhere in the states that I’ve already been, it’s here.

• Visit my friend and her family! She moved there a handful of years ago, and now it’s been over two years since I’ve seen her and miss her dearly!
• Nez Perce National Park – I’ve always been intrigued by the American Indians and their history. Any chance to visit the places they’ve called home before would be an interesting chance, I think!
• Oregon Caves National Park – stunning natural beauty! I love exploring caves and things like that, so this is a must-see!
• Waterfalls. This is pretty non-descript, I know. However, Oregon is known for its waterfalls; and since I can’t just pick one, I decided just to state the obvious. Any that I can see, I’ll stop and see!
• Fort Clatsop. Tyler pointed out that this Fort was the last place that Lewis and Clark stayed at before they headed back eastward on their journey back to St. Louis! How neat is that!?

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9 – Caribbean! This is a bit of a stretch, as the Caribbean isn’t a country, perse. It’s more of a whole lot of countries, and since I couldn’t just pick one, I had to go with the generic.  

• Visit the Montserrat Volcanoes. Last active in 1995, you can take a tour around the volcanoes and go into a museum dedicated to all things volcano!
• Buck Island Reef National Monument. Known as one of the “finest marine gardens in the Caribbean Sea,” I can only imagine the beauty of this place!
• Christiansted National Historic Site. The Fort here was constructed in the 1700s, and this place is well preserved and of extreme importance!  
• Barbados – to go diving in the haunted ghost ships that surround the area! I’ll have to take a few diving lessons first, but that’s OK with me!
• St. George, Bermuda. This was the first permanent English settlement in Bermuda. Settled in 1612, it’s a bustling and historic city! Not only that, but you can go on a haunted history Bermuda tour and hear all about the local legends and hauntings! Since I’m a big fan of all things terrifying, this is a must!

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10 – Italy! I don’t have more to add other than ITALY! I mean, it’s Italy!

• Venice – I NEED to go on a gondola ride! After that, I’d hop over to the island of Murano to visit anything having to do with the incredible glass pieces they create!
• Rome. The Colosseum, the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, the Sistine Chapel. Need I say more?
• Verona! I’m a massive fan of anything remotely regarding Romeo and Juliet’s tragic love story! Going to see Juliet’s wall is at the top of my list of places to go! Who knows, maybe I’ll write her a letter too!
• The Vatican – no, this is NOT technically a part of Italy, as it’s its’ own country. But I can’t go to Italy without going to the Vatican, especially as I’m Catholic. I think this would be an incredible journey!
• Cinque Terre National Park. When you think of beautiful, colorful, coastal towns in Italy, this is probably what you’re thinking of. A UNESCO world heritage site, and a national park to boot – it’s the smallest of Italy’s national parks. However, it’s home to the most people too, and traversing through it means you get to see the most beautiful, quaint seaside villages!

Now that I’ve walked you through some places I can’t WAIT to visit; which is going to be an on-going thing I think; what places can you NOT WAIT to visit!? I can’t very well say I travel blog if I don’t put destinations here and there now can I? 🙂

Keep in touch! Love ya,

Kelly Ann

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