End of Year Review and Sneak Peek for Next Year Archives - Caffeinated Excursions

2025 End-Of-Year Summary & Sneak Peek 2026

Kevin | Caffeinated Excursions — Sat, 27 Dec 2025 18:00:00 +0000

2025 End-Of-Year Summary & Sneak Peek 2026

Published December 27, 2025

This blog post was proudly created without the use of generative AI. It was 100% written and edited by a human, for humans. Enjoy, and thanks for your support!

Welcome to my 2025 wrap-up blog post! This is the post where I summarize all the places I’ve been over the last twelve months and preview what my plans are for the upcoming year. My 2025 was filled with travel, in no small part because I moved from Chicago to Brisbane, Australia last month! I lived in Chicago from 2021 to 2025, and I will always cherish my memories of the Windy City!

I hit the ground running this year with an extended trip to Southeast Asia and Oceania in January and February. In the spring and summer, I traveled mainly within North America. In the fall, I stayed near Chicago to prepare for my move to Brisbane in November.

Every year since 2020, I’ve written an annual end-of-year wrap up and sneak peek of the following year. If you’re curious where I went the past few years (or where I predicted I would be), check out those posts using the links below!

To skip down to any of the main sections of this blog post, click the corresponding link below.

2025 Review
Looking Forward to 2026
Plans for 2027 and Beyond

2025 Review

2025 Stats

Countries Visited This Year: 9
(United States, Philippines, Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Canada, Sweden, Taiwan)
New Countries Visited: 4
(Philippines, Indonesia, New Zealand, Sweden)
US States Visited This Year: 5
(Washington, Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan)
New States Visited: 0
Flight Segments: 27
Train Segments: 11

1. Seattle, WA (Jan)

I celebrated New Year 2025 in Seattle because that’s where my immediate family is, plus many of my friends from high school and college. I don’t always spend the holidays there, but Seattle is definitely my “home base” no matter how far I may roam.

2. Philippines (Jan-Feb)

Less than a week after New Year, my friend Ismael and I flew from Seattle to the Philippines! We spent about a week and a half traveling throughout the country together, then I stayed for a few more weeks on my own.

This Philippines trip was an island hopping adventure. I got to visit Manila, Coron, Cebu City, Bohol, and Panglao, all of which are pretty popular tourist destinations. However, I think the highlight of my month there was exploring two islands that don’t see a lot of international tourists: Culion and Catanduanes. Despite being right next to each other, Coron and Culion are polar opposites. The former is a bustling tourist destination, while the latter is a sleepy island with a complex history and a tight-knit local community.

3. Bali, Indonesia (Feb)

The next stop on my Southeast Asia and Oceania trip was Bali. I know, this Indonesian island is about as on-the-beaten-path as you can get in Asia. Nonetheless, I generally had a good time here. Bali’s best feature was its lush, green rice fields. The worst part about Bali was the totally insane traffic. After a few days, I tried to minimize my time on the roads. This helped me make the most of my ten days there.

4. Sydney, Australia (Feb)

After nearly a month of solo travel, I was so excited to meet up with my family in Sydney! The second half of my extended trip centered around a cruise from Sydney to Auckland. We spent a few days admiring Sydney’s most famous landmarks before boarding our ship.

5. Princess Cruise from Australia to New Zealand (Feb)

Over the past few years, my family has used cruises as a venue for family reunions, and I’m a fan after two of them. My extended family did a cruise in Europe in 2022; this cruise aboard the Royal Princess was just me, my parents, my brother, and his wife.

Sydney to Auckland was an intense itinerary. Some intermediary stops included Melbourne, Tasmania, and Christchurch. We had a few relaxing sea days, most notably while crossing from Tasmania to New Zealand, but Princess Cruises packed a ton of activities and excursions in over the course of about two weeks.

6. Auckland, New Zealand (Feb)

At the conclusion of our cruise, my family and I explored New Zealand’s biggest city for a few days. Auckland felt quieter and smaller than Sydney or Melbourne. I wouldn’t say Auckland Central had a lot of charm, but I found the nearby seaside neighborhood of Devonport to be very quaint.

If you read my 2024 recap, then you’ll know that even by the end of last year, I planned to move away from Chicago in late 2025, albeit to Asia. In all honesty, visiting Sydney in February convinced me to apply for an Australian Working Holiday Visa (WHV). This trip was my third visit to Australia, and each time, I always left with a very favorable impression. I want to blog more about the process of applying for my visa and making the move, so keep an eye out for that in 2026!

7. Return to Chicago, IL (Mar)

After spending the first two months of 2025 abroad, I was thankful to be back in Chicago just in time for the weather to start warming up! I was based there from March until the end of October, so I got to enjoy all of Chicago’s seasonal activities from spring until late fall. The following pictures are from St. Patrick’s Day, the first holiday that happened after I returned from my extended trip!

8. Mexico City, Mexico (Mar)

For about a week in March, I went to Mexico City to become reacquainted with La Condesa, the neighborhood I called home for much of 2018. Returning to Mexico City seven years later was very nostalgic! Going back to some of the restaurants I used to eat at regularly made me very happy.

9. Minneapolis, MN (Apr)

My next short trip was in April, a weekend getaway to Minneapolis from Chicago by Amtrak. I had never taken a long Amtrak trip before this (more than an hour or two), but I found it to be pretty comfortable.

I visited Minneapolis in 2024 as well, so it was nice to go back and “fill in the gaps” a bit. Even with two visits in two years, I’ve only scratched the surface of what Minneapolis has to offer. It’s a surprisingly big city with attractions spread out across its many diverse neighborhoods.

10. Madison, WI (Apr)

Close friends know that I’ve become a bit of a Wisconsin enthusiast over the last few years! After a bunch of visits to Milwaukee in 2023 and 2024, I figured it was finally time to see what Madison was all about. And let me tell you… it was great! Madison is a lot smaller than Milwaukee, but because it’s a college town and the state capital, there is always a lot going on. In fact, I liked Madison so much that I went back at the end of summer!

11. Muskegon & New Buffalo, MI (May)

Michigan had been on my travel wish list ever since I moved to Chicago, and by summer, I knew I was leaving for Australia at the end of the year. With my time in the Midwest running out, I prioritized two trips to Michigan: one long weekend trip to Muskegon via the Lake Express Ferry that leaves from Milwaukee, and one day trip to New Buffalo, Michigan’s closest town to Chicago that’s accessible by Amtrak.

Both Muskegon and New Buffalo are picturesque small towns on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan, and taking the Lake Express Ferry was a really unique experience. Being out in the middle of Lake Michigan and not being able to see land on either side felt surreal! Unfortunately, the ferry tickets are not very affordable.

12. Montréal & Québec, Canada (Jul)

This summer, I traveled abroad twice. The first trip was to Montréal, a city that two friends and I have wanted to visit together for years now. The second trip was a solo venture to Sweden (read more about that directly below). The summertime energy of Montréal was incredibly festive. I think cities with cold winters like Montréal and Chicago know how to make the most of their summer months and really live it up!

As part of this trip, we spent a few days traveling from Montreal to Trois-Rivières and Québec City. I’m glad we dedicated a few days of this trip to seeing these smaller cities. A highlight of Québec City was the idyllic Île d’Orléans, an easy day trip as long as you have a car.

13. Gothenburg, Sweden (Jul)

This was my first real impromptu trip in a long time, and I chose Gothenburg mainly because last-minute flights were relatively cheap. Gothenburg is a two-for-one deal because you can see the city and the nearby Gothenburg Archipelago, a rocky island chain that’s home to colorful fishing villages and dramatic ocean views. Sweden was incredibly expensive, but I was only there for about five days and did my best to avoid overspending.

14. Return to Madison, WI (Aug-Sept)

That’s right, I loved Madison so much that I went twice this year! On this second visit, my friend Ismael joined me. By pure luck, we happened to be there during Taste of Madison, an annual food festival that featured lots of international cuisines.

15. Milwaukee, WI (Sept)

I’m sad that I only made it up to Milwaukee once this year (twice if you count my trip up to catch the ferry to and from Muskegon, MI). On this last trip, I made sure to see the Mitchell Park Domes and go back to a few favorite spots, including the Milwaukee Public Market and Lakefront Brewery.

