Goodbye old year, hello new year! Now that a new year has begun, I’m looking at what’s on my bucket list to plan my next adventures.

We never know what a year will bring, so I’m focusing more on creating unique travel experiences rather than just checking destinations off my list.

Let’s plan trips we can take any time, anywhere!

Whether you’re staying close to home or traveling internationally, these trips are about the experience more than the destination.

Here are twelve trips on my bucket list in honor of the next twelve months!

Go on a Solo Trip

Traveling solo is one of the most empowering and freeing experiences we can have, which is why it’s on my travel list every year.

A solo trip is a perfect excuse to make everything about you – and we all need more “me” time.

I know that solo travel can be intimidating, but it’s worth it! So learn how to be confident traveling solo, practice for solo travel, review these safety tips for solo female travelers, then book your solo trip!

Need help deciding where to go? Here are the best destinations for solo female travelers and the top U.S. cities for traveling solo.

Go on a Girls’ Trip

Get your gals together for a girlfriend getaway!

A bachelorette party or birthday is the perfect excuse to have a girls’ trip, but you don’t have to wait for a big life event to get your crew together.

So whether you’re hitting the beach, renting a cabin, partying ’til sunrise, or sleeping in, bring your besties along for the ride!

Visit a National Park

National parks are (literally) a breath of fresh air. We can escape to nature, unplug from our devices, and have any kind of adventure we want.

Tips for Visiting Popular National Parks

So whether you want to head to a popular national park such as Yosemite, Acadia, or the Great Smoky Mountains, or visit one of the best off-the-beaten-path national parks, such as Saguaro, Haleakalā, or Badlands, you can’t go wrong with any national park!

Go on a Mother-Daughter Trip

My Mom is one of the best traveling companions EVER! I love the one-on-one time I get with her on a mother-daughter trip, and we both love creating memories together.

Some of my favorite mother-daughter destinations are Savannah, The Bahamas, Sedona, Hawaii, and Napa Valley.

If you can’t travel with your Mom, then go on a trip with a mother figure in your life. I have several “honorary moms” that I love to travel with.

Go on a Road Trip

Road trips have always been one of the best ways to travel. Driving gives you freedom over your itinerary and plenty of room for your belongings.

Plus, there’s that sense of adventure, self-reliance, and accomplishment that you get from a great road trip!

My favorite road trips in the U.S. are the Pacific Coast Highway, the Blue Ridge Mountains, and the New England Coastline. 

Celebrate in a New Place

For your birthday, anniversary, or holiday this year, celebrate by visiting a new (or favorite) destination. 

Traveling for a special occasion is the perfect excuse to treat yourself!

Go on a Wellness Retreat

Wellness travel is about unplugging, stepping back from the busyness of day-to-day life, slowing down, and relaxing.

The Best Wellness Retreats in the U.S.

But when we travel, it can be hard to eat healthily, exercise, and take a break from the outside world, which is where wellness retreats come in. A wellness retreat is designed to promote well-being, making it easier for us to rest, rejuvenate, and re-connect with ourselves, others, and nature.

Here are the top spa getaways for a girls’ trip, couples retreat, and mother-daughter getaway!

Go Glamping

Glamping, or “glamorous camping,” is a way to enjoy camping without giving up any of the luxuries of home. In fact, every glamping site I’ve stayed at has had nicer luxuries than I have at home!

I love being in nature, but I also like staying in luxury, so glamping is the best of both worlds.

Stay at a Cool Vacation Home

In case you haven’t heard, there are some INCREDIBLE vacation homes out there – treehouses, mansions, all-glass houses, trains, boats, and just about any other type of living space you can imagine.

So instead of booking a trip to visit an incredible destination, consider booking a trip to stay in an incredible house.

Go on an RV Trip

RVs, motorhomes, and camper vans are fantastic ways to travel. These vehicles give you lots of room, complete freedom over your route and itinerary, and make it easier to travel with friends, family, and pets.

Rent the Perfect RV for Your Next Road Trip

Driving an RV can be intimidating, but it’s easier than most people think. You just need to do your research, have the right mindset, and be flexible and gracious with yourself because there is a learning curve.

Plan a Staycation

You don’t have to fly halfway around the world to have an adventure. Wherever you live, I bet there are hidden gems right outside your door that you’ve never visited or that you’ve forgotten about.

So explore your city like a tourist. Book a room at a hotel you’ve always wanted to visit, go to that restaurant you keep forgetting to make a reservation for, hop on a tourist bus, or visit a state park.

Do whatever it is that you usually don’t do in your hometown!

Do Something You’ve Never Done Before

What’s something you’ve always wanted to do but have never done? Scuba diving, hiking a glacier, going on a no-doors helicopter tour, riding a camel?

Whatever activity is at the top of your bucket list, go do it wherever you can!

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This is not a sponsored post, and, as always, the thoughts and opinions expressed in this post about what’s on my bucket list are entirely my own. Some of the links in this article about what’s on my bucket list are affiliate links, and, at no cost to you, I may earn a small commission.