New Year, New Me?

As is the tradition, the New Year sparks in many of us the desire and motivation to start anew.  The making (and often breaking) of lofty resolutions.  We are going to lose weight, drink less, be generally nicer to people, organize our closets (and lives) and eat more vegetables.  If we’re lucky, we make some progress on at least one throughout the year!  Instead of the usual list of resolutions, I’m opting for a travel wish list for 2018.

This year, I have many travel-related ambitions.   One goal is already in progress, as the Brown Lady Travels blog launches this week!  Brown Lady Travels is born from my constant desire to see new places, breathe different air, eat awesome food and feel the sea breeze in my hair.

As I look at the places I have been and hope to share in Brown Lady Travels, I can’t help but dream about new places and experiences.  Here are five destinations on my (still developing) travel wish list for 2018.  It’s definitely ambitious, since I don’t currently have access to unlimited funds and travel time.   The good thing about travel wish lists is that they don’t expire.  In the meantime I’ll dare to dream, anything is possible in a New Year!

1. New Orleans for Mardi Gras

While I have been to New Orleans many times, I have yet to be in the city during Carnival.  I feel like I need to experience it at least once.  Catch the parades and eat some King cake… possibly wearing a green tutu.

2. Costa Rica

Zip line through the rainforest, sip cocktails in a hammock on the beach, see monkeys and sloths in the jungle.  I don’t camp but this type of wilderness sounds like my kind of adventure.

3. New York Food and Wine Festival

As someone who loves the Food Network, the prospect of attending their annual Food and Wine Festival in one of my favorite cities makes this an easy one to add to the wish list.  Culinary demos, cooking classes, lavish brunches with Rachael Ray, Bobby Flay and Eddie Jackson running around?  Did I mention Eddie Jackson?  Yes.Please.

4. Barbados Food and Rum Festival

The Barbados Food and Rum Festival is a triple threat- a dream come true for me really.  I’ve had my eye on it for years.  Food and rum pairings.  I feel like that phrase doesn’t get used enough.  Chefs creating culinary treats to accompany rum and wine, set on a beautiful Caribbean island. Need I say more?

5. Bali, Indonesia

I came to the realization that I am slightly obsessed with Indonesia when the majority of my travel board on Pinterest was images of Bali.  The flight time from California alone (~24 hours) is a little daunting- I may need a stopover somewhere midway.  But, it keeps caaaalling me!

Okay fam, what tops your travel wishlist for 2018?