70,000 miles.  150 hours in the air.  9 countries.  And 7 continents.

2019 was a year of adventures and outlandish goal setting.  One objective in particular, that I still can’t believe I achieved, was visiting all seven continents in one year!

From Morocco to Singapore to Antarctica, 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 2020.

Las Vegas, Nevada

In keeping with tradition, the year kicked off with a brief visit to Las Vegas for shenanigans on the strip.  I was dazzled by the dancing fountains, window shopped inside the Forum, enjoyed delectable specialty desserts, and ate as much In-N-Out Burger as humanly possible (because, obviously).

But, the highlight of the trip was seeing The Beatles Cirque du Soleil show, Love, at The Mirage.  The music, choreography, sets, and special effects were absolutely phenomenal!  It was the perfect exclamation point at the end of an incredible trip.

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Colorado

One thing I love to do is play tourist in my own backyard.  After all, Colorado is filled with tons of natural beauty, eclectic charm, and intriguing entertainment.

A few of the most picture-perfect moments from my home state included a day at the Ice Castle in Dillon, a trip to Breckenridge for the International Snow Sculpture Championships, and a visit to the Selfie Museum downtown.

Each excursion was enjoyed in the company of good friends and capped off with great food.

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Ireland

In the Spring, I ventured to Ireland and learned about my heritage as I road-tripped around the island with family.

We started our Emerald Isle adventure with a day in Dublin taking in picture-perfect sights like the Temple Bar and Long Room.  Next it was off to Kilkenny and Killarney, where we toured the castles and ruins (my favorite being the Muckross Abbey, which has the most enchanting Yew tree inside!)  Then, it was on to the very windy Cliffs of Moher before ending our trip with a sunny day in Galway.

The country lived up to its reputation with vibrant greenery around every turn and some of the most welcoming locals I’ve ever met.

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London, England

I spent a few days in London on my way back from Ireland and Marrakesh, and was amazed by the contrast in seasons.

In the Spring, the flowers in Hyde Park were in full bloom and the warm weather was perfect for strolling around town.  In the Fall, holiday lights lined the streets and the crisp air made you want to cozy up with lots of comfort food.

Some of the most delicious cuisine was at Las Iguanas (whose cheese and mango empanadas were to die for) and Dinings (which had some of the best sushi I’ve ever tasted).  My mouth is watering just thinking about it!

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Boston, Massachusetts

I had a brief stay in Boston for the 2019 TravelCon conference, which was wonderful!  I heard from inspirational speakers like Cheryl Strayed, author of Wild.  And I met incredible pioneers like Tony Wheeler, the founder of Lonely Planet.

The conference also featured writing workshops, photography walks, and niche meet-ups for its hundreds of attendees.  Just like the year before, I was completely blown away by the content!

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Singapore

In my endeavor to visit all seven continents in one year, I flew 27 hours for a short stay in Singapore. Traveling nearly as long as I was on the ground, I made the most of my time with a whirlwind day and a half in the Lion City.

I sipped cocktails from the rooftop at Marina Bay Sands (which has the world’s highest swimming pool), I was amazed by the clever creations at the Art Museum, I walked through the branches of the Supertree Grove, and I was blown away by the beautiful Cloud Forest.  I also spent an afternoon on picturesque Sentosa island and sang my heart out at my first Asian karaoke bar.

But, one of the most memorable experiences of all was flying through Singapore’s Changi Airport.  My jaw dropped at the sight of the world’s largest indoor waterfall, the lush gardens, and the airport’s countless activities.  Plus, I was finally able to see the Kinetic Rain art installation, which had been on my bucket list for years.

It’s no wonder why Changi Airport has been rated the #1 airport in the world!

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Sydney, Australia

On my way back from Singapore, I spent a couple of days in one of my favorite cities on earth – Sydney, Australia.  Having already spent time in the city, I ventured to the Blue Mountains to see eucalyptus forests and lots of furry friends.

Later, I returned to town for some R&R around Manly Beach with a longtime friend.  It was an ideal way to unwind before the long flight home.

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Marrakesh, Morocco

One of the most amazing trips I had was to Marrakesh with my good friend Angie from Our Kid’s Passport.

We kicked off our adventure with a spa day at La Mamounia, which included lunch by the pool, a massage, and our first Hammam.  Next, we wandered around the souks in the Medina where we found invaluable treasures at bargain prices.  Later, we booked a driver who took us to the noteworthy sights around the city, including the gardens of Jardin Majorelle, the city’s largest mosque at Koutoubia, and the chaos of the Jama El f’na Market.

To unwind, we spent time lounging around our accommodations at the Dar Assiya riad.  There, we enjoyed delicious food, endless mint tea, and a lovely rooftop terrace where we could hear the call to prayer echo in the background.

We ended our time in Morocco with a day in the Atlas Mountains meeting locals who were eager to invite us into their home.  They opened up about everything from their way of life to their religion, and were some of the most welcoming people we encountered.  It was the perfect end to a perfect trip!

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Santiago, Chile

My dad and I spent a few days in Santiago riding electric scooters around town and sipping strawberry juice by the alluring pool at our hotel, the Mandarin Oriental.

We also had the chance to visit our dear family friend, Juan Carlos Cruz.  He showed us around the city, from where he grew up to a stunning mountain overlook and everywhere in-between.  He also educated us on what was happening with the riots that had recently erupted, and why the dichotomy of the upper and lower class had become so intolerable.

We were heartbroken to see the devastation the conflict had caused to both property and people, and hope a peaceful resolution can be found soon.

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Ushuaia, Argentina

In South America, I ventured down to the southernmost city in the world – Ushuaia, Argentina.  There, I strolled through the harbor and lush gardens, shopped the stores along Avenue San Martin, and toured the longstanding Ushuaia Prison.

Located on the edge of Tierra del Fuego archipelago, the rugged scenery that surrounds the city is awe-inspiring, to say the least.

It was an awesome way to start an Antarctic adventure!

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Antarctica

The year ended with the most picture-perfect trip of all: a National Geographic cruise to Antarctica.  The voyage was made all the more special because I shared it with my dad, who is the one who inspired me to travel in the first place.

My seventh continent with my hero and National Geographic photographers?  Talk about a dream come true!

We made friends with curious penguins, were dwarfed by massive icebergs, kayaked past glaciers, watched frisky whales breaching, and met scientists at the U.S. Palmer Research Station.  The continent’s vast, untouched wilderness was like visiting another planet and had a way of making you feel very, very small.

It was an unbelievable journey with scenery that was simply impossible to capture.  But, that doesn’t mean I didn’t try…

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2019 was certainly one for the books with plenty of bucket list experiences and picture-perfect moments.  Each city, country, and continent was more amazing than the last.  Now the only question is, where should I head to next?

Where are you going in the new year?  Comment below, I’d love to hear!

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