16. Bloomington, IL (Oct)

My only real weekend trip this fall was to Bloomington, which is in Central Illinois. I went for my aunt’s wedding, which ended up being a beautiful ceremony amidst the early fall foliage. In all my years of living in Chicago, this was the only trip I ever made to Central Illinois! I never owned a car in Chicago, but I’m sure I would’ve explored the rest of Illinois in more depth if I did.

17. Kenosha, WI (Summer & Fall)

Remember when I mentioned that I’m kind of obsessed with Wisconsin? Well, that includes Kenosha, the first town you encounter after crossing the Illinois border headed north! Kenosha is a lakefront town, just like Chicago and Milwaukee, but it’s obviously a lot smaller than both cities. The downtown area is walkable and has no shortage of parks, restaurants, breweries, and a gorgeous public waterfront.

18. Seattle, WA (Nov)

I packed up all my belongings in Chicago on Halloween and flew to Seattle the next day. I spent only two or three nights there, but it was good to see family and a few friends before making my way across the Pacific to establish myself in Australia!

19. Taipei, Taiwan (Nov)

In order to break up what would be a very long flight from Seattle to Australia, I stopped in Taiwan along the way. Granted, I used this as a convenient excuse to spend almost two weeks exploring Taipei (and I technically may have had fewer hours flying if I booked Seattle to Sydney with a stop in SFO or LAX).

Taipei was an absolute gem. The city’s public transit was phenomenal, and the food scene there did not disappoint. I could see myself setting up shop in Taipei someday (to learn more about that, check out the last section of this blog post).

20. Kaohsiung, Taiwan (Nov)

As part of my Taipei trip, I went down to Kaohsiung by train for a few days. This was a city I visited in 2019, so being back was such a joy! I loved revisiting specific attractions, such as the historic railcars on display at Hamasen, pictured below.

21. Sydney, Australia (Nov)

After a fabulous stay in Taiwan and a very groggy layover in Singapore, I finally made it to Australia! I was absolutely exhausted, so I’m glad I scheduled a few days in Sydney to recuperate. Since this was my second visit to Sydney in 2025, I was able to take it a little slower and just enjoy the city’s ambiance.

22. Move to Brisbane, Australia (Nov)

At long last, I flew from Sydney to Brisbane in mid-November. This move was basically an entire year in the making! I’ve been in the sunny capital of Queensland ever since, exploring my new home, trying some local restaurants, and walking all over town. I also got a job offer for a position that starts after New Year, so hopefully I’m set for 2026!

US States Visited by End-of-Year 2025

34/50 States (68%)

Countries Visited by End-of-Year 2025

47/~200 (24%)

Looking Forward to 2026

1. Brisbane, Australia (Jan - Nov)

Now that I’ve settled down in Brisbane, I’m hoping to stay here until November of 2026. Different job opportunities could potentially take me elsewhere, but when I applied for my one-year Working Holiday Visa, I intended to live in one city for the entire time. I love getting to know places in depth, and that’s exactly my plan for Brisbane and the rest of South East Queensland for most of next year!

During my time in Australia, I’ll be writing up monthly review posts of what life is like on a Working Holiday Visa (WHV). I’ve already published my first one, and new updates will be posted around the middle of each month throughout most of 2026!

2. Australia Travel Ideas

While based in Brisbane, I would love to do some weekend or otherwise short trips to some other parts of Australia or maybe a nearby island or two. Below are some options I’ve been considering.

Gold Coast, Queensland

The Gold Coast boasts one of Australia’s most recognizable skylines right on the Pacific Ocean. Since the Gold Coast is only about a two-hour train ride away from Brisbane, I’m sure I’ll visit multiple times.

Adelaide, South Australia

At this point, I’ve been to Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth, which are the four largest cities in Australia. Adelaide is the country’s fifth-largest metro, so I’d love to fly down there next year if I can find the time to.

I don’t know much about South Australia’s capital city yet, but the layout is absolutely fascinating, with a giant green belt surrounding the urban core, separating it from all the nearby suburbs. I’ve never seen a similar design anywhere else in the world, and I’d love to explore the Adelaide Park Lands in person.

Northern Territory

If I make it to Adelaide, then the last major Australian state/territory I have to visit will be the Northern Territory. I could visit Darwin, the capital, or Alice Springs, the biggest inland town in the NT. Perhaps the most famous landmark in this territory is Uluru, shown below. It’s on my bucket list, even if I don’t make it there within the next year.

3. Nearby Islands

The following two islands are only about a two-hour flight east of Brisbane, so I’d love to visit them in 2026 if I can!

Norfolk Island

Norfolk Island is a tiny Australian external territory with only about 2,000 residents. It looks like it has unparalleled natural beauty, in part due to the Norfolk Island pine, a distinctive tree that’s featured on the island’s flag.

I absolutely love visiting small islands. Many of my favorite trips have been to islands such as Grand Turk (Turks and Caicos Islands), Bimini (The Bahamas), San Andrés (Colombia), Côn Đảo (Vietnam), Bermuda, etc. I think Norfolk Island would offer a similar experience, so this is a destination I really want to prioritize.

New Caledonia

I’ve had this island on my travel wish list since at least 2020. It’s a French territory, and photos online showcase its gorgeous beaches. However, New Caledonia experienced political turmoil in 2024, so I would definitely keep an eye on that before booking a trip…

4. Albania (Sept)

My only trip for 2026 that’s 100% confirmed is Albania in September. That’s because a friend from college is getting married there! I can’t wait to celebrate her wedding day there, and I’d love to extend this trip into a two-week stay in Europe if I can.

6. Possibly Seattle, WA for the holidays (Dec)

Unless I’m granted another Australian visa, I have to leave by November 2026. If you’re curious where I plan to move after that, check out the section below about my plans for 2027! Given the timeframe, I don’t know where I’ll be for the holiday season of 2026. I could either move directly to my next country, or I could go back to Seattle for Christmas and New Year. It’ll all depend on how things shake out in the second half of next year.

US States Planned by End-of-Year 2026

34/50 States (68%)

Countries Planned by End-of-Year 2026

48/~200 (24%)

Plans for 2027 and Beyond

As I mentioned above, my current plan is to stay in Australia for one year, which means I need to move somewhere else at the end of 2026 or beginning of 2027! I want to remain abroad through at least the first half of my thirties, so I probably won’t move back to the US in 2027. I’ve had Asia on my mind for a while now (I last lived in Vietnam in 2019); below are four countries I could try to move to after my time in Australia comes to an end.

Option 1: Japan

Regardless of where I go in Asia, I would likely work as a teacher. Japan is enticing for me because I’m half Japanese, and I would love to immerse myself in the culture there. I have only been to Japan once in my early teens, and I need to go back as an adult. Even if I don’t move to Japan, I will make sure to visit within the next few years.

Option 2: Thailand

I’ve visited Thailand once in 2016 and three times in 2019 (back when I was based in Vietnam, so flights were short and affordable). All four visits were to the Bangkok metro area, so I still haven’t been to the islands down south or the mountains up north. With that said, I clearly found Bangkok to be worth multiple return trips, and I could definitely picture myself living there.

Option 3: Taiwan

I’ve done two decently long trips to Taiwan, one in 2019 and one this year. I’ve gotten to see Taipei, Kaohsiung on the southern end of the island, and a few other nonurban areas (namely Kenting and Penghu). I think living in Taiwan would be an amazing experience! I speak Mandarin Chinese at an intermediate level, so the language barrier would be lower than if I moved to the other countries in Asia I’m considering.

Option 4: Vietnam

I’ve already lived and taught in Vietnam, but it was such a positive experience that I am thinking about going back. In addition to being a fun place to live, I already have experience working there and would know what to expect. I loved Ho Chi Minh City, and would probably move back there if I decided that Vietnam was the way to go.

Cheers to Another Year of Travel

In many ways, 2025 was a really tough year, and unfortunately I don’t think 2026 will be any easier. However, I found that traveling, meeting people from around the world, and building connections helped me remain hopeful and optimistic about the state of the world.

