I finally got around to wrapping up 2013 in travels and started thinking seriously about where I’m going to be headed in 2014. I’m only a month late – for me, the perpetually late person, that’s pretty good! So here’s where I’m planning on and hoping to go this year.
Set in stone plans
Prague
This is my first big trip of 2014, and I couldn’t be more excited to be kicking the travel year off with a new country that I’ve been dreaming of going to for a long time. All I’ve heard about Prague is that it’s like a fairytale, and, well, I’ve always been a bit of a princess. Joking, I’m pretty laid-back, but I’m still beyond stoked to be finally flying to Prague.
Image source: David Blaikie on Flickr
Oslo
I just bought my tickets to Oslo a few hours ago! I’m going with one of my best friends since I was 10, so this trip is going to combine two of my favorite things – traveling to new places and spending time with old friends. I don’t know much about Norway yet, so I’m looking forward to learning about it before I take off and while I’m there.
Photo credit: Espen Rasmussen, The New York Times/Redux
Bilbao
I’m going to be headed back to the Basque city in July…for the BBK Live music festival! I’ll be road tripping up with a couple of girl friends from Barcelona for a weekend of incredible music and round-the-clock fun. The two groups I’m most excited to see are the Black Keys and my all-time favorite, Franz Ferdinand, along with discovering some more cool Spanish bands.
Beyond excited!
In the works
Amsterdam, somewhere in Italy, and London (to start)
This is the big new project I’ve been so excited to tell you about – I’m working with GoWithOh on a weekend getaway-focused series. The first stop was Dublin, and there’s more coming where that came from, and I can’t wait to showcase some of the top destinations in Europe.
Source: Weesen on Flickr
Edinburgh and England
My family is headed to Edinburgh and then on down to England in the summer (that’s why they get included in the same category). I’ve been having trouble finding the right flights to see my family in the U.K. due to the flights only being available in the high tourist season. But at the very latest, I’ll be able to go this summer. Fish and chips, pub lunches, and endless cups of tea await!
The dream! All five cups are for me, of course. (Image retrieved via Pinterest)
Probably going to happen
California
I’ll be going to California at least for the holidays this year, like every year. It gets put in the “probably” even though I know I’m going…just because I don’t have tickets or dates set yet. It’s always a treat to go home to the Golden State!
Stockholm
It looks like I might be able to meet up with family members in Stockholm in the fall, so of course I can’t pass up a chance to get to visit a new city! I occasionally imagine Stockholm as a giant Ikea filled with very coolly-dressed beautiful blonde people, so I’m fairly certain it’s got to be good (Note: I don’t actually believe Stockholm = giant Ikea. That’s just me being silly).
Photo retrieved via Wikimedia
New York
I’ve got another project that might be coming through sometimes in the fall that may involve a trip to New York. I can’t say very much as it’s not my project to unveil, but I’m definitely interested in visiting the Big Apple…which I have actually never been to, much to the shock and disbelief of my European friends!
Image credit: Jerry Ferguson on Flickr
The wish list extras
Las Fallas in Valencia again
I had a blast at Las Fallas last year, but because I was there on a whirlwind trip with 26 hours of debauchery, I didn’t get as much time as I’d like to really see Valencia. Come on, I didn’t even get to eat paella there! Still, I had a great time and wouldn’t say no to going back again this year, especially when it’s so close to Barcelona.
Source: Vacationality
Madrid again
I’ve been to the Spanish capital three times, but there’s one thing that I’ve still managed to avoid – the fabulous museums! I’ve seen Picasso’s Guernica at the Reina Sofia museum, but I haven’t yet seen the Thyssen or the Prado, two of the best in the world. It’s such an easy trip I really must do a cultural Madrid trip soon!
Somewhere new in Spain
I’ve seen a lot of Spain, but every region is so different that it’s like going to an entirely separate country. Maybe it’ll be the running of the bulls in Pamplona, seeing mysterious Galicia at last, or going to the sun-soaked Canary Islands…but I’ve definitely got a fair few places still to see in Spain.
Galicia. Photo via elvelocipedo.com
Croatia and/or Greece
Both of these countries have been on my Europe travel wish list forever, and I’m really hoping to figure out plans to get to at least one of them this year. Sunshine, beaches, and gorgeous old cities…these sound like my kind of places. But for some reason, even though I’ve been desperate to go for ages it just hasn’t happened yet. Soon!
Photo retrieved via iventsailing.com
So, it looks like 2014 shaping up to be a very, very busy year full of travel for me, which is exactly the way I like it. I’m excited to see some new countries and some old favorites, as well as spend lots of time traveling with my friends and family.
