Bucket List

Welcome to my personal playground of aspirations – a space where dreams take shape, both big and small! While you’ll find our shared travel adventures sprinkled throughout the blog, this section is a deeper dive into my individual bucket list. Here, it’s not just about far-flung destinations, though those certainly have their place! You’ll find a mix of travel goals (those iconic landmarks and hidden gems I’m longing to explore), unique experiences I’m eager to try, and even some non-travel related personal milestones I’m hoping to achieve.

What makes this list truly special is that it’s a living document. You’ll see items still shimmering with possibility alongside those joyfully crossed off. From finally mastering a new skill to witnessing a specific natural phenomenon, and yes, those unforgettable journeys across the globe, this is a peek into what fuels my curiosity and brings me joy. Join me as I continue to dream, plan, and celebrate each “check!” mark along the way. Who knows what adventures we’ll uncover together?

Crossing the Line: Our Arctic Circle Experience

May 27, 2025

Endless Day, Endless Road The allure of the Arctic Circle – that invisible line encircling the globe where the sun doesn’t set for a full day in summer and doesn’t rise for a full day in winter – has always held a certain mystique. As I was looking at tours out of...

A Walk on Matanuska Glacier

May 21, 2025

When you think Alaska, you think glaciers, mountains, wildlife. When I was doing research into what to do when Justin was at work, I saw about a dozen tours to the Matanuska Glacier. I wanted to do it, but I couldn’t do it without Justin. My first glacier was supposed to...

Witnessing a Rocket Launch

November 20, 2024

We visited the Kennedy Space Center in 2022 and was fascinated by the exhibits, wouldn’t it be neat to watch a launch? When it turned out that a rocket launch would be happening when we were in the general area, I knew that we had to go to watch. It was the SpaceX Falcon...

A Creepy Crawly Hike for the Tarantula Festival

October 10, 2024

Our recent trip to La Junta, Colorado, was intended for one specific reason: the legendary Tarantula Festival! For those who don’t know, La Junta celebrates the annual migration of thousands of tarantulas through the area. That is a little misleading – the tarantulas...

Glow Worm Kayaking Tour in Rotorua NZ

December 15, 2023

Sometimes, the most extraordinary experiences unfold in the quietest of settings. Our glow worm kayaking tour with Kayak Rotorua was precisely that – a truly unique and almost ethereal adventure that left us spellbound, even if my attempts at capturing its magic on camera fell...

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Climbing the Auckland Bridge

December 13, 2023

Fresh off the exhilarating high of our Sydney Harbour Bridge climb, but disappointed that the Brisbane Bridge Climb didn’t work out due to weather/lightning, we found ourselves in Auckland, New Zealand, and couldn’t resist the opportunity to experience another iconic...

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Up Close with Koalas, Kangaroos & Wallabies

December 6, 2023

For day 3 of our Sydney adventure, we were on the lookout for experiences that offered a taste of Australia’s incredible wildlife beyond the city bustle. The “Wildlife, Waterfalls, and Wine Departing Sydney” small group tour we booked through Viator caught our...

Climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge

December 4, 2023

As soon as we got off the train at Circular Quay in Sydney and walked outside, we were at the hub of cruise ships, the opera house, and in a few more steps we saw the Sydney Harbour Bridge, which the next day we would be on the top of. The Sydney Harbour Bridge. Just the name...

Ring of Fire: Witnessing the Annular Solar Eclipse in New Mexico

October 14, 2023

The whisper started months before: an annular solar eclipse was gracing North America in October 2023, and the path of annularity – that magical zone where the “ring of fire” would be visible – was calling. For us the allure of this celestial event was irresistible,...

A Jeep Tour to Crystal Mill

July 16, 2020

It was this weekend last year, that I was able to cross something off my bucket list….seeing the Crystal Mill. One of the most photographed abandoned buildings in Colorado. I chose to do this in July thinking I’d see a lot of wildflowers, and booked in March ensuring...