If you happen to follow me on Instagram, you know that for the past few days I’ve been counting down to 2017 by recapping my travels throughout the year. It’s been fun sifting through photos and reminiscing about my various adventures. It was one crazy year. I somehow managed to squeeze in more trips than ever before – 15 destinations, 9 countries and 5 continents. It was exhausting, but wonderful. As 2016 quickly draws to a close, I’m left with a trove of memories that will last a lifetime. Below is a look back at 2016 – my year of travel.

 

JANUARY

Dubai

Dubai had been on my list for a while. I had heard tales of its opulence and grandeur and it did not disappoint. The architecture, beaches mosques, malls and markets were nothing short of mesmerizing. Even in our short 3 day stay, we managed to squeeze in a ton of sightseeing, a dune bashing tour in the desert and a day trip to Abu Dhabi. Although the flight to and from was brutal – 30 plus hours of total flying time, in a middle seat – my only regret was that I didn’t get to spend more time there.

Read More: What Every Traveler Should Know Before Visiting Dubai

 

FEBRUARY

New York

Due to work obligations, I didn’t do any travel in February. I spent the majority of my time in New York, but managed to get out and be a tourist in my own city on a few occasions including a visit to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. My Russian and I went there on Valentine’s Day, which ended up being the coldest day of the year! Not the best plan, but it meant having the entire garden to ourselves!

 

MARCH

Alaska

While perusing the web one day, I stumbled upon an article discussing the upcoming Iditarod race in Alaska. It was a week away, which didn’t leave much time for planning, but I had a window open up with work and decided to jump at the chance to experience America’s Last Great Race. Little did I know this impromptu trip would be one of my favorites.

We spent our first night in Anchorage, and the next day hopped in our rental car and drove about 2 hours to Willow, Alaska for the official start of the dog sled race. It was thrilling to be a part of such a unique and historic event. We ended up renting a room at a nearby bed and breakfast in Talkeetna and spent the rest of the day exploring the town. It felt like we had the whole place to ourselves. We were hoping for a glimpse of the Northern Lights and to our delight, we got one later that evening. Standing along the snowy riverbank, watching the emerald lights dance overhead with Mount Denali in the distance was a sight I will never forget.

Read More: Tips for Attending Alaska’s Iditarod: America’s Last Great Race

 

Orlando, Florida

I was able to thaw out from my chilly trip to Alaska with a visit to the Sunshine State a few weeks later. My childhood friend, Rachel, was vacationing there with her mom and I was lucky to be able to tag along. It was our first time traveling together after all these years! We got to enjoy some much needed fun in the sun, celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in downtown Disney and relive our childhood with a trip to the Magic Kingdom!

 

APRIL

Paris

In early April, I met another dear friend of mine, Drea, in Paris. She was there celebrating her birthday. We stayed in an apartment near Parc Montsouris and spent our days museum hopping, finding the tastiest boulangeries, sipping wine along the Sein, eating fresh oysters at the farmers’ market near the Bastille, and enjoying picnics in the park. Although I have been lucky enough to visit Paris numerous times before, this trip was the first time I got to experience the city like a local.

Read More: Experience Paris Like a Local

 

MAY

Belize

My Russian and I ventured down to Belize in May. We stayed on the island of Caye Caulker, just a short ferry ride from Belize City. Bikes were the only mode of transportation and even though all the amenities were available – shopping, dining, water activities and ample accommodations, the island hadn’t lost its character. We rented a colorful bungalow through Airbnb and made the island home for a few days. The highlight was our scuba/snorkel excursion to the Great Blue Hole. My Russian is an experienced diver and was eager to explore one of the world’s premier dive sights. I opted to snorkel. While I didn’t get quite the same show as he did – eels, turtles and even a school of reef sharks – I wasn’t disappointed.

Read More: Planning a Belizean Getaway

 

The Kentucky Derby

The day after returning from Belize, we switched gears entirely and made our way down to Louisville to attend the Kentucky Derby with friends. I had watched the race on TV for years and couldn’t wait to experience the excitement in person. It was a feast for the eyes. The thousands in attendance donned bright sun dresses, colorful hats, pastel suits and bow ties as they sipped on signature mint juleps. After spending hours exploring the grounds, placing bets, drinking cocktails and watching the preliminary races, the main event was upon us. As the National Anthem rang out, a storm front rolled in bringing with it a deluge of rain. It dissipated just in time for the start of the race, which was over almost as quickly as it began. Our whirlwind day came to a close with a slow procession out of the stadium. Although I won’t likely attend the race in person again, it certainly was a one of a kind experience.

 

JUNE

Seattle

My plan for the summer was to squeeze in a few day trips, since my schedule didn’t allow for lengthy travel. The first quick getaway was to Seattle. My Russian and I arrived in the morning and took off running. We hit all the main attractions – the Space Needle, the original Starbucks Coffee shop and discovered a few surprises along the way. Occidental Square was one of those surprises, a small park where you can grab lunch, shop and listen to live music on sunny days – yes there is sun in Seattle! The highlight was taking a ride on the Seattle Great Wheel and getting a bird’s eye view of the city.

