Last week, I wrapped up the trip report of my summer trip to Australia and New Zealand with a post about Hot Water Beach and Cathedral Cove. ICYMI, you can also read about our time in Sydney, Taupo and Rotorua (Part 1 and Part 2) as well as our hotel, house rental and campground experience.
When my family returned home from our two-week trip, I posted a few photos on my personal social media pages. I was a little surprised to get a couple of comments like “How are you ever going to top that trip?” and “Now you’ve done and seen it all!”
I never thought of this trip as the ultimate end-all be-all trip. And I’m nowhere close to having done and seen it all!
Perspective on Bucket List Trips
Sure, Australia and New Zealand might be once-in-a-lifetime destinations. Flights are long and pricey on both cash and miles. But, I’ve never thought of that trip as my end-goal. My husband and I are in our mid-40s, and we still have quite a few prime years left to travel.
I’d rather refer to these big “bucket list” trips as simply adventures along the way before moving on to the next big trip. For some people this may seem like an unrealistic goal. But, with the help of miles and points, it’s doable. Our trip to Australia and New Zealand was almost entirely on miles and points, and we couldn’t have afforded it otherwise.
I also believe that there are different distinct categories of trips, and our adventure Down Under was just one type of trip. It was adventurous and full of new things and exploration.
But, I also look forward to trips that are closer to home and include relaxation and nostalgia. Believe it or not, I’m looking forward to our trip to Disney World next summer just as much as our big trip this past summer. We’re staying in a new-to-us resort and seeing Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge for the first time. Plus, being at Disney World with my family stirs up fond memories that I know will last a lifetime.
Big Trips Still On my List
I am far from out of ideas on places to travel. And, I keep learning about new places to explore!
Here are a few ideas that are still on my “bucket list”:
Switzerland: Ever since I watched Samantha Brown’s episode on Switzerland, this destination has inched up my list. The picturesque mountain chalets, fondue to-go in a backpack, cheese…..
Disney Parks in Asia: Being the Disney fan that I am, I’d love to visit all the Disney Parks that I haven’t seen yet in the world. I’m missing the parks in Hong Kong and Shanghai as well as Tokyo Disney Sea in Japan.
European River Cruise: My parents went on two European river cruises and raved about them. The ships are small, and the scenery is spectacular. This is something I’d save to do after our kids are grown and flown.
Maui: My family has been to Oahu and Kauai, but Maui is still calling my name.
Final Thoughts
The answer to “How do you top a trip like that?” is that you don’t. You just go on different trips that you will likely enjoy in different ways, and you keep learning about future travel destinations that may become your next big trip.
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Author: Nancy
Nancy lives near Dallas, Texas, with her husband and three kids. Her favorite vacations include the beach, cruising and everything Disney.
very nice thanks for sharing this information
My big trips I want to take are Switzerland, Italy, Iceland, Yosemite, repeat Hawaii (it never gets old) and Costa Rica. We vary our kinds of trips like you. Some are easy like taking advantage of the all-inclusive Hyatt promo going on right now where we will relax at the resort and some are adventures like snorkeling and exploring Curacao. Those are the two I have booked. So much to do and see!
@Jennifer Those are some great trip goals! And you’re right, Hawaii never gets old!
Really enjoyed your New Zealand trip reports, especially since we’re going next July for a couple weeks and the info will come in handy when planning our trip. We share your perspective on traveling, we don’t have a “see everything” end goal when we travel either. For these larger “bucket list” type trips, we look at them as a way to sample the region we’re visiting, in the hope that one day we will come back there, and can make more memories of the things we enjoyed there.
@BothofUs2 That’s a great way to look at those big trips as a sampling of the area!
Love this! My bucket list is always growing and the trips I have in mind are all so different.
@Julie Some of the trips I thought I wanted a few years ago have dropped off my list! It’s fun to keep changing my list in my head.