2018 was another amazing year filled with new countries, new adventures, and new friends. From South Africa to the American Southwest, each destination had pinch-me moments, bucket list memories, and unbelievable imagery.
Here are just a few highlights from the year to inspire your own travels in 2019.
Las Vegas, Nevada
In keeping with the whole “new year, new me” philosophy, I headed to Sin City in early January for my first tattoo. I decided to get a simplistic compass on one side, and my favorite quote “May you live every day of your life” by Jonathan Swift on the other.
One more thing checked off the bucket list!
Feeling like a champion for not wincing, I treated myself to (another) In-N-Out burger before checking out the colorful signs at the Neon Museum.
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Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
From the dry heat of Vegas to the bitter chill of the Rockies, I next ventured to Yellowstone National Park. There, I embarked on another Snowcoach Tour to see the park without hordes of tourists.
Frost clung to tree branches and the noses of wildlife, and a steady snowfall brought a hush onto the surrounding landscape. The only sound was that of our vehicle crunching across snow on the closed roads.
Despite the sub-zero temperatures, I highly recommend seeing Yellowstone this way. The scenery is simply unbelievable!
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London, England
Just when I didn’t think I could be any colder, enter winter in London.
During a long layover on my way to South Africa I toured the city, seeing as much as I could in only a few short hours. I covered a lot of ground including a colorful Neal’s Yard, the impressive British Museum, the gorgeous Tower Bridge, a dreary London Eye, and everything in-between.
It was a stunning day where my biggest worry was how not to get frostbite while taking pictures.
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South Africa
After London, it was on to South Africa for The Blonde Abroad’s photography tour. To say it was my favorite trip so far would be an understatement.
Kiersten and her team took our group of 12 ladies to incredible destinations! Our tour included the colorful streets of Bo Kaap, the wild and luxurious Gondwana Game Reserve, the picturesque Boschendal wine estate, and the adorable penguins at Boulder’s Beach. I saw sunrise from the top of Lion’s Head, a jaw-dropping sunset from the summit of Table Mountain, and enjoyed a too-good-to-be-true beach picnic with delectable eats.
The trip also included a lot of firsts and bucket list experiences. I went on my first helicopter ride, had my first photo published by National Geographic and multiple other media outlets (a dream!), went on my first safari, and was even able to cage dive with great white sharks!
South Africa, you have my heart.
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American Southwest Road Trip
To kick-off summer, my amazing editor (Tenacious Gracious) and I road-tripped the American Southwest. It was a week filled with some of the most impressive natural beauty in the world!
We marveled at the sunrise in Monument Valley, scaled the sand dunes in southern Colorado, learned the history of Mesa Verde, and were awed by the vast expanse of the Grand Canyon. We photographed light beams in Antelope Canyon, watched sunset at Horseshoe Bend, hiked the trails of Zion and Bryce canyons, and journeyed to a massive waterfall along Scenic Byway 12.
Despite all my worldly travels, the American Southwest is still one of my favorite places on Earth.
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RiNo Art District, Denver, Colorado
I also did some exploring a little closer to home. Denver’s RiNo Art District quickly became a new favorite destination, and I soon found myself learning as much as I could about it.
I attended the annual CRUSH Festival to watch as street artists brought their impressive works to life. Became a frequent visitor to Denver’s Central Market (where you can find the most imaginative and delicious food in the city!) Brought several out-of-town visitors to the neighborhood for photography safaris. And I led my first tour through the area with Atlas Obscura
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Orlando, Florida
I ventured to Florida for my second Activate EBA Live conference and met up with friends to learn more about the business of blogging.
When we weren’t in seminars, we were indulging in embarrassing amounts of food and taking an obscene amount of pictures. It was a weekend of learning, laughing, and Disney shenanigans.
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Austin, Texas
Capping off the travels for 2018 was the first TravelCon conference in Austin. Having never been to Texas, I expected cattle and cowboys. Instead, I was pleasantly surprised by its phenomenal restaurants (with many pescatarian and vegan options!), artistic culture, and welcoming atmosphere.
I met and re-connected with friends from The Blonde Abroad’s TBA Escapes tours, learned from photography mentors like Lawrence Norah, brushed up on my writing skills with award-winning travel journalist Jason Cochran, and soaked up all I could from the impressive list of event speakers.
Plus, I discovered a deep and passionate love affair with electric scooters.
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2018 was certainly one for the books with plenty of bucket list experiences and picture perfect moments. And next year promises to be just as exciting with a few more once-in-a-lifetime destinations!
Where are you headed in the new year?
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