As I look back on the past year, the list of favorite places I traveled was long. This year was a mixed bag of different adventures. Aaron and I planned two bucket list vacations that took us to the white sands of Hawaii and then to the mountains of Wyoming. We visited as many National Parks as we could on our unexpected road-tripped across the country. And I challenged myself to go on a solo trip for an extended weekend.
Out of all the experiences and travel, I’ve narrowed down my top five places I visited in 2021. If you’re starting to build next year’s travel wishlist, I hope these blog posts inspire you to consider adding these places to your list.
5. Helen Georgia
This was the solo-trip-bug that bit me. I loved this little town almost as much as I loved traveling alone. I spent three days eating pretzels, visiting historical sights, and hiking in nearby parks with no one to answer to.
In case you missed the blog post:
4. Cadillac Ranch
When Aaron and I road-tripped across the country, this was a non-negotiable stop. We were armed with spray paint and so pumped to vandalize some Cadillacs! Afterward, we ate a delicious steak at a very touristy restaurant that did not disappoint with the over-embellished western theme (they used antlers in all of their decorating).
In case you missed the blog post:
3. Yellowstone National Park
This is a winter vacation I will never forget. Visiting Yellowstone can be overwhelming, but we took it a step further by camping for three nights in freezing temperatures. The contrast of steam vents and boiling water flowing from the earth was difficult to compute while bundled in my winter jacket. This trip was the perfect mix of the popular attractions mixed with distant hikes in the stillness of nature.
In case you missed the blog post:
- ESSENTIAL YELLOWSTONE PACKING LIST FOR FALL
- YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK – FIVE DAY ITINERARY
- WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CAMPING IN YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK
2. Grand Canyon National Park
My one regret from this visit to the Grand Canyon was we didn’t stay long enough. Now that we’ve tackled sleeping in the snow, I’m confident Aaron and I can tackle the rim to rim three-day hike. The South Kaibab Trail was the perfect introduction to the beauty and steepness this canyon has to offer.
In case you missed the blog post:
1. Volcano National Park
I often find myself looking back on the photos from this trip to the Volcano National Park. I recommend ditching the touristy beaches of Honolulu and exploring the diversity of the Big Island. Volcano National Park has rich, tropical vegetation mixed with volcanic rock piled high. Ripped into slices like a warm pizza, closed roads showed signs of the volcano’s power. Aaron and I both agreed this was easily our favorite place we visited this year. I cannot wait to go back!
In case you missed the blog post:
- TRAVELING TO HAWAII DURING COVID
- UNIQUE PLACES TO STAY IN HAWAII
- 32 HOURS ON THE BIG ISLAND OF HAWAII
- HIS & HERS HAWAII HIKING ESSENTIALS
