Rounding out my end of year posts is the big one where I get to reveal my FAVORITE travel moments of 2023! I love taking the time to recount those little (or BIG) moments that made the biggest impact on my life and share them with the world. Or, you know, whoever reads this blog (thank you!).
These are the moments that might not be “Insta-worthy,” make sense to others, and are quite personal.
If you’re new here, check out the posts I’ve made from 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022! These are great insights into the types of adventures that resonate with me and are a glimpse into what brings me joy.
2023 was a big travel and adventure year for me, and I’ve done something a little different this year. After almost reaching all of my travel and adventure goals for 2023, I managed to have a good handful of local adventures.
But enough of this intro. Let’s get to the good stuff. Here are my favorite travel moments of 2023!
SURVIVING A CHICKEN BUS RIDE INTO THE GUATEMALAN HIGHLANDS
I know this sounds a little dramatic, but at the time it really was! I finally made it south of the US border and took a solo trip to Guatemala. One of the penultimate moments that I will always remember was my harrowing journey aboard 3 camionetas in the Guatemalan Highlands en route to Lake Atitlán.
I had heard about these famed American-schoolbus-turned-chicken-bus beasts, but to have my own personal experience as a gringa in Guatemala City was something that deserved a spot atop my favorite travel moments of 2023 list.
CRUISING ALONG THE NEON-LIT ROUTE 66 IN NEW MEXICO
I’m a romantic at heart. I love those Instagram Reels and posts where the creator encourages us to romanticize our lives because, well, why not? I love romanticizing my life, especially the little things, those small moments that bring me so much joy. One such event took place during my first trip of the year to Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Little backstory – one of my absolute favorite movies in the whole wide world is Disney’s “Cars.” I love the nostalgia and magic of Radiator Springs when it’s lit up in neon…and was eager to have my own moment.
Did you know that a portion of Route 66, yes, THE Route 66, runs through downtown Albuquerque? I did my research, planned out my route, and waited for the darkness to rise. I set off in my trusty rental car and cruised up and down Route 66, singing “Life is a Highway” at the top of my lungs!
REALIZING I HAD A WATER TOWER OBSESSION IN MISSOURI
After driving around Missouri with my friend Megan, I realized that I had an obsession with water towers. Weird, I know, but it is what it is. The reason this makes it onto my favorite travel moments of 2023 list is because Megan encouraged this obsession, and made a point to drive me around to see as many as possible. And then she encouraged me to make a little video montage of them in my then-upcoming video on my YouTube channel! I already knew she was amazing, but this little act solidified her awesomeness, for sure!
DANCING ON ROSE ISLAND WITH NEW FRIENDS
Although I had technically been to The Bahamas once before, this was my first true visit and I had a ton of contenders for my list of my favorite travel moments of 2023. It could have been snorkeling for the first time in forever, scoring a free visit to Atlantis, or even a birthday dinner at the legendary Poop Deck.
Nope – this favorite moment was much more simple. It was dancing on the beach of Rose Island with a group of girls I became fast friends with from my hostel.
They invited me to accompany them on a half-day snorkeling trip and, since I had been super frugal and smart with my spending during this trip, I had no problem shelling out the money for the adventure. The whole day was a blast and totally memorable, but the moment that made the list was when our boat arrived to Rose Island.
We hopped into the water and swam to shore (the sea was a little too rocky for the boat to dock), phones held high in our hands. When we finally made it to the beach, we spent the next while dancing around in the Caribbean sun, taking pictures, and just…playing. It was every bit as romantic as it sounds.
A MOST AMBITIOUS LAYOVER IN FLORIDA
After said amazing trip to The Bahamas, I found myself with a long layover in Miami. I had originally planned to check my bag through to Utah, and spend the evening exploring Miami.
But since the scheduled layover was longer than usual, I was going to have to retrieve my bag and then recheck it…but not until a few hours before the flight. Not an option. So while I was figuring out what to do with a carry-on suitcase full of snorkeling gear, I reached out to my friend Leisl, who happens to live a few hours from Miami.
She asked if I’d like to come see her during my layover. Um…YES!
The catch? She lives 3 hours away from Miami sans traffic. So in theory, I would have a 4 hour drive to her, spend 3 hours with her, and then 4 hours back to the airport. Yikes!
But – it honestly didn’t matter. There are just some people I would do anything to spend time with, and she’s definitely one of them. Those few hours I had with her were just amazing: a quick dinner, a good shower, and short nap, and then I was back on the road, barely making my flight home. WORTH IT!
MY MAIDEN 1ST CLASS EXPERIENCE…WASN’T SMOOTH SAILING
I received a random upgrade to FIRST CLASS on my Delta flight to St. Louis! I’m not sure how it happened, but that doesn’t matter at this point. IT HAPPENED!
Things I want to remember: the exhilaration I felt when I looked up at the monitor and saw my name, not knowing it was for an upgrade; the disbelief when the gate attendant confirmed the upgrade; the excitement and overwhelming rush of emotions walking down the jet bridge; empathy as each passing passenger looked at me in my front row seat; disbelief at the actual glass glass of Coke in my hand; acceptance as the plane hit massive turbulence the whole flight, knowing that I could die happy right then.
EXPERIENCING YOUTH FOOTBALL IN WEST VIRGINIA
On my first day of college, I met this girl when we both ditched orientation. We’ve been close ever since, and I finally made it out to visit her and her family in West Virginia. When she asked me what I wanted to do while I was out there, I was honest. I just wanted to hang out with her and the family, attend her kids’ sporting events, and just experience what it was like to live in West Virginia.
First full day in West Virginia had me in the van with the fam, driving into the middle of nowhere for a youth football game. The location was like something out of a dream, the atmosphere what I’d hoped for during my visit, and the company was everything I needed.
VISITING A TRANSYLVANIAN CHRISTMAS MARKET
Last year I spent the first half of December bopping around southern Germany, visiting as many Christmas markets as possible. I fell in love with them. So when I was planning my visit to Romania to go see my friend Nikki, she mentioned that the Christmas market in Sibiu would be starting during my visit.
SAY NO MORE!
We had already visited Sibiu on a previous trip, so I wasn’t too concerned about seeing the town. We met up specifically to check out the Christmas market, which happened to be simply wonderful. There’s apparently a large German population/presence in Sibiu, so it felt like I was back in Munich or something. Except everyone was speaking Romanian!
Things I want to remember: the lights dancing on the buildings in the old town square, the familiar taste of the Kinderpunsch, the white chocolate crepe kebab, and waiting in the rain to ascend the platform in the middle of the market for a 360* view.
MAKING CHOCOLATE IN LA ANTIGUA
Rounding out my favorite travel moments of 2023 list is the time that I decided to learn a little more about chocolate during my visit to Guatemala. I learned a little bit about drinking chocolate during my trip to Albuquerque earlier in the year and wanted to try making it for myself.
I had some time in the stunningly beautiful and historically significant mountainside town of La Antigua, so I booked a spot with Ek Chuah and learned all about how chocolate is made from start to finish. It was delicious, informative, interactive, and a great core memory. AND – I’ve since done another chocolate-making class with another on the horizon!
What a year 2023 was! Did any of my favorite travel moments of 2023 surprise you?
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