Cheers to a lovely 2014, everyone!
What are you planning on doing in 2014? Any exciting trips coming up?
Besos!
-Jess
I know I am at least going to Montana in August this summer for sure. No, I’m not saying why I’m going and where I’m going but I am really, really excited about it because it is very different from any trip I’ve ever done (and any trip I’ve ever read on any blog actually, I can’t think of anybody else I know wanting to do this kind of trip but I managed to convince a friend to come along). I have to leave some kind of suspense!
And if you come to NYC, I have a TON of recommendations. I’ve only lived outside of the city oh you know… my whole life. 🙂
Wow!!! So jealous!!! Scandinavian countries are on my list for this year… I’ve been working for them since a couple of years now and I think it’s time to know the countries that pay my bills!
I’ll be looking forward for your photos and your stories… have fun!
Fran Gonçalves recently posted…Año Nuevo Chino en Barcelona
Wow, that all sounds brilliant! Enjoy Prague, it’s one of my favourites. And let me know if you do end up making it to Amsterdam!
Caitlyn recently posted…On not being excited about the Winter Olympics
All of those places sound awesome, I’m jealous. Especially the festival in Bilbao, I loved Bilbao so much and going to festivals in other countries is such a good experience.
I’m finally going back to Venice Beach (as well as LA, Florida and NYC) this March and I’m suuuper excited. Hopefully it won’t be the only trip I’m able to take this year.
Hi Jess, that all sounds so amazing. Get in touch when you’re in London if you’d like to meet for a drink.
It is a very ambitious check list but I like it There are a lot of interesting places in Spain, the list is never-ending, even I am Spanish and I love travelling around Spain, there are lot of wonderful places that I don’t know, if u want recommendations for trips around Spain, tell me. By the way, how I told you before you are invited to visit Galicia whenever you want. We have great food, monuments, landscape and so on and you can visit North of Portugal in the same travel,for instance Porto is a nice city. In fact, almost every weekend I visit Portugal because it is very close to Vigo and I enjoy driking Portuguese cofffe. I really recommend it
Miguel Angel Otero Soliño recently posted…Reivindicando la ciudad de Pisa
These plans sound amazing – and ambitious! And I hope you get to do them all 🙂 I’ll be moving to Europe this summer so hopefully our paths will cross!
Heather recently posted…Snapshot: Central Park in Winter
You have such wonderful trips planned this year! I am especially jealous of all your Scandinavia adventures as that is still a region I have yet to visit. Edinburgh is another place that is high on my list so I will be eager to read about your trip there! Enjoy Prague, it really is a fairytale city, but make sure to go a little off the beaten path to escape the crowds. I’ll be interested to see how you like New York, most people either love it or hate it, but it does have a lot to offer visitors! The trip I am most excited about this year is Iceland in August!
Bridget @ A Traveling B recently posted…Skiing in Sugarbush
Come up here to Galicia, where the food is good and cheap and greenery is everywhere! I’m in Santiago de Compostela this and next school year (but home for the summer) so if you’re making a trip over here, let me know and I’d love to show you around! If you look far enough in advance, you can find cheeeeeeap (like 20€ one-way) promo train tickets between Barcelona & Santiago.
Trevor Huxham recently posted…Photo Post: Cazorla, Spain, Gateway to the Mountains
Wow, Jessica! That list is amazing. Oh, to be young again. 🙂 Last year I traveled more than I did any other year of my life. I live in Seattle and traveled to CA twice and Phoenix once. My 6-week trip to Spain was the pinnacle of travel for me. This year, I just found out that I might be returning in the fall. I also have a trip to CA planned later this month. Today I found out about a possible trip to someplace in the States that is not a fancy vacation destination or was even a location I necessarily wanted to go. But I will be attending an event that would be a dream come true for me. I’ll be sure to write about it on my blog if it materializes. 2014 holds lots of promise for me in the travel arena.
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Your plans sound amazing and have made me totally jealous! Prague is a destination I would love to visit. I am actually going on a cruise to the Bahamas later this week and after the MISERABLE winter we’ve been having in the Northeast I can’t wait. Nothing else is booked but hoping to visit Atlanta, Seattle, and for my big dream trip, Peru. Need to get a crackin’ on the booking though 🙂
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Ooh the Bahamas! I would love to go somewhere sunny and warm right now (although my winter has been nothing like the northeast’s – stay warm). And Peru too!! Can’t wait to hear about your travels this year. 🙂