Despite the diciness of travelling in the world right now, I hope that 2022 travel will be filled with adventures!
In 2020 and 2021, I didn’t travel much. I missed it a lot the past two years! However, with a pandemic scaring the entire world with infection, many countries closed their borders. In addition, national travels required regular tests and quarantine periods before and after flights! Now, enough time has passed, and restrictions loosen more each week. Some countries still have bans on certain visitors, and masks still remain required for all flights. As more time goes on, I think that 2022 travel has a lot of potential!
With all the friends and places I want to see, I’ve made a mental list of where I want to go, assuming a return to normalcy in the new year. Time to manifest!
2022 Travel To-Do List
- Scotland – With the current international borders a toss-up, Scotland remains the only place outside the US for 2022. Aaron suggested it for July, in honor of his birthday! I’ve been to England, Ireland, and Wales, but not Scotland. I’d love to visit Glasgow, Edinburgh, and the Isle of Skye. I would love to also visit any other Scottish isles, and Inverness. I must find… HER.
- Vermont – Earlier this year, I came to the conclusion that I will probably be happiest living in Vermont. The nature, the proximity to New York, and the open-minded compassion of the people, all combine to make an ideal place for me to stay. That said, it’s one of the most expensive places to live in the US! As a result, I would like to just visit next year, maybe in the summer. I would love to potentially do an anniversary trip in October in addition! However, I’ll “settle” for a birthday trip where I can hike and swim in a waterfall.
- Bahamas – I touched on a Bahamas trip for next year. Interestingly, Aaron also suggested it for the summer of next year! A compelling challenge, certainly. I just want to snorkel and hang out on the beach all the time. That said, I’ll settle for a long(er) weekend at a luxurious resort.
- Chicago – I have family in Chicago, so I’ve been a few times. However, when I’ve visited, I’ve stayed near their suburb outside the main city. As a result, I don’t have any memories of the beat city now! I’m certain my mom took me to the touristy places when I was little. Unfortunately, I don’t remember any of it. I would love to visit as an adult. Not only do we now have friends who live in Chicago, but one of my family members just got engaged! He and his fiancee are looking at a fall wedding… in 2022. Funny how things work out, isn’t it?
- New York City – If I had my way, I’d go to New York every month to see my best friend and stay with my grandparents. However, I feel like I get lost in NYC every time I visit. I’d rather be in such a state of familiarity that I know exactly where I’m going each time. All of this is to say that I want to do a weekend in NYC, and do it right. Similar to Chicago, I’ve been to NYC more than a handful of times, but there’s a lot of tourist experiences that everyone does on their fifth grade field trip to NYC. My fifth grade field trip was to DC, so I’m at a loss! I’d love to start my day seeing the top of the Empire State Building, then do a ferry to the Statue of Liberty, before toasting at the top of my future corner office: 30 Rockefeller Plaza. I’ll stay in a nice hotel (not PLAZA nice, but has a rooftop bar or something), go to Pastis, and live life the way it’s meant to be living. Three bucks, two bags, one me… but also, Aaron’s there.
2022 travel will hopefully be prosperous. Between the early wakeups, the cat feedings, and that little thing called “work,” there’s fun to be had. True, I can find it right outside my door, and I don’t need to go anywhere to do it. But at a time where I’ve been cooped up for almost two years, why not go anywhere?