Happy New Year: Travels in 2013
What a difference a year makes. Last year I wrote a post places I wanted to visit in the new year; this year I’m writing a post about places I will be visiting in 2013. And I’m happy to announce that–despite ‘having to’ go back to work after my year-long career break–I’ve managed to schedule one trip per month for the entire 2013 calendar year.
Yes, you read that correctly–one trip per month.
To be fair, many of them are long weekend (or even just ‘weekend’) trips, but that’s ok. Because as you will see, the ten-week span between mid-June and late-August more than makes up for a few short winter and spring trips.
January: I’m spending the weekend of my birthday in New York City–not to celebrate but to attend the New York Times Travel Show. But really, this is me we are talking about. A giant convention hall full of tourism boards is totally my kind of celebration.
February: There’s nothing like Rhode Island in the dead of winter, right? Ok, well maybe not. But I’m still going to Newport for Presidents weekend.
March: It’s no secret that I love New Orleans, and that’s where I shall return for Easter break. This time I’m actually taking my husband with me. Together we shall gain many, many pounds. Cornmeal crusted soft shell crab eggs Benedict, I’m coming for you.
April: Now for something completely different–a student council field trip to Boston. That’s right, I’m finally visiting Boston. As a chaperone. I’m thinking there will be considerably fewer bar stops on this trip than on…well…any other trip I’ve ever taken!
May: May means Mother’s Day, and there’s nothing my mother loves more than Walt Disney World. We are visiting for a long weekend only and plan to spend time both together and solo during our super-short visit.
June: Oh June, how I love you. June 2013 brings two trips–one small and one giant. The first weekend of the month will find me in Toronto to attend TBEX, the largest travel blogger conference in the world (to the best of my knowledge; correct me if I’m wrong!) And two short weeks later I will be off on my summer road trip; during the last two weeks of June I will travel to Chicago, The Black Hills of South Dakota, and then on to Jackson Hole and Grand Teton National Park.
July: All of July will be spent on the road. From Grand Teton I will continue on to Yellowstone, Glacier National Park, and Seattle. I will then place my husband on a plane, and as soon as his tray table is secured I’ll continue on to Portland, southeastern Utah, and Durango, Colorado.
August: Are we there yet? Nope! I’m still on the road. From Colorado I’ll drive south to Santa Fe for a few days. And then–well, I haven’t quite gotten that far yet. Though I do know that I’ll be driving in a generally north-easterly direction, as I need to return home by the 20th of the month or so. Because school begins again. I may end up with one really long driving day (or two) after Santa Fe, just so I can be sure to hit Memphis, Nashville, and Asheville before I’m forced to return home.
September: Back-to-school month is never a good travel month when you are a teacher. But after the great time I had last year, I’m confident I’ll be returning to The Greenwich Wine and Food Festival in Greenwich, Connecticut. I plan to stay for the weekend and ideally take some girlfriends with me. Hey girlfriends–if you are reading this–want to come with me?
October: This is not at all set in stone, but in my head I plan to attend TBEX Europe in Dublin. It will have to be a crazy-short trip–particularly considering I’ll have to fly across the Atlantic–but still. I’m going.
November: For my Thanksgiving trip next year, I’m doing something unprecedented: driving North. I’ll spend Thanksgiving in Quebec City, a place that’s been on my short list for a very long time.
December: My holiday break is longer than usual next year; because Christmas is on a Wednesday, I’ll have two full weeks off. And what better way to celebrate a longer-than-average vacation than to go to the land where everything is bigger? San Antonio, Texas, at Christmastime sounds lovely, don’t you think?
While everything from Santa Fe on is as-of-yet unplanned and unbooked, that all looks about right. Of course, I reserve the right to add a trip or two here and there throughout the year as well. In fact, I guarantee that will happen.
Welcome 2013. I’m so glad the Mayans were wrong about you.
Suitcase Scholar readers–where will your travels take you in the new year? Share your upcoming trips in the comments section below. Seriously–make ‘commenting on more blogs’ your New Year’s resolution. It’s way easier than that old ‘lose 20 pounds’ resolution; you can even eat a cookie while doing it!
Hmm.. Well we leave a week from Thursday to go to New Orleans for 2 nights and then my husband is off to Texas while I take a 7 night cruise to Cozumel, Costa Maya, Belize & Honduras. In June I’m heading to Seattle with my mom and a friend for a repeat of the Alaska cruise I did two years ago. All new for them, but I can’t wait to see it again. In July DH & I will be road tripping to Cimmarron, NM to spend a week at Philmont Boyscout Ranch for a reunion/service project. I won’t be participating in the service project so I’m planning to visit all the small towns around. I’m sure we will add in a couple of weekend trips during the year as we have a new niece or nephew coming next month in Minnesota.
That’s all I have planned for 2013, but I do already have a cruise booked for 2014 with friends. Same as the one I listed above that I’m doing solo, but out of Tampa instead of NO.
Have a great time with all your traveling!
That’s a lot of traveling! I LOVE New Orleans–have a GREAT time! You’re doing the cruise I should have done last year; instead, I chose the Jamaica/Grand Cayman/Cozumel itinerary (because it was less expensive). I’m jealous of your exotic western Caribbean cruise. And you’re going solo, which is the best way to cruise!
Also jealous of your New Mexico trip–have a great time! I’ll be in Santa Fe in late July (I think).
I did the Jamaica, Grand Cayman/Cozumel out of Port Canaveral last January with my husband and friends. We had a great time. It was my first NCL cruise. I had only done Carnival cruises previously. I now prefer NCL.
Hmm.. I will also be in NM late July. Maybe we will have to get together for lunch if our schedules mesh!
Yes! We definitely should! That’s the solo part of my trip–right smack in the middle of the solo portion, in fact. So I’d LOVE that! I will know dates for sure mid-January.
Wow! That is a very ambitious travel year! I have absolutely no doubt you can do it, though. What a wonderful variety of places you’ll see.
Ambitious. Yes. That’s a MUCH nicer word than the word I’d use–insane. Ha! I may not get to Dublin, depending upon my work situation (I wrote this before I learned about the ‘only one unpaid leave per year’ rule that made me cry) but we shall see! I have this ‘anything is possible if you want it enough’ outlook.
Looks like a great year you have planned. I’ve been to several of the places on your list, you also have many places I’d like to someday visit.
So far I only have a few trips planned, to Vermont and to the FL Keys.
Feel free to give me some suggestions of must-see and -do things in the places you’ve visited. I see on your blog that you spent some time in Montana–I’d love to hear about that. And I’m jealous of your Florida Keys trip–I’ve never been but have always wanted to go. Too many places, too little time, I guess. Some day!
Hi girlfriend! I want to visit The Greenwich Wine and Food Festival with you! You and eating are two of my favorite things!
Yay! Awesome! I’ll make you mark your calendar as soon as the dates are released!!!