Leaving everything behind in Chicago last month was not easy, but I’m ready for new adventures in Australia in 2026 and hopefully in Asia in 2027! Thank you for following Caffeinated Excursions, and be sure to check back regularly for new blog posts!

Share This Post With Fellow Travelers!

This post was published on Dec 27, 2025

This blog post was proudly created without the use of generative AI. It was 100% written and edited by a human, for humans. Enjoy, and thanks for your support!

Hi, I’m Kevin! I’m a coffee addict from Seattle, and my life revolves around traveling! Caffeinated Excursions is a record of my trips over the past seven years. Since I started blogging, I’ve lived in Mexico, Vietnam, Brazil, and the US. I just moved to Australia and plan to be here a full year. Thanks for checking out my blog!

Bangkok (Sept)
Istanbul (Sept)

The post 2025 End-Of-Year Summary & Sneak Peek 2026 appeared first on Caffeinated Excursions.

2024 End-Of-Year Summary & Sneak Peek 2025

Kevin | Caffeinated Excursions — Sun, 29 Dec 2024 18:00:00 +0000

2024 End-Of-Year Summary & Sneak Peek 2025

Published December 29, 2024

This blog post was proudly created without the use of generative AI. It was 100% written and edited by a human, for humans. Enjoy, and thanks for your support!

Another year of travel has come and gone. That means it’s time for my annual review blog post! This year was honestly a little rough, especially towards the end. I got to embark on some amazing journeys through the spring and summer, but I was pretty bogged down with work through the fall and winter. Nonetheless, I powered through, and I am very grateful to finally have a holiday break!

With that said, I have some exciting plans for 2025, including some big changes in store for the second half of next year. Long story short, I’m planning on moving abroad again. The “Sneak Peak 2025” portion of this post will go into more detail about when, where, and why!

This is my fifth annual end-of-year reflection post. If you’re curious what I did in previous years, be sure to check out some of my older posts in this yearly wrap-up series!

Below are some shortcuts to the sections of this post. Click or tap any of them to jump down to the corresponding section!

2024 Review
Looking Forward to 2025
Plans for 2026 and Beyond

2024 Review

2024 Stats

Countries Visited This Year: 3
(Mexico, United States, The Bahamas)
New Countries Visited: 0
US States Visited This Year: 12
(Illinois, North Carolina, Wisconsin, Florida, Minnesota, Maine, Indiana, Washington, Oregon, Virginia, Washington D.C., Maryland)
New States Visited: 1
(Minnesota)
Flight Segments: 20
Train Segments: 2

1. Guadalajara, Mexico (Jan)

The beginning of 2024 was a blast because I rang in the New Year in Guadalajara! I lived in Mexico City in 2018, but I never traveled to Guadalajara when I was based in Mexico’s capital. This was my first return trip to the country since then, and it was a joy to be back!

Guadalajara is not necessarily known for international tourism, but that’s partly why I chose this city over so many other enticing spots in Mexico. There were so many cathedrals, museums, markets, and other attractions to explore! Guadalajara is great for experienced travelers who have already been to some of Mexico’s more popular destinations such as Mexico City, Cancún, and Puerto Vallarta.

2. Charlotte, NC (Jan)

For MLK Jr. weekend this year, I ventured over to Charlotte. This was a very nostalgic trip for me because the “Queen City” is a destination I got to know pretty well while I was living in South Carolina from 2017 to 2018. Charlotte was only about a 90-minute drive to the north.

On this 2024 trip, I went back to all my favorite restaurants, breweries, and neighborhoods. Charlotte’s craft beer scene is a major reason to visit, but the city also offers a wide variety of attractions, from the NASCAR Hall of Fame to the street murals in NoDa and the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art in Uptown.

3. Kenosha, WI (Spring)

This small town right across the Illinois border in Southeast Wisconsin is the perfect day trip from Chicago. It’s so pretty and quaint, especially because of its prime location on the shore of Lake Michigan between Chicago and Milwaukee. I visited a number of times in 2024, and plan to visit as much as possible in 2025!

4. Virgin Voyages Cruise out of Miami, FL (Apr)

My friend Ismael (who I travel with every year) and I embarked on this cruise during spring break season, and it was definitely the centerpiece of my travels in 2024. We flew down to Miami, where we boarded the Scarlet Lady. I had done one cruise before this (a Viking River Cruise in Europe), so I was incredibly excited to see how a Caribbean ocean cruise would compare!

Virgin Voyages was an incredible cruise line that I’m officially obsessed with. On this voyage, we made two stops: one in Cozumel, Mexico, and one in Bimini, The Bahamas. Cozumel was honestly a little underwhelming, but we did have overcast weather that day. In contrast, Bimini was absolutely gorgeous.

Regardless of Cozumel being a little grey when we were there, I enthusiastically recommend Virgin Voyages to adventurous travelers, first-time ocean cruisers, and folks who love amazing food! The culinary experience was the highlight of the entire trip. Virgin steers clear of standard buffets, instead offering some premium dining experiences that don’t cost extra.

5. Milwaukee, WI (Apr)

I visited Milwaukee for the first time in 2023, but I went back in 2024 with a friend because it’s such a fun city for eating, drinking, and exploring on foot! This is another destination in Wisconsin I plan to revisit in 2025.

6. Minneapolis, MN (May)

For Memorial Day weekend, I booked a trip to Minneapolis. It had a familiar Midwestern vibe, but still felt pretty culturally distinct from Chicago. This relaxing, late-spring trip left me feeling like there’s a lot more to see in the Twin Cities than I originally anticipated.

7. Portland, ME (Jun)

Ismael and I kicked off summer by spending a week in Portland, Maine. The last time I was in Maine, I was in elementary school, and I don’t remember much. Portland’s geography fascinated me, with the city’s historic downtown located on a peninsula surrounded by small islands and rocky bays.

During this visit, we took a few ferry rides to some of Portland’s outlying islands. The boat offered excellent views! My major complaint about Portland is that it was so expensive. I sort of assumed that since it’s a small city, Portland would be relatively cheap. I think with lots of seasonal visitors from New York and Boston, that just isn’t the case.

8. Indiana for Independence Day (Jul)

Visiting extended family in Indiana for the 4th of July has been a tradition of mine ever since I moved to Chicago, so that’s what I did this year. The fireworks show that the city put on was one of the best in recent memory!

9. Washington State & Oregon (Jul)

I have a summer birthday, so I did two trips this summer that were loosely “birthday adjacent.” The first of those was a Washington and Oregon road trip with my parents. We drove from Seattle down to Tillamook along Oregon’s Pacific coast. The dramatic coastline here was a perfect birthday treat, and I loved walking around some of the towns in the region, especially Astoria!

10. Washington, D.C. & Virginia (Jul)

After visiting the West Coast for my first birthday trip, I flew to the East Coast for round two! I met up with Ismael, who lives in the Washington metro area. We explored some neighborhoods, ate a ton of amazing cuisines from all over the world, and walked around the city’s most famous monuments.

11. Two More Seattle Trips for Weddings (Jul & Aug)

I know, I was constantly back and forth between Chicago and Seattle all summer. I did it a total of three times, but it was worth it! That’s because I went to two weddings: one for my friend Stephanie from college, and one for my brother Michael and his wife Niki! I loved every moment of both magical wedding days!

12. Chicago, IL (Fall)

Once fall rolled around, I really stopped traveling and started working a ton. I played tourist in my own city of Chicago a bit by trying a few new restaurants, but even this was pretty minimal. I didn’t really travel this fall and winter because I had to save up for an extended trip I’m planning for the first few months of 2025! Read on to see where I’m headed.

13. Indiana for Thanksgiving (Nov)

My one trip in the fall of 2024 was a drive down to Indiana to spend Thanksgiving with my extended family. I’m so glad I got to see my cousins, aunts, and grandpa! I also ran my very first organized event in many years. It was a good way to offset the delicious but heavy meal we enjoyed later that day.

14. Seattle, WA for Christmas (Dec)

I’m finishing up this year in Seattle, where my parents live! Even though I didn’t technically spend all of my childhood in Seattle, I generally consider it my hometown. Last year I spent Christmas with my extended relatives in Indiana, so I’m glad I got to spend it with my immediate family this year.

