Year in Review, 2018 Travel Goals | RebeccaWanderlusting

2017 Recap & 2018 Travel Goals

On January 10, 2018 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Travel Goals, Travel Tips1 Comment

I won’t lie to you, 2017 was not my year. Though, I have no illusions that I’m alone in saying that. On a very surface level, I didn’t travel as much as I would have liked to this past year. Which, in the grand scheme of things, isn’t an awful problem to have. However, this is a travel blog that I write and not traveling means a lack of content. So, before we get right into it, I’d like to start off by saying that one of my resolutions for 2018 is to post more authentic and unique blogs. I hope to do much more traveling this year, even if it’s smaller trips throughout the Midwest. So, hopefully, this means I’ll be posting more travel essays and trip planning blogs.

That being said, I did have a few highlights in the past year. I went back to one of my favorite cities in the Midwest: Grand Rapids to see my all-time favorite musician, Aretha Franklin. I visited St. Louis for the first time via a Pullman Car pulled by an Amtrak Train, an amazing experience in and of itself. I drove to New Buffalo, MI to experience one of the prettiest beaches on Lake Michigan. I got the opportunity to explore Toronto and the surrounding area, including Niagara Falls and Niagara-On-The-Lake. And, last but not least, I was able to spend more time exploring my hometown of Chicago.

Okay, on to the more optimistic portion of this post: my 2018 travel goals:

Later this month I’ll be heading to Playa Del Carmen, Mexico solo for a long weekend of beach time and relaxation. Let me tell you, I could use it. I’m very excited to experience Mexico for the first time and most importantly, see Chichen Itza in person. I’m so looking forward to this trip!! I will share more of my travel plans for this one next week.
In the beginning of March, I’m heading to NYC for a quick trip to visit my cousin, Gracie. You may remember her from the beautiful photos and words she shared about her journey to Jordan: here, here and here. I don’t have any solid plans for the weekend except to visit with my friends in the city and enjoy their company.
That being said, I’d also like to visit my lovely friends in Salt Lake City and Denver sometime this year if I can! It’s lovely to have friends all over the country to visit (and stay with!).
Before work gets too busy (starting in May), I’d like to explore a new Midwestern city for a weekend. I think maybe Minneapolis, Madison or Indianapolis could be fun. I could take the Amtrak to any of those cities or rent a car and do a little road trip. If you have any strong feelings about any of these cities please share!
This summer, I’ll be heading to Traverse City with my family for a long weekend on Lake Michigan. We’re renting a house right on the lake and plan on relaxing the whooooooole time. I’d like to check out some of the wineries in the area. We also will be visiting Sleeping Bear Dunes to swim and explore.
I’m playing with the idea of taking a solo trip to Acadia National Park in the Fall. I can imagine that it would be the prettiest time to go, and that timeline gives me enough time to save for it. I think the best way to go out about it would be to fly into Boston and drive up the coast. I’m dreaming about a little cabin in the woods where I can write and hike all day long.
The last big plan I have for 2018 is to go on a little birthday trip somewhere warm-ish. I’m thinking of trying to get to Antelope Canyon in Arizona or Albuquerque, NM; somewhere in the Southwest for sure. Again, if you have any suggestions, please share!

I am hopeful that this year will be wonderful and full of adventures, both big and small.

What are your 2018 travel plans?

27 in 27 Goals Recap + A New List | RebeccaWanderlusting

27 in 27 Goals Recap and A New List

On December 5, 2017 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Travel Goals, Travel TipsLeave a comment

What a year it has been. 27 was an interesting age to be; there were certainly a lot of ups and downs. I feel very proud of what I’ve accomplished in this year, and it makes me hopeful for the year ahead. Though there were some losses, I also feel like this year brought me some amazing new experiences. I always start the year with a list of goals correlating with the age I turn, and my list of 27 goals proved to be quite the challenge. I think I did pretty good considering. Here’s the breakdown:

