I really feel like I say it yearly, however yearly it feels increasingly more true: the final 12 months has flown by!
While the COVID-19 pandemic is not actually “over,” journey restrictions eased significantly and a few semblance of “normal” journey returned in 2022, particularly within the second half of the 12 months. I traveled much more this 12 months than within the earlier two years (mixed, really), and so I’m returning to recapping my prime 10 journey experiences out of an inventory that features far more than simply 10 highlights.
While the vast majority of my journey this 12 months was returning the locations I’ve been earlier than, I however had tons of latest and memorable experiences!
2022 journey by the numbers
Here’s my 12 months in journey by the numbers:
- Countries visited: 6 – USA, Canada, United Kingdom (each England and Northern Ireland), Ireland, France, and Iceland
- US states visited: 9 – New York, Washington DC (x3), Nevada, California, Tennessee, Kentucky, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Texas
- Total flight legs: 33
- Days on the highway: 101 (roughly 28% of the 12 months)
Some notable issues that occurred this 12 months embody:
- My first worldwide journey since 2019! Elliot and I dusted off our passports (and he really used his British passport for the primary time) after we went to London and Paris in May. It was really the one journey we took the place we needed to take COVID assessments with us and check ourselves earlier than returning dwelling.
- Finally occurring the journey to Baffin Island that had been canceled and rescheduled a number of occasions since 2020! (More on this later; it was superb, and well worth the wait.)
- Getting COVID. Yup, it caught up with each Elliot and I this 12 months, him in January and me in April. Luckily we each had delicate instances and recovered comparatively rapidly.
My prime 10 journey highlights from 2022
And now on to the true cause you got here to learn this put up: the journey highlights! Some of those are whole journeys, whereas others are components of journeys that actually stood out.
As all the time, it was onerous to slim this listing down!
10. Discovering new corners of Ireland
In late September, I went on a piece journey to the Republic of Ireland, touring with Globus Journeys on one in all their new Choice Touring journeys referred to as Green With Envy.
The tour was jam-packed with Ireland highlights from Dublin to Galway, however the true stand-outs for me have been getting the prospect to discover extra of Westport in County Mayo (the place I even have some ancestry!) and visiting the wild and exquisite Achill Island for the primary time.
Many vacationers don’t love returning to locations they’ve already been, however I personally find it irresistible! I all the time uncover new issues on each journey.
>> Read extra: 8 Fantastic Things to Do in Westport, Ireland
9. Getting horsey in Lexington
As a self-professed “Horse Girl,” I’ve all the time wished to go to the Horse Capital of the World, AKA Lexington, Kentucky. But for no matter cause, it did not occur till I used to be 35 years previous!
I spent a protracted weekend in Lexington this previous summer time, absorbing all of the horsey highlights like touring Keeneland Race Track, going to Kentucky Horse Park, visiting a thoroughbred breeding farm, and extra. I snuck in a distillery tour, some nice meals, and a little bit of Lexington historical past, too – there’s loads to do in Lexington!
>> Read extra: The Best Things to do in Lexington, KY: The Perfect 3-Day Itinerary
8. Cherry blossom insanity in DC
I really visited Washington, DC thrice in 2022, however my favourite go to was the impromptu weekend Elliot and I spent there in March so as to see the blooming cherry blossom timber.
We have been in a position to plan the journey on a whim since we reside inside driving distance, and spent a weekend dodging the crowds (as a result of whew are there crowds!) and seeing as many white-pink blossoms as we may. Along with visiting the well-known Tidal Basin, we additionally had a cherry blossom-themed afternoon tea and went to the annual Blossom Kite Festival.
This was a bucket listing merchandise for me, and I’m so glad I lastly bought to do it! (I’ll write a information earlier than the following cherry blossom season.)
7. Causeway coast in Northern Ireland
Elliot and I took a visit to have a good time his birthday this 12 months, and he determined he wished to go to Ireland and Northern Ireland for the primary time! We spent per week touring from Dublin to Belfast to Derry to Galway and again to Dublin, with the spotlight for me positively being all of the stops we made alongside the Causeway Coast in Northern Ireland.
Filled with citadel ruins, secluded seashores, and epic coastlines, that is such an attractive (and I feel underrated) place in Europe. Elliot liked attending to fly our drone just a few occasions, and we lucked out with fairly good climate!