During the break, I’m catching up with old friends from high school and college, returning to some of my favorite restaurants and bars, and trying some new spots around town as well. Of the many fun activities we did, seeing a live play was definitely one of the most memorable!

US States Visited by End-of-Year 2024

34/50 States (68%)

Countries Visited by End-of-Year 2024

43/~200 (22%)

Looking Forward to 2025

1. Philippines (Jan)

My new year is starting off with a bang: I’m headed to the Philippines directly from Seattle! I’ve never been there before, so this will be the 44th country I step foot in. I am beyond excited to spend almost a full month in this tropical paradise, especially at this time of year.

My friend Ismael is joining me for the first half of this trip, and the second half will be me on my own. We’re going to spend some time in famous destinations such as Manila, Cebu, and Palawan. We also booked a few days on some off-the-beaten-path islands.

2. Bali, Indonesia (Jan & Feb)

After spending most of January in the Philippines, I’m heading over to Bali for a week or so. Along with the Philippines, Indonesia is a country I’ve not yet visited, so it will be my 45th. I know Bali is an extremely popular tourist destination, but I have a friend who lives there. I’m hoping he’s able to provide some itineraries for lesser-known spots on the island, not to mention truly local cuisine.

3. Australia & New Zealand Cruise (Feb)

Just like in 2024, I have one big cruise planned for 2025. This will be my third, and I’m so excited to see what Princess Cruises is like, especially in this part of the world! This cruise will also be the longest one I’ve been on, at well over ten days.

My family and I are embarking on this trip to spend some quality time together now that we’re all grown and my brother is married. I have personally been to Australia twice, but none of us have been to New Zealand before. I’m so excited to explore a country for the first time with my loved ones!

4. Mexico City, Mexico (Mar)

For my spring break trip this year, I’m planning to head to Mexico City. As mentioned above, I used to live there, so I’m aiming to stay in my old neighborhood. When I lived in CDMX (as it’s often abbreviated), I never really blogged about it! Instead, I blogged about other cities in Mexico. That’s why I want to visit this time! I really want to feature this incredible city and my old neighborhood a little more prominently on Caffeinated Excursions.

5. Montreal, Canada (Summer)

If you happen to go back and read my “2024 Sneak Peek” I wrote last December, you’ll see that this was a trip I hoped to do in the summer of 2024 with my high school friend group. We ended up postponing it a year, so we are committed to making it happen in 2025!

I hear that Montreal is absolutely magical in the summertime. We’ll almost certainly base our trip around the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal and/or the Festival International Nuits d’Afrique, two long-standing music festivals that put on weeks of performances and parties.

6. Big Changes Coming...

Ok, so here’s the big news. I plan to move to Asia in fall of 2025. This isn’t that surprising; I’ve lived in five different countries (the US, Brazil, Vietnam, Mexico, and China) since my college days, and I’m about ready to move to a new one. I’ve been based in Chicago for about four years now, and I want to move to either Japan or Thailand. (I’m really leaning towards Thailand.)

I’ve worked in the field of education and/or English as a second language (ESL) since 2019. It’s work that I love, and although pay is not always phenomenal, teaching does give ample time off to travel. I’m ready to bring my skills back to Asia after last living in Vietnam in 2019, where travel is more affordable than it is in the US. I’ve loved living in Chicago, but found that I can’t afford to travel nearly as much as I’d like to. I want to be able to do at least one weekend trip per month, and I think Thailand would be an ideal home base for that.

US States Planned by End-of-Year 2025

34/50 States (68%)

Countries Planned by End-of-Year 2025

46/~200 (23%)

Plans for 2026 and Beyond

By the beginning of 2026, I want to be settling down in a new city in Asia. From the time I graduated college in 2017 until 2021, I moved almost on a yearly basis across multiple states and countries. It was exhilarating but also exhausting. Chicago was the first city I’ve actually spent multiple years in, and I’m glad I did. Chicago has its ups and downs, but it is a city that you could explore for a lifetime and still have things left to see and do.

I’m saying all of that to emphasize that wherever I end up next fall, I want to stay there for a while. I know that Bangkok and Tokyo both offer endless cultural and culinary experiences, neighborhoods to explore, regional transit to the rest of their respective countries, etc. I am very much looking forward to immersing myself in a new city and becoming a local expert.

Over the next few years, Caffeinated Excursions will become an Asia-focused blog. And if I end up in Thailand or Japan, this blog will also become a niche travel resource for one of those two countries. It’s bittersweet to be leaving the US next year, but I definitely feel like it’s time. I miss the hustle and bustle of Asia and the relative affordability of travel over there.

Thank You for Supporting My Travel Blog!

If you’ve read this entire post, I want to thank you for being a part of my travel blogging journey! Whether you’ve supported Caffeinated Excursions since its inception in January of 2018 or you’ve just come across this blog for the first time, it means so much to me to have a community of people who click my links to see what I’m up to! I can’t wait to bring you all some top-notch travel content over the next two years and beyond!

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This post was published on Dec 29, 2024

This blog post was proudly created without the use of generative AI. It was 100% written and edited by a human, for humans. Enjoy, and thanks for your support!

Bangkok (Sept)
Istanbul (Sept)

The post 2024 End-Of-Year Summary & Sneak Peek 2025 appeared first on Caffeinated Excursions.

2023 End-Of-Year Summary & Sneak Peek 2024

Kevin | Caffeinated Excursions — Sat, 16 Dec 2023 18:00:00 +0000

2023 End-Of-Year Summary & Sneak Peek 2024

Published December 16, 2023

We’ve made it to the end of 2023, which means it’s time for my annual post looking back and looking forward! In all honesty, I feel like 2023 was quieter in terms of travel than the last few years. Nonetheless, I got to go on some truly amazing trips that I’ll remember fondly for years to come!

This is the fourth year in a row I’ve written an end-of-year review and sneak preview for next year. You can check out my previous ones below! Since 2020, I’ve enjoyed documenting my travel plans, including those that never materialized. In general, I feel like writing about my travel goals helps me follow through on them.

Below you’ll find the following topics covered in this post. Click or tap any link to skip directly down to the corresponding section!

2023 Review
Looking Forward to 2024
Plans for 2025 and Beyond

2023 Review

1. Seattle, WA (Jan)

I began this year as I often do in Seattle, enjoying the holidays with family and friends! It was a long, relaxing stay that gave me a chance to reconnect with the city I called home from 2008 to 2017.

During this visit, I wrote my first seasonal travel guide about Seattle during the winter months. I’m overjoyed to finally have this rainy destination featured on Caffeinated Excursions. After all, my blog’s name partly pays homage to Seattle’s vibrant coffee culture!

2. Fort Worth, TX (Jan)

For MLK Day weekend, Ismael (a friend of the blog since its beginning) and I met up in Fort Worth, TX. We’ve also met up for long weekend trips to cities such as Dallas, Nashville, and Charleston, SC. Heading south for a few days in search of warmer weather is an unofficial winter tradition of ours!

Fort Worth exceeded my expectations. It had an awesome food scene, cool architecture downtown, and lots of local charm. It honestly just felt a little more “Texas” to me than neighboring Dallas, which I also blogged about back in 2019.

3. San Diego, CA (Feb)

In February, I took advantage of the Presidents’ Day three-day weekend to get away to San Diego. I had been to this sunny destination once before on a family vacation back in 2014. I was a college student at the time, so it was fun to reacquaint myself with “America’s Finest City” almost a decade later on a short solo trip.

During my time in SoCal, I soaked up the sun as much as I could, walked miles and miles, and explored neighborhoods including Little Italy and North Park. I also spent a day out in Torrey Pines, which was the highlight of the trip. It was such a gorgeous stretch of Pacific coastline!

4. Aruba & Curaçao (Apr)

My first big trip of 2023 was a week-long stay in Aruba and Curaçao. Both countries are part of the Dutch Caribbean. In fact, Aruba is the “A” and Curaçao is the “C” in the ABC Islands, an archipelago not far from the coast of Venezuela. (For those who are curious, the “B” stands for Bonaire, the least touristy of the trio. That one remains on my travel wish list!)

