It feels strange to write about travel plans for the year ahead, when the year itself has already begun with adventures.
We welcomed 2024 on the edge of Zhongshan Park in Taipei, the Taiwanese capital, buzzing with excitement (and espresso martinis) as fireworks sparked out of the edges of Taipei 101, the city’s instantly recognisable tallest building.
It was only as February arrived and I fully emerged from the fog of intense jet lag (Taiwan is a full 13 hours ahead of NYC) that I started to turn my thoughts to the year ahead, in terms of travel and everything else, too.
The year began in Asia, continues in the USA, and will see a couple of trips across the Atlantic, which is probably not a surprise to anyone!
I actually finished writing up this post from the UK: I was there for a quick visit in early February, visiting the Outer Hebrides and Edinburgh to see family, along with a drive south to Northumberland in northern England for a wedding. I’d never been to Northumberland before, and although the weather prevented the beach walk and castle visit I’d hoped for, my brother and I did manage to stop for lunch and a stroll around the historic market town of Alnwick, as well as a quick visit to Barter Books (because I cannot resist the lure of a good bookshop!).
My husband and I have also RSVP’d to another wedding in May, in the (slightly warmer!) location of Greece, which I’m very excited about. Although I very briefly visited Rhodes and Samos on boat trips from Turkey as a teenager, I’ve never been to mainland Greece, and cannot wait to visit Athens.
(Fun fact: I was so obsessed with the idea of visiting Greece as a child that the country was the subject of one of my class projects when I was about 8 years old, and I had a grand old time cutting out pictures from holiday brochures to illustrate my writing. Maybe that was the 90s precursor to travel blogging?!)
I also recently found out that I was the winner of a two-night stay at Hotel Lilien in the Catskills (courtesy of The Catskills Girl on Instagram), so another weekend escape to the New York mountains is in order this year, which will be lovely.
As for travel dreams? Anything could happen!
There will very likely be another visit back to Scotland; my husband wants to play golf at Askernish in Uist, which would tie in well with my wanting to visit Long Island Retreats (still on the wish list from last year!) and the new North Uist Distillery home in Benbecula.
I’d also like to get back to London (a location that has cropped up in these annual posts since I was last there in 2017!) to see everyone I know who lives in and around the city, and since these are dreams after all, I’ll be honest and say another European or Caribbean break wouldn’t go amiss, either.
As always, I want to see more of the USA, too, even if just on local day trips and weekends away. Cities like Nashville, Austin, and Miami are all on my radar, and the big national parks are always on my travel dreams list. I’m sure we’ll be back in Seattle at some point, and of course, there’s always something new to see and do in New York City – it’s the city that never sleeps, after all.
And there you have it: a couple of solid plans, and plenty of dreams of potential trips coming in the next 12 months!
Now tell me, where will 2024 take you?
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How exciting you’re going to Greece!! My father in law will be there in May as well 🙂 And if you ever want to come to Rocky Mountain National Park – let me know! Xo
Ooh definitely! We should organize a Rocky Mountain National Park girls trip 🙂
Love this! Please hit me up if you make it to London. I’d love to go for a coffee or walk and meet properly in person 🙂
Here’s hoping you enjoy Athens! My 2024 travel plans are similar to yours in that they’re motivated by weddings and home being spread across the UK/USA.
That would be so lovely! I’ll absolutely get in touch if I make it to London, it would be great to meet “in real life” after all these years!
(And welcome to the life of travelling back and forth across the Atlantic..! I like to say to people you get the best of both worlds this way 🙂 )
My husband was 1/2 Greek and I always wanted to go there, but never did. I took my daughter and son to Lewis when they were teenagers and now I am encouraging them to go to Greece. My daughter’s oldest son did do one college year in Greece and when he married that, of course, was the honeymoon. The bride also loved it there.
I hope your son and daughter make it to Greece, Christine! (And I love hearing that you took them to Lewis 🙂 ) We’re very much looking forward to going to Greece – and Lewis too, of course!
Kalispera,
I feel a little bit “gobsmacked” to find out that we have been in the same city last month and never crossed paths. That, I guess, was FATE – “From Another Time Experienced!”
My time in Athens, or more correctly the bohemian neighbourhood of Pagrati is so much fun. I am a literal stones-throw away from the best restaurant in town, To Mavro Provato (The Black Sheep!), on first name terms with the waiting staff who serve me up delight after delight, night after night…
I’ve done many of the sites in mainland Greece during a visit in 2006 (I think) – Delphi, Navpaktos, Volos and Meteora. I still hanker for the Peloponnese to meet the real Greeks of Monemvasia (stauch nationalists)!
However, this summer is reserved for Crete, which is a culinary heaven, but at a Resort so my two young children can have the time of their lives…
The rest of time shall be spent exploring every nook and cranny of Athens…hot days, balmy night. Outdoor theatres and cinemas. Mixing with the locals who bring a richness to the streetscape that is beyond comparison. Places really are about the people.
Tell me, how was Greece for you?