Ah, 2023! A year of exploration, wonder, and self-growth. As we gear up for the holiday season, it’s the perfect time to reminisce about the incredible places we had the chance to experience. For me, 2023 was all about breathtaking landscapes, vibrant cultures, and unforgettable encounters with nature. I challenged myself to take one solo trip this year and ended up taking four. Each one pushed me further outside of my comfort zone. I learned more about myself and my capabilities than ever before. 2023, and the trips from this year will forever be the cornerstone of my travel memories.
From the sun-kissed shores of Puerto Rico to the otherworldly landscapes of Utah, here’s a glimpse into my top 5 travel moments of 2023:
5. Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico was the girl’s trip of the year. Puerto Rico is the perfect balance of pristine beaches and lush tropical mountains. Our Airbnb was centrally located, making it easy to explore all corners of the island. We started our adventure with a tour of the world-famous Bacardi rum distillery and ended the week watching waves crash against the rocky beaches of Mar Chiquita Beach.
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4. Cedar Key, Florida
This charming island town on Florida’s Nature Coast was a breath of fresh air. With its laid-back vibes, quaint seafood shacks, and abundant opportunities for spending time on the water, hiking, and birdwatching, Cedar Key was the perfect place to unwind. During my extended weekend stay, I learned about the town’s history as a cedar mill town that has since become famous for its delicious fresh scallops and seafood.
If you’re searching for a peaceful place to unwind on the water, free from tourist crowds, I highly recommend Cedar Key. This year, it’s been my go-to recommendation. You won’t find any chain restaurants or large hotel brands here; instead, locals own and operate everything, creating a more personalized and intimate experience.
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3. Everglades National Park
I recently visited the Everglades, which was my last trip of 2023. Despite living in Florida my entire life and having driven through the Everglades, I had never dedicated time to explore everything it offered. Visiting this National Park was a nice change of pace for me, as it was located in my own backyard. Although familiar with the local birds and aquatic animals, I still learned new things about my home state. This furthered my appreciation for how important the Everglades are to the ecosystem.
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2. Colorado Springs, Colorado
Traveling to Colorado Spring was my first time traveling to a destination solo, where I booked plane tickets, a rental car, and an Airbnb. After going on solo road trips for the past year (where I always had the familiarity of my car), I worked up the nerve to do an entire vacation. My only comfort before this trip was visiting the Denver area during the summers in my early 20s, which seemed like a lifetime ago.
Even though I almost had a panic attack in the rental car parking lot, I pushed myself to drive to my destination. Each day, the anxiety of driving from one place to the next slowly melted away. Since this trip, I’ve driven in multiple states, including the steep mountains of Puerto Rico.
The blog posts I wrote about my trip to Colorado were some of my favorites. I had a fantastic time exploring the area and discovering all the unique activities it has to offer. If you’re looking for travel inspiration, definitely add Colorado to your wish list for the upcoming year.
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1. Kanab, Utah
Spending a week in Utah was the adventure and tranquility I needed to celebrate my birthday. I find myself reminiscing about various aspects of this trip at least once a week. Although I wasn’t aware of it at the time, this week spent in the desert turned out to be a turning point in many areas of my life. Everything in my professional and personal life changed for the better after returning from this trip.
I can’t promise your life will be magically changed for everyone seeking refuge in the desert, but I can promise you will have access to some of the country’s best national parks and hiking trails. Kanab is central to most of the bucket list places I wanted to visit, including Zion, Bryce Canyon, and Horseshoe Bend. To top it all off, I had the best Airbnb host. I stayed in a converted VW camper van, and there was a coffee shop on the premises where I indulged in a fresh cup of coffee and homemade pastries each morning.
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The information in this article was accurate when published but can change without notice. Please confirm rates and details when planning your trip by following the links in this article. If you find out-of-date or inaccurate information, I’d love to hear about it to update the article. Use the comments section below. Thanks!
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