Dorian and Ismael are two friends who joined me on this trip. Both of them appear frequently on my blog. This vacation was a blast, and I was especially glad to visit Aruba with a small group. That’s because I had been to Aruba once before in 2017 on a whirlwind solo trip. This visit to “One Happy Island” was a little longer and more laid-back. We also covered more ground this time thanks to our rental car.

In the middle of our trip, we boarded a little propeller plane and flew over to Curaçao. We stayed there for three nights. Despite only being there for a little while, I was fascinated by what Curaçao had to offer. It’s a lot bigger than Aruba, it feels more industrial, and I’d say it has closer cultural ties to Europe than Aruba. The beaches are also less touristy. If you’re looking for a new vacation spot in the Southern Caribbean, Curaçao is a great option to look into!

5. Milwaukee, WI (May & June)

Most people I’ve met in Chicago have great things to say about our neighbor to the north, Milwaukee! “Brew City” shares a lot in common with Chicago in terms of geography, but the two have distinct cultural elements. I spent a few weekends in late spring and early summer up in Milwaukee: one with Ismael and one on my own.

On both trips, I explored the lakefront, ate as much as I could, and sampled local beers. I honestly wished that I had gone up to “MKE” (as it’s often abbreviated) a few more times in 2023. Amtrak makes it pretty easy to get from downtown Chicago to Milwaukee in a little over an hour. In general, Wisconsin is a state I want to keep exploring as we get into 2024.

6. Chicago (Summer)

Other than my trips to Milwaukee, I spent most of this summer in Chicago. I did a little bit of local exploring, but not as much as I would’ve liked because of my work schedule. I’m hoping to do something a little different next summer, so keep reading to see what I have planned in terms of blogging about Chicago and the surrounding region!

7. Crater Lake, OR (Aug)

At the end of summer, I met up with three friends from Seattle to do a road trip to Crater Lake, Oregon! Dorian, Ismael, Matthew, and I have done about half a dozen different Pacific Northwest trips since we graduated high school, and I’ve blogged about the ones we’ve embarked on post-COVID.

Crater Lake was amazing, mainly because the color of the water is so unique! I didn’t know before visiting that Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the US. There are also no rivers that feed into it, which is probably why it’s so clear and glassy.

8. Kansas City, MO (Sept)

Ever since I moved to Chicago, I’ve wanted to cover more ground in the Midwest. Labor Day weekend was the perfect time to check out a new destination: Kansas City! Like Milwaukee, this was another mid-sized city that really impressed me. Of course, a major focus of my visit was to try the local barbecue! But I also found many of the city’s historic neighborhoods to be charming.

9. Brown County, IN (Oct)

October was a month when I got to celebrate a major milestone: finally publishing a post featuring a destination in Indiana! As I mentioned above, I spent the second half of my childhood and college years living in Washington State. But I spent my early childhood in Indiana, so I consider both places to be home. Ever since I started Caffeinated Excursions, I’ve wanted to write about both states. 2023 was the year that finally happened!

I didn’t live in Brown County when I was growing up, so why did this end up being my first Indiana blog post? Well, my cousin Kailyn lives in this area right now. She has her own travel blog, which you should definitely check out! Brown County is known for its gently rolling hills, forests and parks, and natural beauty. Peak tourist season is fall when the leaves turn golden and red.

10. Central Indiana for a Wedding (Nov)

In the last few months, I did two Indiana trips in a row. After visiting Kailyn in Brown County, I headed back to celebrate my aunt’s wedding! It was just a one day trip, but I’m so glad I got to be there because the ceremony and the weather were absolutely perfect! Congratulations to Amy and Ari!

11. Geneva & Lausanne, Switzerland (Nov)

The day after my aunt’s wedding, I boarded a plane from Chicago to Geneva. This year, I got the entire week of Thanksgiving off, and I decided to travel. Since I had just seen my extended family, I don’t feel like I missed out on a lot by being abroad for Thanksgiving.

My main reason to visit Switzerland in November was to visit Abbey and Wyatt, two friends who moved here from the United States about a year ago. I spent a day or two in Geneva, but the majority of this trip was spent in Lausanne, a truly lovely town that’s about an hour away by train. It was a phenomenal trip, and I’m still working on my blog posts about these towns in the French-speaking part of the country.

12. Indiana Again for Christmas (Dec)

Since I have family in both Seattle and Indianapolis, I try to spend Christmas in one of those two cities. This year, I will be headed back to Indy for a few days of holiday cheer.

13. Guadalajara, Mexico for New Year (Dec)

My final trip of 2023 will be to Guadalajara! I’m flying there in between Christmas and New Year. I can’t wait for this trip! It’ll be my first time back in Mexico since 2018, when I lived in Mexico City. I’m familiar with the country overall and have been to about a dozen major cities, but Guadalajara will be a new one for me. I’m excited to see what it’s all about!

US States Visited by End-of-Year 2023

33/50 States (66%)

Countries Visited by End-of-Year 2023

43/~200 (22%)

LOOKING FORWARD TO 2024

1. Guadalajara, Mexico for New Year (Jan)

Since I plan to celebrate New Year in Mexico, I’ll begin my 2024 abroad! I have a total of nine days scheduled for this trip, which I hope will give me enough time to really do a deep dive into this famous city in the state of Jalisco. I may also do a day trip or two to nearby towns such as Tequila or Chapala.

2. Charlotte, NC (Jan)

This is my second trip planned for next year. I used to live in South Carolina (from 2017 to 2018), and I spent quite a few weekends up in Charlotte right across the state border. Even though I had started my blog by then, I never managed to organize a post about the “Queen City.” Nonetheless, I always really liked Charlotte and am excited to have it featured on Caffeinated Excursions soon!

3. Somewhere Warm for Presidents' Day Weekend (Feb)

I know that by February of 2024, I’ll be craving an escape from the wind and snow in Chicago. With that in mind, I plan to spend Presidents’ Day somewhere warm, just like I did in 2023! I haven’t decided where yet, so check back in a few weeks to see what I decide on! A smaller, historic city like Charleson, SC would be perfect.

4. Miami to Mexico to Bahamas Cruise (Mar)

I’m already looking forward to April of next year because Ismael and I are planning on doing a classic Florida-based cruise! After taking my first cruise in the summer of 2022 (a Viking Rhine River cruise), I’m eager to compare how that was to a voyage on a larger ocean-faring vessel.

I also have fingers crossed that my review of this upcoming cruise will become one of my top-viewed posts. That’s because my Viking Cruise review was my most popular post in 2023! If cruise reviews consistently drive traffic, I’ll probably pivot to writing more of them in the coming years.

5. Somewhere Close to Home for Memorial Day Weekend (May)

This holiday weekend in May is an awesome time to travel as spring turns to summer. However, tickets are never cheap, and things can be a little crazy. That’s why I want to do a local trip, preferably one that doesn’t involve flying. If I rent a car, there are countless possibilities in Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, or Michigan.

One option is to take the ferry from Milwaukee across Lake Michigan to Muskegon, MI. Millions of people live on the shores of Lake Michigan, but I don’t think many have actually crossed this massive body of water by boat. It would be a fun, random thing to cross off my Midwest bucket list!

7. Local Midwest Trips From Chicago (Summer)

Okay, so this is where I want to do something totally different for next year. As you may be able to tell from my travel schedule, I work in education. The great thing about that is all of the time off compared to most American corporate jobs. However, the problem (at least in the district where I work) is that we don’t get paid over the summer.

For the summer of 2024, I will probably need to work part-time. However, I’d love to cap that at two days a week and travel the other five. I don’t know if that’s realistic; I could easily end up needing to work more than that. But if I can make it work, I’d love to go on a bunch of Midwest trips in June, July, and August! Below are some of the places I have in mind.

St. Louis, MO

After visiting Kansas City this year, I’d love to go back to Missouri next year to see the state’s other major metro. I remember reading somewhere that KC is known for its barbecue, while St. Louis is known for its beer. That’s reason enough for me to go! There’s also a direct Amtrak line from Chicago to St. Louis, so I won’t need to fly to see the famous arch.

