As we slip past the Christmas crush, and 2015 winds down, I want to recap travel resolutions—made and missed—and to reflect on my travel year and all of the places I visited…and those still on the list.
My resolution to exercise while traveling was an unmitigated disaster. I didn’t even work out enough when I was home. I’m not sure what it’s going to take to blast me back into the gym on the road, but I’m actively looking for motivation, and this once again makes my New Year’s list.
I am happy to report that I did not sit in one middle seat all year—my second resolution. I had a banner year of upgrades to business class, thanks to many miles traveled. Sadly, I didn’t stay with one airline all year to consolidate my frequent flyer points, so I won’t have the same “status” next year. If you can always fly the same airline, there are some nice perks associated with frequent flyer status, such as early boarding. And, with a daughter going to and from college, it’s terrific to check three suitcases for free.
As for destinations, I got as far as Mackinac Island again this year, but still need to get over the bridge to the Upper Peninsula. We had a great few family days on the island, which is still magic even after many visits. There is something so special about the lack of cars and the abundance of fudge.
This year, I also fit in a quick visit to Yosemite National Park; it is truly a national jewel. I made it to someplace I had never been—Edinburgh, Scotland. I highly recommend the Scottish capital and its environs as a terrific vacation venue. The people were exceptionally kind, the rental apartment we had was luxurious, and then there was the occasional wee dram of Scottish whiskey!
I scored big on my last resolution, as it was truly a year of family-centered travel and memory making. With a daughter in college and very senior parents, almost every trip was designed to spend time with family, in many and various combinations.
We started the year in a freezing cold viewing stand to watch the Rose Parade in Pasadena, California. It was colder in southern California on that day than in Michigan. The parade was worth seeing, however, especially with my husband and daughter, who had never seen it up close in all of its floral glory.
It was also a year of cities: Washington, D.C., San Francisco, Los Angeles, Detroit, Chicago and New Orleans were on my travel dance card. Visiting the outstanding WWII Museum in New Orleans with my mom and stepfather—a veteran—and watching them dance to the music of the era with the “Victory Belles” was unforgettable. Our annual visit to Disneyworld topped the charts this year as my husband’s entire family (including his 80-something parents) made the trip. Traveling in a group of 12 is always a challenge, but Mickey’s magic worked, and we had a great time.