Someone 30 years older than me told me I was too young to have a bucket list. Ha! You got to be kidding me, I thought. Who cares how old you are? Isn’t it just a list of experiences and achievements you want to accomplish before you die? I’m pretty sure I started compiling my “bucket list” before I even knew what one was and then changed the title of it.

“Fill your life with experiences, not things. Have stories to tell, not stuff to show.”

Anonymous

Growing up, I always said I wanted to visit all 50 US states, explore all seven continents, and experience the 7 Wonders of the World. My list has grown a lot since then, and I am not even sure what is considered a world wonder these days. Over the years, I realized I was continually adding a lot more things than I was doing and decided to change that.

Instead of going wherever the cheap airfares are or agreeing to random trips, I decided to narrow down my travel bucket list and start focusing on my bucket list dreams. Cheers to Seeing the World!

Sam in a white dress throwing sand above her head in the desert.
Girl in a yellow printed dress walking along a road leading to mountains.

The Top 40 before I’m 40

  1. Visit all 50 US states (2024)
  2. Frolic through tulip fields in the Netherlands (2024)
  3. See a Santorini sunset (2022)
  4. Swim with Humpback whales in Tonga (2023)
  5. Car Camp through New Zealand
  6. Go Gorilla trekking in Rwanda
  7. See the BIG 5 on an African Safari
  8. Take a photo in front of Machu Picchu (2022)
  9. See my reflection in the Salar de Uyuni salt flats in Bolivia
  10. Meditate in Bhutan
  11. Eat Thai food in Thailand
  12. Swim with Humpback Whales in Tonga (2023)
  13. Hang gliding in Switzerland
  14. Skydive over Palm Island in Dubai
  15. See the Northern Lights Norway 2024
  16. Stroll through the villages inspiring Beauty & the Beast in Colmar, France (2023)
  17. See a Sahara desert sunrise (2023)
  18. Release a lantern at the Pingxi Lantern Festival in Taiwan
  19. Explore the ancient ruins in Egypt (2022)
  20. Road trip through the Faroe Islands
  21. Car camp through Alberta, Canada
  22. See a hot air balloon sunrise in Cappadocia, Turkey (2022)
  23. Hike to Petra and see it illuminated at night
  24. Visit all the US’s National Parks (I’ve been to 36)
  25. Stay in an overwater bungalow in the Maldives (2022)
  26. Road trip along the Croatian coast (2022)
  27. Swim in Jellyfish Lake, Palau
  28. Walk along the Great Wall of China
  29. Stay in a castle in Ireland
  30. Sail through the Whitsunday Islands, Australia
  31. Visit Austria in the wintertime (2024)
  32. Explore the Galapagos Islands by boat
  33. Swim through the lakes of Coron, Philippines
  34. Go on a dog sled ride (2021)
  35. Hike the W trek in Patagonia
  36. Road trip through the Dolomites in Italy (2023)
  37. See Iguazu Falls in Argentina
  38. Go waterfall chasing in Java, Indonesia
  39. Visit the Middle East (2022)
  40. Paddleboard through glaciers in Antarctica

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do”

Mark Twain
inspirational life quote saying she believed she could so she did
inspirational life quote

What I have already experienced

  • Visited all 50 states (some multiple times)
  • Visited 5 Continents: Australia, Asia, North America, South America, Europe
  • Been to 36 Countries: USA, Canada, Bahamas, Costa Rica, Domincan Republic, Mexico, Panama, Puerto Rico, Australia, Tonga, Columbia, Peru, Egypt, UAE, Yemen, China, India, Maldives, Philippines, Turkey, Coratia, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Netherlands, Aruba, Curacao, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, England, Scotland, Cayman Islands
  • Enjoyed an Opera at the Sydney Opera House-2019
  • Dived the Great Barrier Reef- 2019
  • Held a Koala Bear- 2019
  • Scuba dived in the Philippines- Coron 2019
  • Visited the Isle of Skye in Scotland- 2019
  • Ziplined in Costa Rica, Maui, and Puerto Rico -2009
  • Walked over the Golden Gate Bridge- 2016
  • Climbed the Statue of Liberty- 1996
  • Kayaked in Fajardo Bioluminescent Bay, Puerto Rico- 2016
  • Free dived with dolphins- Kona, Hawaii 2008
  • Swam with Whalesharks- Mexico 2019
  • Saw the Mona Lisa-Louvre 2005
  • Wore a sari in front of the Taj Mahal- 2019
  • Wandered around Stonehenge- 2005
  • Saw the sunrise above the clouds on Haleakala, Maui- 2006
  • Relaxed in the Blue Lagoon, Iceland- 2017
  • Caught a bill-fish- 190 lb Black Marlin 2006 Kona Hawaii
  • Free dived for lobsters in the FL Keys- many times since 2008
  • Saw the David in Florence, Italy- 2018
  • Took a photo in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris- 2005
  • Drove over 17,000 miles while car camping the USA
  • Took many road trips to see the Fall foliage in the US
Sam walking on a white sand dune in White Sands National Park.
girl standing on a rock in a teal lake

Why Do I Travel?

I travel for the experiences, the adventures, the thrill of meeting new people, and immersing myself in fascinating cultures. I thrive on the positive energy I get when seeing something unique, learning something new, and overcoming challenges I’m often faced with when landing outside my comfort zone.

“Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.”

Dr. Seuss

I am grateful for all the experiences I have had and can’t wait to keep exploring this big, fascinating world! I hope you will join me on my journey by subscribing to my monthly newsletters to stay up to date on where all my travels take me.