Hyde Park, Chicago, IL

I’m not done exploring Chicago’s neighborhoods, and Hyde Park is one I really want to blog about next summer! Unfortunately, the CTA (Chicago’s urban rail system) doesn’t really serve Hyde Park, which makes it a little harder to get to. However, I can still get there from the Loop on Metra (the suburban train network); it just takes a little more time. Luckily, that shouldn’t be an issue next summer. I’m looking forward to writing about this historic South Side community!

Madison, WI

I’ve heard from numerous people that Madison, the capital of Wisconsin, is a fun college town with lots of outdoor offerings. The city center is situated on an isthmus in between Lake Mendota and Lake Monona, and I’m a fan of unusual geography! As of right now, there’s no train line from Chicago (or even Milwaukee) to Madison, so I’d have to take a Greyhound-style bus or rent a car to get there.

Indiana Dunes National Park, IN

Indiana Dunes is the closest national park to Chicago, and the two are connected by the South Shore Line (SSL) train. I don’t know how convenient it is, but I kind of want to find out! I’m hoping that this will be my second Indiana blog post after publishing my Brown County guide this fall.

New Buffalo, MI

If you keep heading east along the lake from Indiana Dunes, you’ll eventually find yourself in Michigan. The first little town after you cross the state border is New Buffalo. A former colleague recommended I take the Amtrak out this way and spend a weekend in this little lakefront town. In particular, she said I have to try Beer Church Brewing, which I definitely plan to do when I’m there!

8. Montreal, Canada (Summer)

My biggest trip planned for mid or late summer is Montreal! Ismael suggested we get together as a group to explore the city’s food scene and summer activities. Chicago is a quick flight to many of Canada’s largest cities including Montreal, so it should be pretty easy for me to get over there. On a more basic level, 2024 will be my sixth year of travel blogging. It’s definitely time to get a Canadian destination up on Caffeinated Excursions!

9. Seattle for a Wedding or Two (Aug)

At the end of summer, I’ll be spending some time in Seattle to attend at least one wedding. My brother Michael and his fiancée Niki are going to get married! After a summer of mostly solo travel, it’ll be awesome to get together with family and celebrate this joyous occasion!

10. Additional Trips in Fall

My plans for the final few months of 2024 are very much still up in the air. I will be honest: traveling for the entire week of Thanksgiving (and essentially skipping the holiday) is something I could get used to. I’m tempted to do it again next November, but we’ll have to see. If I do, here are some places I might go.

Costa Rica?

Whether I visit in 2024 or not, Costa Rica is likely the next country I’ll visit in Central America. It’s widely regarded as the safest destination in the region, and a trip in the fall as the weather is getting colder sounds heavenly.

Spain?

I’d love to book a trip to Spain in October or November of next year if I can fit it in. I spent some time in Lisbon in October 2022, and found autumn to be an ideal time to go. The weather was generally still good, but the tourist crowds weren’t overwhelming. I’ve already been to France, Germany, and Italy, so Spain is a logical next destination in terms of major countries in Europe.

US States Planned by End-of-Year 2024

34/50 States (68%)

Countries Planned by End-of-Year 2024

44/~200 (22%)

Plans for 2025 and Beyond

1. Australia & New Zealand Cruise (early 2025)

At the beginning of 2025, my family and I are planning on doing an Australia and New Zealand cruise! I’m really excited for that, since it’ll be the third cruise review on my blog. I also want to spend a few days in both countries before and after the journey. I want to get to know some of the major cities in Oceania I haven’t explored yet such as Auckland and Sydney.

2. Extended International Trip (2026? 2027?)

For those who didn’t already know, I’m just going to come out and say it: I don’t plan on living in Chicago forever. I’ve been thinking about when I might leave, and it’s looking like that’ll probably be around 2026 or 2027. If you go back to my previous “year-end review and sneak preview” posts, you’ll see that I originally planned to live in Chicago for less than a year. Two and a half years later, I’m still here! The biggest reason for that is arguably Chicago’s phenomenal food scene, but that’s a story for a different blog post!

When I do eventually leave, I plan on embarking on an extended international trip. I want to do a minimum of six months of nonstop international travel. I’m aiming to travel longer though, perhaps more than a year. I’m going to center this long trip on Central Asia and Southeast Asia, although I may spend time in other regions. I’m also aiming to elevate my blog during this time and bring it to the next level.

I’ll be posting more information about my plans within the next few years. In the meantime, I’ll continue to blog about Chicago, the Midwest, and other amazing destinations!

3. Move to Japan (~2028)

After my extended international trip, my goal is to move to Japan to teach ESL. That’s how I originally got into education back in 2019! Ever since then, travel and education have gone hand-in-hand for me. Just like I plan to live in Chicago for a total of five or six years, I plan to stay in Japan for an extended period of time. I want to get to know the country inside and out! I also want to become a leading voice on traveling within Japan while I’m there.

Thanks for Reading & Supporting Caffeinated Excursions!

Whether you’ve been clicking links on Caffeinated Excursions since it began in 2018 or you’ve just discovered my blog, thank you for your support! It’s been awesome to see more and more people find my work each passing year and take the time to read what I have to say about destinations on six continents in over three dozen countries. Wishing everyone a wonderful holiday season and a fabulous New Year!

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This post was published on Dec 16, 2023

Bangkok (Sept)
Istanbul (Sept)

The post 2023 End-Of-Year Summary & Sneak Peek 2024 appeared first on Caffeinated Excursions.

2022 End-Of-Year Summary & Sneak Peek 2023

Kevin | Caffeinated Excursions — Mon, 05 Dec 2022 18:00:00 +0000

2022 End-Of-Year Summary
& Sneak Peek 2023

2022 End-Of-Year Summary & Sneak Peek 2023

Published December 5, 2022

I can’t believe it’s the final stretch of 2022, but here we are! Since a new year is approaching, this post will review where I’ve been over the past twelve months. After that, I’ll provide a rundown of the trips I have planned for 2023!

This is my third annual “year in review and what’s in store for next year” post. I really like writing these posts because they’re a nice way to organize my trips. It’s also interesting to compare my travel plans from a year ago with what actually ended up happening! To read my other end-of-year wrap-up posts, click or tap here.

2022 REVIEW

1. Miami, FL (Jan)

My first trip in 2022 was a five-day getaway to Miami. I had been there once before, but wanted to spend more time in Miami proper (and not all in Miami Beach). I wrote a blog post featuring things to do there besides the beach, and it was a great first trip of the year!

2. Saint Martin & Anguilla (Apr)

My next major trip this year was a ten-day visit to the islands of Saint Martin and Anguilla. I had never been to this part of the Caribbean before, and I was absolutely blown away by how amazing Anguilla was. This small British Overseas Territory only has a population of about 15,000 people, but it’s an incredible destination that isn’t overrun by cruise ships or tourist traps.

All of my blog posts from this trip got significant traffic after they were published, which makes me happy that other travelers were able to use them as resources!

3. Indiana (July)

I spent the Fourth of July with my extended family in Indiana this year. We did the standard activities: a small-town parade, burgers and dogs on the grill, and fireworks.

I’ve been to Indiana multiple times since I started blogging, but I haven’t written about the state yet. That’s mainly because all my visits have centered around family and holidays, but next year might finally be time to spend a few days there as a tourist. I may try to write an Indianapolis weekend guide, or I may take a long weekend off to explore Indiana Dunes, which isn’t too far from Chicago.

4. Rhine River Cruise (July)

This Viking Cruise I went on with my extended family was the highlight of my 2022 travels! We boarded our ship in Basel, Switzerland, and sailed the Rhine from there all the way until Amsterdam. Along the way, we stopped in Germany and France at multiple big cities and small villages.

This was my very first cruise, and it was my first time visiting all four countries we docked in: Switzerland, Germany, France, and the Netherlands. I enjoyed finally writing about some great destinations in Western Europe post-pandemic!

5. Amsterdam, Netherlands (July)

After our Viking Cruise, my family and I stayed in Amsterdam for about five days. We had a lot of fun exploring this city of canals, and my Amsterdam blog post has become one of my most-viewed posts by the end of the year.

6. Germany and Austria (July)

The next part of our Europe trip involved splitting up and doing a smaller private group tour through Germany. I didn’t actually blog about our time spent in Munich and the small town of Ingelheim, where we have some family ties. That’s because each stop was so quick, and I didn’t feel like I got to explore either place long enough to write about it.

