11 Best Travel Adventures of the Year, Plus Baby Pics!
Oooh Mama, it's been quite the year!
Here's a ranking of the best travel adventures of the past 365 days, with links to photos and details of each if you click the blue words.
Accompanying this end-of-year roundup are photos of our awesome new baby, because, well, I cannot resist.
11. New Hampshire. We saw some of the best sunsets of our life above the New Hampshire mountains in July! That state has become one of our favorite mini-vacation spots, as it has so much to offer, and is just a short drive from Boston.
10. Toronto, Canada. Toronto, where I traveled for the giant annual TBEX Travel Bloggers Conference in June, really surprised me. The city has a fascinating mix of sparkling skyscrapers, artsy bohemian neighborhoods, and delicious, diverse food. If the cranes everywhere are any indication, the city is developing rapidly.
9. Vermont. In April, when mayhem was breaking out at the Marathon just blocks from our Boston apartment, Colin and I happened to be in Vermont, which lends an unsettling taste to this trip for me. That said, Vermont is a wonderful place to visit, with nature and food to revitalize the spirit.
8. Blogging Land. This July marked my four year anniversary of running this website. Writing for you all remains one of the great joys of my world!
7. Boston Fun. Boston is my home-- the place I decided to live permanently, after traveling around the world-- and it's great. This year brought a glittering two feet of snow in February, a yummy food tour of Boston's Little Italy in September, sunny river Kayaking and rainbow autumn foliage in October, and in November, a funny fashion photo shoot and scrumptious feast at a pan-Asian restaurant opening. This is a good town!
6. Pregnancy World. Growing a tiny human in your abdomen is an absolute adventure, replete with some VERY strange effects.
5. Newport, Rhode Island. Newport is the home of old money and mansions, and our January trip to the town made me feel like royalty! Just an hour and a half from Boston, it's a dreamy weekend getaway to a different era.
4. Hawaii Babymoon. Despite the strangeness of pregnancy, it comes with its perks... including a "Babymoon:" a luxurious getaway to celebrate life before the little one arrives. Staying at the #1 hotel in the world in gorgeous Hawaii definitely did the trick!
3. Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Despite being from New England, I'd never been to famous Cape Cod until this year... and I loved it! We rented a house that we filled with family and food, and spent the days swimming, chatting, eating, and enjoying the scenery and relaxed vibe. A highly recommended destination!
2. India. WOW was our trip to India incredible. And intense. And phenomenal. All the rumors about India travel are true, and then some. Just click the link and see. I am so glad we were able to take that epic trip before...
1. Baby World. By far, the most life-changing adventure this year, OBVIOUSLY, is giving birth to our little baby, Devi. Though he keeps us up at night and is a crazy amount of work, he's the best thing ever. Love!
So what about you? What was your #1 adventure this year? Have YOU been to any of the places listed here? Which was your favorite?
Do share!
The author, Lillie Marshall, is a 6-foot-tall National Board Certified Teacher of English, fitness fan, and mother of two who has been a public school educator since 2003. She launched Around the World “L” Travel and Life Blog in 2009, and over 4.2 million readers have now visited this site. Lillie also runs TeachingTraveling.com and DrawingsOf.com. Subscribe to her monthly newsletter, and follow @WorldLillie on social media!
I'm not sure if the haunted house is still in Toronto but that was FREAKY. It's been quite a few years.
Oooh-- I've never heard of it!
Gorgeous baby photos and what a magical year it was for you! All the best in 2014.
I really enjoyed looking at your top photos of 2013. I especially loved the ones in Toronto and India. Your little man is adorable. What an exciting year for you! I hope 2014 is just as exciting for you, if not more! Happy New Year!
It's Koraliz, from sixie year two years ago! Your baby is so cute ! OMG, just want to squish his cheeks. God bless him, his eyes are precious :)
Thanks! I squish his cheeks and kiss them so much :)
So awesome! I really want to add Korea on my list because I haven't been there in nearly 20 years. I heard it's change a bunch. This year, I really loved visiting Savannah, GA. It was my first time visiting the real South! My other was going to NYC with my daughter via Amtrak. It was AWESOME!
I can't wait to hear your travel adventures with your baby! I loved and still love traveling with my daughter and seeing her delight as she first experiences on different modes of transport. Have a great new year!
WOW, you guys had quite the year! Your little one is adorable. Glad you got in so much traveling before he was born, although I have a feeling you'll continue seeing the world!
Amazing year! Where are you planning on travelling to in 2014 with the little one? Adorable baby photos!
Thanks! We're certainly going to keep traveling, but are still feeling out how far we can go and how soon with such a little tyke. Will keep you posted...
Great list of great adventures. Looks you had quite a great year. 2013 was good for you.
Nicely done, Lillie - love the attendant baby pics, what a doll!
Though I can't say that I can beat your #1 this year (hardly, given that I now have GRANDchildren!), I HAVE had my fair share of travel adventures this year. For starters, I moved from teaching EFL in Vietnam to Thailand, but also had plenty of adventures traveling to... the Elephant Festival in Laos in February, Nepal and Borneo in Sept/Oct, and most recently a romp 'round Myanmar.
And not to be idle/stationary for too very long - in 2014 (indeed, shooting for February) I plan to jump whole continents and MOVE TO ECUADOR!
So exciting!!!!
First of all, Devi is absolutely adorable! He looks like a mix of you both! Out of all of the things listed, Newport, Rhode Island really seemed to catch my eye. I've always wanted to visit a place known for their big mansions and old money. Plus, you really wouldn't expect such a small state to be so expensive in style.
Forget the travel adventures; love the baby pictures!
Is that your mouth expression or the other half's?
O.K. so to answer your questions:
Seems like you were in the Northeast quite a bit. I do love that area; was in Boston on my way back from Toronto where I saw you at TBEX. It was only a few hours there in Boston to connect with some friends from Europe, then an overnight bus to New York City as I could not find a hotel room as it was graduation, etc. in the city. Was amazed at how many people were on that bus; it was full!
I've done India, but not this year; need to. Yes, it is truly incredible.
Thanks for the recap Lillie.