Read More: Day Trip: Seattle

 

JULY

Boston

My next day trip was to Boston. It’s one of the easiest cities to reach from New York, but it took me 5 years to finally pay Boston a visit. This also happened to be my one solo trip this year. I strolled past the many historic landmarks, wandered through the Boston Public Garden, walked along Commonwealth Avenue all the way to the Mary Baker Eddy Library where I toured the Mapparium – a beautiful stained glass globe that you can walk inside.  After all that walking, I caught a cab back to the North End and found a cute restaurant along the pier with a great view. I sipped my perfectly chilled glass of white wine and snacked on a delicious bowl of clam chowder. Soup was perhaps a strange choice for the middle of summer, but I couldn’t leave Boston without sampling its signature dish!

Read More: Day Trip: The Best of Boston

 

AUGUST

Brazil

My birthday trip to Brazil in August was not only the highlight of the year, but one of the best trips of my life. The headlines leading up to the Olympic Games were less than flattering, but my experience could not have differed more from the horrors that were described. Visiting Rio during the Olympic Games was beyond special. Brazil had so much natural beauty from its people and culture to its beaches and mountains. Even a short bout of food poisoning and a subsequent  hotel mix-up couldn’t put a damper on our experience.

Read More: Exploring the Neighborhood of Santa Teresa

 

SEPTEMBER

Netherlands

My Russian and I usually take an end of summer trip. This year, the choice was between Australia, Barcelona, and Dublin – when you fly standby you have to be flexible! Even up to the day of our departure we weren’t exactly sure where we were going. When we realized we weren’t going to make it to our first choice, Barcelona, we switched gears and decided to head to Amsterdam. We ended up staying 30 minutes outside of the city in the quiet town of Castricum. We spent our time biking to the beach and other nearby towns. On our last day we took the train into Amsterdam and had a wonderful time exploring the city.

Read More: 5 Things You Should Ditch Doing In Amsterdam If You Only Have A Day

 

OCTOBER

Mexico

To my delight, my friend Rachel invited me on another getaway in early October. After having so much fun with her in Orlando, I knew we would have a great time in the sun and sand of Puerto Vallarta. We spent 4 days in paradise at an all-inclusive resort. We didn’t spend much time exploring the city, opting instead to relax by the beach and make friends with fellow vacationers. We did venture out one night to the Malecon, a beachside promenade featuring vibrant nightlife. We danced the night away at the famous Bodeguita del Medio. This cigar and mojito bar is a replica of the original found in Cuba and is a must-see when in PV.

 

NOVEMBER

Sydney

The day after the shocking U.S. election, my Russian and I jetted off to Sydney, Australia. A part of me wanted to stay glued to the news happening back home, but the trip forced me to unplug and it ended up being a cathartic experience. Sailing around the Sydney Harbor, beach hopping throughout the city, perusing the Rocks Market, sampling the fresh catch of the day at the Sydney Fish Market and watching the super moon rise behind the Sydney Opera House did a great deal to renew my spirit.

Read More: A Guide To Sydney’s Beaches

 

DECEMBER

  

Nashville, Tennessee

One of my favorite cities is Nashville, Tennessee. If you’re a lover of country music, you likely feel the same. There is no other place quite like it and I jump at every chance I get to visit. Early in December, I packed my boots and headed to Music City. This time I wasn’t going for the honky-tonks and southern cooking, although I did partake in both, instead I was there to attend a political conference. The purpose was to reflect on the recent election and energize and motivate people to take a more active role in government and our country by getting involved at the local level either by running for office or supporting those who do. It was an inspiring weekend and I left my favorite city feeling more motivated than ever.

 

Switzerland

My most recent trip took place just before Christmas. My Russian and I flew into Zurich, rented a car and headed off on our adventure. We stopped in Lucerne and Lungern along the way to marvel at the natural beauty. It was like stepping into Christmas itself. We opted to stay in the small town of Wilderswil just outside of Interlaken. The cozy mountain town provided the perfect location to relax and celebrate the season. We kept busy throughout our 3 days there by skating at the outdoor rink in Interlaken, driving through the tiny towns of Mürren, Wengen and Iseltwald that were all decorated for the holidays and went skiing in the Swiss Alps in Stechelberg. I left filled with joy, ready to celebrate the holidays with family back home.

 

Montreal

I’m currently in transit as I finish up this post, en route to Montreal to celebrate New Years. My Russian and I will be spending the holiday with friends who live there and plan to welcome 2017 in a cabin we rented in the woods. It will be a weekend filled with friends, laughter, great food and countless toasts to the new year ahead.

I would like to kick off this holiday weekend by offering a toast to you, my dear readers and send you a sincere thank you for sticking with me throughout the year and following along on my adventures. This year has been a whirlwind to say the least. I learned a lot about the world, but more importantly, about the people in it. Although at times it seemed like darkness and negativity prevailed in 2016, I continue to believe that beauty, kindness and love always win out in the end.

Happy New Year to you and yours and as always, happy wending!