Canadian Adventure – DONE! – I went to Toronto and Niagara in Ontario in October. Read about that trip here, here, here or here.
Take a Trip on an Amtrak Train – DONE! – An Amtrak train transported me in style from Union Station in Chicago to Union Station in St. Louis.
Run a Race – My friends, I tried my best to make this happen. I signed up for two different races this year and couldn’t do one due to an injury and the second one was cancelled on me due to a crazy storm. This one will have to be added to next year’s list.
Have an Article Published in a Magazine – DONE! Magnificent Mile– It was an online magazine but it still counts! I wrote something for Viva Lifestyle & Travel this summer about the here in Chicago.
Read More Non-Fiction – DONE! Out of the 25 books I’ve read so far this year, 15 of them were non-fiction.
Be Better About Networking – DONE! – Thanks to Shapr and attending local events, I can confidently say I am better at networking than I was at the start of this year.
Find a Collaboration – DONE! – I started the year with a new blog, co-written and edited with a friend of mine (which is now no longer a thing, but that’s totally fine – live and learn!) and am now endqqing the year as one-seventh of a wonderful group of women that host fundraisers for charities in the Chicago area.
Figure Out my Personal Style – DONE! – It was a lot easier to work with a personal style when I don’t have to spend all my fashion money on suits like I used to. I utilized Stitch Fix and shopping all the good sales to get some key items that suit my simple style.
Invest in a Solid Wardrobe Staple – DONE! – As I said in #8, I was able to get quite a few key pieces like some great black booties and a camel colored trench.
Go to Mexico – HALF DONE! This trip is booked but I won’t be going until next month.
Write More Fiction – There was not enough time this year to work on fiction writing, but I’ve got high hopes for the future of my fiction writing.
Make & Sell Some Candles – This was a lofty goal. I made the candles but just ended up burning them myself, so at least I did half of it.
Take a Yoga Class – DONE! – I found a yoga studio by my old apartment that I absolutely loved (Yoga for All Beings in West Town) and went to frequently. Now, I’m attending a gym in Wicker Park that offers a multitude of other classes that I’ve been exploring.
Learn to Meditate – DONE! – I tried out the Headspace App to work on this one and I’m not entirely sure that sitting still for so long is for me, but I’m happy that I pushed through to make it work.
Get a New Tattoo – DONE! See for yourself:
Explore a New Chicago Neighborhood – DONE! – Lincoln Square: neighborhood guide coming soon.
Get a New Job – DONE! – I started a new position as a Catering Sales Manager back in February and have been much happier since.
Go to a National Park – DONE! – The Gateway Arch in St. Louis.
Master Conversational French – I wish I could have accomplished this one! I’m switching over to Spanish now though in anticipation of my Mexico trip.
Get a Massage – DONE! – I visited the Spa at the Four Seasons for a massage and dinner by the pool earlier this year.
Buy a Piece of Art – DONE! – Technically I won my pretty flamingo print in a raffle, but regardless of how I got it, it’s here and it’s lovely.
Make Homemade Pasta – DONE! – This was not the most delicious meal I ever made. In fact, the homemade noodles looked more like soggy french fries than anything, but I’m glad I tried and I think it will be much better next time.
Take an Educational Class – DONE! – I’ve already talked about my creative non-fiction class quite a bit here but I would be happy to take another class with Gotham Writers any time.
Go on a Trip Without Writing About It – DONE! – It was our yearly trip to Wisconsin but it was still nice to travel without the pressure of having to come up with new content.
Organize a Clothing Swap – Nope. Just didn’t happen.
Make Something for the Apartment – DONE! – Two woven yarn wall hangings, one for over the bar and one for over the bed.
Go to a Play – DONE! – A Winter’s Tale outdoors in Forest Park in St. Louis.

21.5/27 GOALS DONE – I think that’s pretty good!

This year’s list includes a classic literature reading list, a few travel goals (a mother-daughter trip, a beach vacation and visiting a new country), seeing a favorite musician in concert, checking out some new Chicago attractions and mastering some new recipes. Here’s hoping 28 is my best year yet!

What are your goals for this upcoming year?

27 in 27: Halfway Point

On June 5, 2017 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Lifestyle2 Comments

It’s official. The move is over, the wedding is over, we are unpacked and comfy in our new home, and I can finally get back to business. We love the new apartment and our new neighborhood! We moved from West Town up to Logan Square and I think it suits us. The 606 (Chicago’s answer to the High Line in New York) is a couple blocks South of us and we are so close to so many fantastic restaurants and bars. Plus, our apartment is full of sunshine and has so much more space than what we had before! Here’s a sneak peak:

Though I could write about the new place all day, that’s not what I’m here to talk about! I wrote one of these posts last year, detailing my goals for the year and where I’m at so far. Yesterday marked my half birthday, and I’m not nearly close to being halfway through this list. But, I’m confident this second half of the year is going to be much more productive. I’ve got big plans for the next six months, not limited to the following list. So, without further ado, here are my 27 in 27 goals:

Visit Canada (for the first time) – we have plans to head north in the Fall to visit Toronto and Niagara Falls. I’ll keep you posted on this one.
Take a trip on an Amtrak train – no plan on this one yet.
Run a race – Almost done! I’m signed up to run a half marathon with my sister in September.
Have an article published in a magazine – I haven’t even begun to think about this one but it has always been a dream of mine to be published in a travel magazine
Read more non-fiction – DONE! and still working on it! So far I’ve read “My Life on the Road” by Gloria Steinem, “No Baggage” by Clara Bensen, “All About Love” by Bell Hooks, “The White Album” by Joan Didion, and “The Lost Continent” by Bill Bryson.
Be better about networking – DONE! Thanks to a little app called Shapr
Collaborate on a new project – DONE! My friend Jen and I created a new blog called A Strong Female Lead which focuses on female empowerment
Figure out my personal style – This is a work in progress. Because most of my wardrobe consists of work clothes, I’m trying to find some sort of happy medium.
Invest in a solid wardrobe staple – To piggy back on the last one, this is still on my to do list.
Go to Mexico – I’m trying to work this out for my next birthday, but we will see!
Write more fiction – my writing habits have fallen by the wayside so far this year, but as I said, I’m picking it back up now.
Make & sell candles – Halfway there. I made the candles, I have the Etsy shop, I just need to put the two together.
Try a new yoga class – DONE! There was a studio by our old apartment that I went to quite a few times. Now I have to find a new one by us.
Try meditating – DONE! I’m amazed I can sit still for that long.
Get a new tattoo – still trying to decide what I want, I’m thinking nature themed.
Explore a new neighborhood – DONE! I’m looking at you Lincoln Square!
Get a new job – DONE! Happily employed as a Catering Sales Manager now.
Visit a National Park – Not done. Any suggestions?
Master Conversational French – Non. But I do have Duolingo and I will be better about using it.
Get a massage – DONE! Read all about that here.
Get new art for home – DONE! A beautiful flamingo print that is currently hanging above our record player.
Make homemade pasta – Not done yet, but I’m really looking forward to this. Thanks for the inspiration Master of None!
Take a new class – I don’t know what kind of class I’d like to take yet. Maybe a cooking class, or maybe I should pair this with #19 and head to the Alliance Francaise.
Go on a trip & not write about it – It’s planned! Fourth of July in Northern Wisconsin.
Organize a clothing swap – This is something I’ve always wanted to do, and I have yet to plan it. But I will.
Make something for the new apartment – Maybe some art or maybe some shelves, who knows. I’ll keep you posted.
See a play I’ve never seen – Nope. Suggestions?