There are days when planning my own travel feels a little overwhelming.
Not because I don’t know where I want to go—but because there are so many places I’d love to experience, and many of them deserve far more than a single visit.
Some days I dream about slowly wandering through the French countryside, spending my afternoons exploring château after château without feeling rushed. Other days I’m drawn to northern Germany, where life has been shaped by the sea for centuries and every harbor town has another story to tell.
Then there are the mountains calling me to Switzerland. I want to spend long summer days riding scenic trains, hiking alpine trails, and lingering in little villages tucked between impossibly green valleys and snow-capped peaks…while refueling on Swiss chocolate.
And that’s only the beginning.
I still want to hike through Italy’s Dolomites before losing myself in the art of Florence and Rome. I want to better understand Scotland by experiencing it instead of just reading about it. I’d happily spend weeks cruising, touring, and hiking through Alaska and western Canada, and I don’t think I’d ever complain about finding the perfect balance of adventure and relaxation in Hawaii.
The list keeps growing.
Maybe yours does, too.
Now, I refuse to believe that the problem is having too many places on my list. Maybe it’s simply that I am conceptualizing my future travels the wrong way.
Instead of organizing my bucket list by destination, I’ve started thinking about the kinds of experiences I want to have over the next several vacations. It turns out that’s a much easier place to begin.
Let’s Dream For A Minute
Let’s build one together.
Of course, there is no “right” answer. Just choose the option that immediately sounds the most exciting to you.
Which story would you be most excited to tell when you get home?
- Learning to make pasta from an Italian grandmother.
- Spotting a whale from the deck of a small expedition ship.
- Watching the Northern Lights dance overhead.
- Wandering through a centuries-old Christmas market.
Your ideal vacation morning begins…
- Sipping coffee in a quiet café while the city wakes up.
- Hiking to a spectacular viewpoint.
- Exploring a museum before the crowds arrive.
- Watching the ocean from your balcony with nowhere to be.
Which headline would make you click first?
- “Hidden villages most travelers miss.”
- “The world’s most beautiful train journeys.”
- “The best food markets you’ve never heard of.”
- “Wildlife encounters you’ll never forget.”
If someone handed you a plane ticket today, which experience would you choose?
- A luxury rail journey.
- A safari.
- A Mediterranean yacht voyage.
- A food-focused tour through Europe.
What’s your favorite way to spend an afternoon while traveling?
- Browsing bookstores and local shops.
- Sitting at a café people-watching.
- Exploring castles, ruins, or historic neighborhoods.
- Getting outside—whether that’s kayaking, hiking, or sailing.
Which souvenir would mean the most to you?
- A piece of local artwork.
- A cookbook from your favorite restaurant.
- A handcrafted item from a local artisan.
- A photo that instantly transports you back to that moment.
So…Where Does That Leave You?
Did you notice a pattern?
Maybe your answers leaned toward food. Or history. Nature. Small towns. Luxury. Adventure. Slowing down.
That’s the beginning of your travel bucket list.
Because bucket lists aren’t really about collecting countries. They’re about collecting the kinds of experiences that make you feel most alive.
One person dreams about seeing every national park. Another wants to dine in Michelin-starred restaurants around the world. Someone else wants to visit the filming locations of their favorite movies, attend world-famous festivals, or trace their family history across Europe.
None of those are more “correct” than the others. Those answers are your compass. They help you decide not just where to travel, but which trip belongs next.
Where I Come In
As a travel advisor, one of my favorite parts of the planning process is helping clients uncover those patterns.
Sometimes someone comes to me asking about Italy, but after talking for a while we realize what they’re really craving is lingering over long dinners, wandering charming villages, and slowing down enough to savor everyday life. Italy may still be the perfect fit—or maybe southern France, Portugal, or neighboring Slovenia would scratch that same itch in a way they hadn’t considered.
The destination matters, of course – but it’s often the setting, not the story.
Once you understand the kinds of moments you’re hoping to collect, choosing between Germany, Scotland, Alaska, or another return trip to a favorite destination suddenly becomes much less overwhelming. You’re no longer trying to visit everywhere. You’re choosing the place that best delivers the experience you’re craving right now.
Ready to Build Yours?
Does this still feel like a lot of work? Does it still feel like you’re throwing darts at a map and hoping one sticks?
You don’t have to figure it out alone.
Book a time on my calendar, and we’ll build your travel bucket list together—not as a checklist of destinations, but as a collection of experiences you’ll still be talking about years from now.
And if you already have a travel bucket list, I’d be delighted to hear about it. Send it my way—I can promise I’ll happily gush over it with you.
Let’s discuss your future travels together!
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