We additionally spent two nights at Galgorm, a spa resort with an outside thermal village that you simply most likely would by no means look forward to finding in the course of Northern Ireland.
6. Desert highway journey
One of the primary journeys I took in 2022 was out West with my pal Kat from World Wide Honeymoon. We flew to Las Vegas and rented a automotive for per week to discover locations like Death Valley, Alabama Hills, and Joshua Tree. We additionally frolicked in Las Vegas, and visited each Red Rock Canyon and Valley of Fire close to Vegas.
I actually liked each a part of this journey, however the spotlight for me I feel was the day we spent in Death Valley National Park. The climate was delicate in February, so we have been in a position to do all of the hikes and see all of the wild landscapes.
>> Read extra: The Perfect 7-Day California Desert Road Trip Itinerary
5. Going to the F1 USGP
One of the primary issues Elliot and I splurged on after getting our COVID vaccines and feeling invincible was a visit to Austin, Texas to see the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix. Elliot has been watching F1 races since he was a baby, however had by no means really been to a race in-person!
We ended up having to postpone the journey from 2021 to 2022, however the wait was price it. We purchased Paddock Club tickets, which meant entry to a hospitality suite above the pit lane, a particular behind-the-scenes paddock tour, pit lanes walks, and extra.
I’m unsure we’ll ever spend that a lot on sporting tickets once more, nevertheless it definitely was cool for a weekend.
4. Iceland highway journey
I’ve really been to Iceland a number of occasions since 2012, however I hadn’t but checked “driving the Ring Road” off my bucket listing. So when by mishap my pal Adventurous Kate needed to reschedule a deliberate Iceland highway journey, I impulsively volunteered to tag alongside.
She took me up on the provide (I imply, splitting prices in Iceland is rarely a foul thought), and we spent simply over 2 weeks in August exploring all totally different corners of Iceland. (And sure, I’ll ultimately publish our complete itinerary!)
Some of my private highlights have been re-visiting the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, spending a day within the lovely city of Husavik, driving via the East Fjords, chasing waterfalls alongside the South Shore, taking an in a single day journey to the Westman Islands, and visiting as many sizzling springs as we presumably may.
>> Read extra: 25 Epic Things You Have to Do on Iceland’s South Coast (and What You Can Skip) and 10 Essential Tips for Visiting Iceland Hot Springs and Thermal Baths
3. London/Paris journey
The first post-COVID (or, post-start-of-the-pandemic, I assume I ought to say) worldwide journey that Elliot and I took occurred in May of this 12 months. We determined to deal with ourselves to a reasonably luxurious journey to London and Paris, staying in some good resorts and splurging on some cool excursions and actions.
We did a lot of touristy issues in London, but additionally indulged in some afternoon teas and spent an evening on the uber-luxurious Shangri-La Hotel inside The Shard. We then took the Eurostar to Paris, the place we have been the final word vacationers (Eiffel Tower? verify; Louvre? verify; Seine cruise? verify), and took a very enjoyable day journey to Versailles.
We largely had wonderful climate for the entire journey, and it felt unbelievable to be touring considerably “normally” once more.
>> Read extra: The Perfect 10-Day London and Paris Itinerary for Your Dream Europe Trip
2. Hiking to see a volcano
Okay, so this technically occurred throughout my Iceland highway journey, nevertheless it deserves its personal call-out as a result of it was so epic!
As Kate and I have been planning the ultimate particulars of our Iceland journey, a volcano on the Reykjanes Peninsula began erupting. It was near the place a volcano erupted for months in 2021, and there was already a partially-established mountain climbing path to get near it. We instantly agreed that if it was nonetheless erupting after we arrived, we must do the hike.
We deliberate the hike for our first full day in Iceland, and headed from our Reykjavik lodge straight to the parking space for the hike. The hike was reasonably troublesome, being 8 miles complete round-trip with some elevation acquire in just a few spots and a big, uneven lava subject to hike throughout for about an hour. Luckily we have been ready with the suitable gear plus snacks and water, and the Icelandic Weather Elves have been type to us.
I do not suppose I’ll ever neglect cresting the ultimate little hill to see that volcano spewing molten lava. I gasped audibly, and couldn’t cease exclaiming “holy shit!” It was SO COOL.