We also crossed briefly into Austria one day and walked around Salzburg. It seemed like an interesting place but I remember feeling a little unwell that day, plus it was a whirlwind tour. I don’t feel like I was able to really get a sense of the town, but I’d love to go back to Austria someday to explore more in depth!

7. Treviso, Italy (July)

The final leg of my summer in Europe trip consisted of a visit to Treviso, a small city not too far from Venice in Northern Italy. A friend from college lives there, and I’m so grateful that he was able to show me around and give me tips on what to do there!

All in all, I spent about a full month in Europe and made it to six countries. An extended EU trip was awesome after multiple years of travel restrictions. It really felt like a full return to normal. However, I feel like I’ve had my fill of long trips for a while, and I don’t plan on taking an entire month off in 2023.

8. Seattle & Conconully, WA (Sept)

For Labor Day weekend, three friends and I went on a short camping trip: an annual tradition that was interrupted by COVID. In 2021, we went out to Glacier National Park and Flathead Lake in Montana. Our 2022 trip was a little closer to Seattle and a little more lowkey. We drove to the tiny town of Conconully in Central Washington, where we camped at the local state park.

9. Lisbon, Portugal (Oct)

My final international trip of the year was a visit to Lisbon. This was a fun trip because it’s one of only a few cities I’ve blogged about twice. I found myself quickly remembering the layout of Lisbon, a very walkable city. It was nice to visit all the attractions that I missed on my first visit in 2018.

10. Seattle, WA (Nov & Dec)

It’s been many years since I spent both Thanksgiving and Christmas with my immediate family in Seattle, so I decided to fly out for both holidays this year. I generally prefer to visit Seattle in the summer when the weather is better, but am looking forward to spending the festive season there in a few weeks!

US States Visited by End-of-Year 2022

30/50 States (60%)

Countries Visited by End-of-Year 2022

42/~200 (21%)

Looking Forward to 2023

1. Seattle, WA (Jan)

I’m putting Seattle at the top of my 2023 list because I would really like to write my first Seattle blog post in January. I’m spending a full two weeks there at the end of December and beginning of January, so I’d really like to use that time to revisit some of the city’s tourist hotspots.

After I head back to Chicago, I’m aiming to publish a Seattle winter visitor’s guide as my first blog post of 2023. Since Seattle is my hometown, I think I could offer some unique insights into this fascinating Pacific Northwest metropolis!

2. Fort Worth, TX (Jan)

In mid-January, I’m going to spend a long weekend in Fort Worth, Texas. I’ve traveled to and blogged about Austin and Dallas, and would like to check out another city in the Lone Star State. I’m hoping the weather there is a little milder than Chicago’s frigid winters, too!

3. San Diego, CA (Feb)

I also plan to travel during President’s Day weekend, and just purchased tickets to San Diego! This is a city I went to back in high school, but haven’t explored it as an adult. Hopefully this will be a long holiday weekend of sunny weather, good food, and lots of exploring!

4. Spring Break (Apr)

Given that I’ve worked in education for a number of years now, I am lucky to be able to travel during spring breaks! I haven’t bought plane tickets for this trip yet either, but a friend and I are leaning towards visiting Aruba and Curaçao.

Even if we end up going somewhere else, I know for sure that I’ll be spending that week abroad somewhere sunny! Stay tuned for more info!

5. Chicago (Summer 2023)

Since I went on an extended trip to Europe this past summer, I plan to spend next summer at home in Chicago. I’d really like to explore locally and blog about some more neighborhoods around town. I will probably do a few shorter, regional trips, but won’t be scheduling a month out of town in 2023.

6. Switzerland (Fall 2023)

A friend from college recently moved to Switzerland, and I’d love to visit him and his wife next fall if my schedule allows! After visiting Zürich and Basel this year, I am definitely intrigued by the country. There is so much natural beauty there, and I would gladly go back.

7. Pacific Northwest Camping (Fall 2023)

Three friends and I have done annual camping trips since college, and I’m hoping that we can organize one for late summer or early fall of 2023. We’ve talked about perhaps visiting Crater Lake, but it will depend on if we can manage to make a reservation before others get in before us. Stay tuned for this one as well!

US States Planned by End-of-Year 2023

31/50 States (62%)

Countries Planned by End-of-Year 2023

43/~200 (22%)

Final Thoughts

Overall, I’m glad that I got to spend a significant part of 2022 in Western Europe! Ever since I began this blog in 2018, I have always wanted to feature countries like Germany and the Netherlands. I feel like my blog has “leveled up” now that I have significant content for North America, South America, Europe, and Asia.

I also feel like I didn’t blog or travel nearly as much as I wanted to this year. Part of the reason for that is the fact that I lived in Brazil from January 2020 to April 2021. I’ve spent my time in Chicago since then resettling into life in the US, focusing on my job, and getting to know America’s third-largest city. The other factor is that traveling has become so expensive this year. To be candid, I simply couldn’t afford to travel as much in 2022 as I could in 2018 and 2019.

However, now that I do feel settled into a regular routine, I am looking forward to a few more adventures in 2023! I want to take advantage of three day weekends, even if airfare costs more now. I am determined to blog about Chicago neighborhoods during summer of 2023, plus do a few more local Midwest trips!

If you’re wondering what my plans are for the end of 2023 and beyond, I have to admit: I’m not quite sure! I still want to move to Asia, but I really love Chicago and am not in a hurry to leave. If I had to put a date on it, I would say that I might end up moving to Japan (or possibly South Korea) in January 2025. That would give me exactly two more years to explore every corner of Chicago!

Whether you’ve just stumbled upon Caffeinated Excursions or followed along for years, thank you for your support! I love sharing the experience of travel with so many of you from all over the world and am excited for the blog to continue growing and helping folks plan their trips in the upcoming year!

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This post was published on Dec 5, 2022

Bangkok (Sept)
Istanbul (Sept)

The post 2022 End-Of-Year Summary & Sneak Peek 2023 appeared first on Caffeinated Excursions.

2021 End-Of-Year Summary & Sneak Peek 2022

Kevin | Caffeinated Excursions — Sat, 18 Dec 2021 06:00:00 +0000

2021 End-Of-Year Summary &
Sneak Peek 2022

Published December 18, 2021

It’s that time of year again! 2021 is coming to an end, so I wanted to review where I went and what I did over the past twelve months. In addition, this post will explain what the blog has in store for 2022!

I wrote a similar post last December, which means this “year in review/looking forward” will probably become a yearly tradition. It’s been fun to reflect on how different my plans for 2021 were from what I actually did this year!

2021 Review

1. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Jan)

I began this year in Rio de Janeiro, where I was based from September 2020 until January 2021. Long story short, I spent the majority of the pandemic in Brazil. I was there for almost a year and a half in total!

During my time in Rio, I explored the city pretty extensively and blogged about it in my Rio de Janeiro 360 blog series. You can read about some of Rio’s most famous beaches and attractions, as well as some better-kept secrets in the city.

2. Arraial do Cabo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Jan)

A few weeks after New Year, I spent a couple of days in Arraial do Cabo, a seaside resort town in the State of Rio de Janeiro (about 100 miles east of the city of Rio). Arraial is known for its light blue water reminiscent of the Caribbean, and it’s something you really should see in person if you’re going to visit Brazil!

3. Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil (Feb)

Since the end of 2020, I was planning on moving northward in Brazil before returning to the US, so I began that journey at the beginning of February with a two-week stop in Vitória. This mid-sized city seemed to be one that few foreign tourists visit, so it had a much more local vibe than Rio de Janeiro or São Paulo.

Vitória and the nearby city of Vila Velha have a lot to offer, including beaches, hiking, and a vibrant food scene. To learn more, check out one of my three blog posts I wrote after visiting!

4. Porto Seguro, Bahia, Brazil (Feb - Mar)

The next stop on my trip up the coast of Brazil was Porto Seguro in the state of Bahia. This little town is known for its gorgeous beaches that stretch on for miles and miles. I originally only planned to stay there for a week or two, but that turned into a month. I really enjoyed soaking up the sun and admiring the stunning coastline!

