So, you want to travel!  Yay!  My job here is done!

No but really, that is the first step.  Then there’s all the boring practical questions like financing and getting off work and how to get there and where to stay and the list goes on fooorrrrrrreeeeeeeever.  But there’s also the fun stuff: where to go and what to do!

I read a really interesting article on Huffington post about why not to create a bucket list.  And although I agree with the points, I think that a bucket list doesn’t HAVE to give you those limitations like “give you tunnel vision” or “make you miss out on spontaneous getaways.”  You can choose to use a bucket list in different ways.

Let’s start with the most feasible things.  What are things in your own town that you would like to try and do.  I told my friend Lillie last week, "Let's go do something outside." She said, “Well, what are your Chicago outdoor bucketlisters?!?”  And I am ashamed to admit that a red light flashed in my head because I hadn’t thought about it!  You can bet your bottom dollar I have a list now.

Go on the Chicago architectural boat tour

Actually make it through the entire Art museum and not just visit the same 5 favorite Monets

Play in a sand volleyball league

Eat at a famous chef’s restaurant

Ride a Segway – I’ve checked this off!!!!!!

Go to China town

Go to a second city show

Take a cooking class

Take a glass blowing class

Explore a new train stop I’ve never gotten off at

Play Frisbee in the park and bring my grill

Kayak on the lake

Actually have a dinner party at my house where I cook for everyone

Go to a farmer’s Market in a different neighborhood

Go to a concert of a singer I love

See a bears game

Next, list activities you want to do that maybe you can’t do in your hometown.  When I was traveling from Buenos Aires to Santiago, Chile, it was cheaper to take a bus across the continent, stopping in Mendoza, Argentina along the way!  When planning what to do in Mendoza, my traveling partner Matt and I looked at activities that were on our bucket list.  For me, trying new things is always a top priority, so we went White Water Rafting for my first time ever!  This will help you prioritize things you’d like to do when you are planning your trip and/or help you choose a place to go to accomplish them.

Skydiving

Run a marathon

Scuba dive

Ride in a hot air balloon

See more architecture that came from Worlds Fairs (Eiffel tower came from there)

Try new, exotic foods specific to different cultures and areas

See famous paintings

Go to the tops of mountains

Be in nature with no other people

Be in a place during their huge celebration (like the festival of lights in Thailand)

See the northern lights

Ski in the alps

Volunteer in another country

See elephants and giraffes in the wild

Lastly places you want to go.  Don’t let this blind you to other beautiful places that come your way.  Let it give you a starting place or guidance.  Keep your mind and your heart open to all places, things, and opportunities.  I didn’t know anything about Panama City but had the opportunity to stop through there, and it was incredible!  Who knew!?

The Great barrier reef

The Great wall of China

Bolivian Salt Flats

The pyramids of Egypt

A Christmas Market in Europe

Petra

Yellow Stone National Park

Glacier National Park

Rome

Kentucky Derby

Bali

Barcelona

Nashville

Denver

Angel Falls

Alaska

I could list things for hours upon hours, but these are just examples of some of the things on my list.  On my most recent trip, I checked off a ton of really special bucket list items- Machu Picchu, Iguazu Falls, attending the Olympics again, Rio de Janeiro, seeing a wild monkey, eating exotic cultural foods, white water rafting, skiing in the Andes, swim with sea lions, tango in Buenos Aires, and many more things that I couldn’t have even known I wanted!

So I encourage you to brainstorm lists.  Be willing to add and subtract.  Be willing to do things not on it, and to not be devastated if you don't complete one when you thought.  Making the lists gets your brain started towards doing things.  You can travel.  You can skydive.  Start putting that energy out there, and you will be more inclined to accept those opportunities that may already be there!

WHAT ARE YOUR BUCKET LIST ITEMS!  I'D LOVE TO KNOW!