We sat on a hill a secure distance away (with a lot of different folks) and watched the lava for about an hour. Along with the good colour of the lava, I used to be additionally amazed by the SOUND of lava churning in a crater; it appeared like an enormous lava washer!
Our timing ended up being excellent, as a result of by the point we left Iceland, the volcano had gone dormant as soon as extra.
>> Read extra: I haven’t got a weblog put up about this one, however I did make this Reel on Instagram in regards to the hike!
1. Baffin Island safari
Lastly, essentially the most memorable and epic expertise of my 12 months was the one I waited the longest for. I had first booked this journey in February 2020 for that summer time, after which had it canceled and rescheduled twice due to the pandemic. Well, it was positively well worth the wait!
In June, I packed up my warmest winter clothes and headed the furthest north I’ve ever been, to the group of Mittimatalik (AKA Pond Inlet) on the northern finish of Baffin Island within the Canadian territory of Nunavut.
I spent practically per week sleeping in a (very cosy) tent on prime of not-yet-melted sea ice, spending my days touring by way of conventional sled to go to the floe edge the place the ice meets open ocean. We have been there to see what Mother Nature would present us, and she or he confirmed us all the things from bowhead whales to some elusive narwhals.
This expedition-style journey was unbelievable in so some ways. It was the best factor on the planet to disconnect from the surface world and simply soak in all of the Arctic magic. Truly a once-in-a-lifetime expertise.
>> Read extra: At the Edge of the World: A Floe Edge Safari on Baffin Island
And that wasn’t even all of the journey I did in 2022! I additionally went to New York City, spoke at a convention in Memphis, lastly visited Franklin, Tennessee, and explored the Inner Banks in North Carolina for the primary time.
What a 12 months!
My “bests” of the 12 months
Here are just a few random “bests” of 2022 that I believed can be enjoyable to share.
Best new vacation spot: Nunavut and Death Valley
While most locations I visited this 12 months have been repeats for me, I did squeeze in just a few new locations. My prime favorites most likely should be Baffin Island in Nunavut, Canada, and Death Valley National Park in California. (I can not select only one!) Both starkly lovely locations.
Best lodge: Shangri-La the Shard
We splurged on one night time at this London lodge, the place we slept within the greatest mattress I’ve ever seen, took a bubble tub within the clouds (no joke, the lavatory had floor-to-ceiling home windows!), and went for a morning swim in an infinity pool on the 52nd ground.
Best historic website visited: Manzanar
On my desert highway journey, Kat and I spent just a few hours exploring Manzanar National Historic Site within the California desert. This was the location of one of many camps that Japanese-Americans have been imprisoned at throughout WWII. I personally by no means discovered a lot about these “War Relocation Camps” in class, so visiting and witnessing the historical past first-hand was each fascinating and shifting.
Best tour I took: Versailles bike tour or RIB boat tour in Iceland
Another tie! The first is the day-long bike tour Elliot and I took from Paris to see the palace and gardens of Versailles. It was such an amazing day; we noticed the palace earlier than the crowds descended, shopped for lunch at an area market, and ate al fresco alongside the primary Versailles canal.
The second was the hour-long RIB boat safari Kate and I took in Heimaey within the Westman Islands in Iceland. We zipped round in a speedboat, seeing cool rock formations and caves and rocking out to music in between stops. It was simply pure FUN!
Best hike: Mulagljufur Canyon
I’m not an enormous hiker, however I’m not against tackling quick hikes when there are nice views promised! And by far the perfect hike I did this 12 months was into Mulagljufur Canyon in southern Iceland. This canyon is a bit tough to get to (it’s a must to drive down a really bumpy unpaved highway, after which hike uphill for not less than 45 minutes), and possibly due to that hasn’t been liked to dying but.
Kate and I had the epic views all to ourselves for some time, and the hike was 1000% price it.
Best wildlife encounter: Crack whales
While we noticed no polar bears and solely a pair narwhals on my “Narwhal and Polar Bear Safari” in Nunavut, we have been delighted many times by encounters with gigantic bowhead whales. The most original encounter was after we stumbled upon a pair whales simply hanging out in a big crack within the ice. They have been shut sufficient that we may have reached out and touched them.
And there you have got it! Another 12 months finished, and one other highlights reel revealed.
2023 is ready to be much more travel-filled, with return journeys to some locations, and a number of other new adventures, too! I hope you may proceed following alongside.