5. Salvador, Bahia, Brazil (Mar - Apr)

If you check out my 2020 year in review and 2021 preview post, you’ll see that I was originally planning to travel as far north as Recife. Unfortunately, Brazil was in the midst of a severe wave of COVID in March and April of this year. So when I made it up to Salvador, a new round of lockdown had already begun.

I took a couple of walks around the city, especially in the Pelourinho, or historic center where I was staying. But I didn’t experience much since everything was closed. I didn’t write a blog post about my month in Salvador because there wouldn’t have been much to talk about.

6. Return to Rio (Apr)

By mid-April, case numbers were still looking bad in Brazil, but I was finally eligible to get my vaccine in the US. As such, I decided to head back to Rio de Janeiro for a few days before finally leaving the country.

7. Moving to Chicago, IL (Apr)

On April 21st, the time had come to move back to the US and get my vaccine! I was filled with mixed emotions, but excited to get a new start in Chicago. Although it wasn’t technically required, I chose to quarantine for two weeks after arriving just to be safe.

As you might guess, my current blogging project is Chicago 360. There are countless blog posts online with titles like “What To Do In Chicago” or “How To Spend A Weekend In The Windy City,” so I figured I’d try to highlight individual neighborhoods for both travelers and locals.

To be completely honest, I didn’t publish nearly as much as I would’ve liked this year. There are a number of reasons for that, but one of them is that writing about individual neighborhoods is very time-intensive. Nonetheless, it’s been a great way to increase blog traffic and provide specific and targeted info to readers.

8. Arizona (May)

My first domestic trip after moving to Chicago was a visit to Arizona for my brother’s college graduation. It was my first time in the state, and we managed to see a lot in a relatively short period of time. That post has been one of this year’s most popular!

9. Fort Lauderdale, FL (May)

A few days in Fort Lauderdale was my next trip after going to Arizona. I’ve been to South Florida a number of times but never really spent time in Fort Lauderdale, so I was glad to explore as much as I could there over a long weekend. That blog post was my most-viewed for the year, so be sure to check it out if you haven’t already!

10. Albuquerque, NM (July)

In July, I spent about three days in the capital of New Mexico. I think seeing Arizona piqued my curiosity about the American Southwest, the part of the US I’m least familiar with. Albuquerque had a laid-back vibe, good food, and impressive landscapes.

11. Montana (Aug - Sept)

The highlight of my 2021 was a week in Montana! That’s because it’s been something some friends and I have wanted to do for a number of years. I even got to cross it off my official travel wish list for the decade!

We visited Glacier National Park, and I’m still in awe, months later, at how pretty the mountains and lakes are there. We also spent some time camping on the shores of Flathead Lake, which is located about an hour away from the park.

12. Indiana for a Wedding & the Holidays (Oct - Dec)

Although I didn’t blog about any of these trips, I’ve been going down to Indiana for most of the holidays since moving to Chicago. That’s because a lot of my relatives live near Indianapolis, and after living abroad in various countries since 2018, it is incredible to be so close to family again!

My cousin, Kailyn, also got married to her now-husband Andrew, so we went down to beautiful Bloomington, IN for their wedding in October! Kailyn and Andrew also love to travel, and Kailyn has her own travel blog with big plans for 2022 and beyond. Check it out directly or via her Facebook page or Instagram!

US States Visited by End-of-Year 2021

30/50 States (60%)

Countries Visited by End-of-Year 2021

34/~200 (17%)

Looking Forward to 2022

1. More Chicago! (Jan Onward)

Since I’ve taught ESL in Vietnam and Brazil the past few years, I’m glad to have found a job as a teaching assistant at a local school here in Chicago! I’m contracted until the end of the school year, which means I’ll definitely be in Chicago for the first half of 2022. I can’t wait to write about even more Chicago neighborhoods, especially as the weather gets warmer in spring!

2. Miami (Jan)

My first trip planned for 2022 is Miami at the end of January. Since I’ve blogged about the greater Miami area before, I want to spend most of this short trip exploring one area in more depth. I’m thinking about Little Havana; if you’ve ever been, leave a comment below and let me know how it was!

3. Anguilla (Apr)

A week or so in Anguilla is my major trip planned for spring of 2022, and I’m so excited to go! It’s been a long time since I’ve been to the Caribbean, and I can’t wait to go back. Since I’ve already been to The Bahamas, the Turks and Caicos Islands, and Cuba, I wanted to go a little further south and check out an island in the Lesser Antilles.

4. Europe Cruise (Jul)

The centerpiece of my 2021 travels is a cruise in Western Europe scheduled for July! We will be traveling along the Rhine River with stops in Switzerland, Germany, France, and the Netherlands (four countries I’ve never been to)! I’ll also be flying in and out of Portugal, and might extend my trip from two weeks to a month to spend some time in one more country, perhaps Spain or Greece.

Check back in summer of next year: the Europe section of my blog is finally going to have more than a few posts!

5. Bermuda (Autumn 2022)

This is the one trip I’d really like to do in autumn of next year, and it’s also the one item I’d really like to cross off my travel bucket list for the decade. I’ve been to Bermuda once before in 2017 (right before I started blogging). I was so intrigued by the country’s unique history and beautiful landscapes, and I can’t wait to go back!

6. Fall 2022 and Beyond

Last year, I wrote in my year-end review that I was planning to move back to Seattle after coming home from Brazil (which never happened). As such, I don’t want to make a prediction yet about where I’ll be based when my school contract ends! I really love Chicago and am open to staying here longer. I feel like I haven’t seen nearly as much of the city as I’d like to.

On the other hand, I’d really like to go abroad again… and I’d love to go somewhere warm! Chicago winter has been an adjustment to say the least. Nonetheless, I’ll be honest and admit that things are truly up in the air! I might stay in Chicago another year, but I might jet off to somewhere new! It will also depend on how open borders are next fall.

US States Planned by End-of-Year 2022

31/50 States (62%)

Countries Planned by End-of-Year 2022

39/~200 (19%)

Thanks For Following My Journeys!

Whether you’re a long-time follower of Caffeinated Excursions or checking it out for the first time, I want to say thanks! The blog has grown significantly since I started in January of 2018, and it makes me happy to know that other travel enthusiasts are using my posts as a guide for their own adventures!

Have you been to any of the places I’ve been in 2021 or want to go to in 2022? Leave a comment below and let me know! While we’re obviously not back to normal yet in terms of COVID-19, I’m so glad to have been able to do a few trips this year, and am looking forward to ramping up and traveling even more in 2022!

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This post was published on Dec 18, 2021

Bangkok (Sept)
Istanbul (Sept)

The post 2021 End-Of-Year Summary & Sneak Peek 2022 appeared first on Caffeinated Excursions.

2020 End-Of-Year Summary & Sneak Peek 2021

Kevin | Caffeinated Excursions — Sun, 27 Dec 2020 03:00:00 +0000

2020 End-Of-Year Summary &
Sneak Peek 2021

2020 End-Of-Year Summary & Sneak Peek 2021

Published December 27, 2020

Can you guys believe it’s almost the end of 2020? I’m sure it’s been a tough year for everyone. However, with widespread vaccination on the horizon, I’m really looking forward to 2021! We’re in the home stretch, and I’m ready to get back to life without a pandemic! This year has had its triumphs and its challenges, which I’ll be looking back on in this post. After that, I’ll provide a sneak peek of what you can expect for the blog in 2021.

2020 Review

If you had told me in January that I’d only fly one time in 2020 from Seattle to São Paulo, I would’ve probably laughed. As a travel enthusiast, I never could’ve imagined being grounded for an entire year, yet here I am. I came to Brazil at the beginning of 2020 to teach English for a period of six months. My intention was to return to the US in July. Needless to say, the pandemic changed all of that, and I’m currently writing this post from Rio de Janeiro.

This year can be summed up with the map shown above. To make a long story short, I lived in São Paulo from January to April, then spent the next six months moving as slowly as possible eastward until arriving in Rio de Janeiro in September, where I’ve been ever since. I spent April and May in a strict lockdown, but I’ve continued to social distance even as Brazil partially reopened.

1. São Paulo (Jan-Apr)

During the first three months of the year, I explored and blogged about neighborhoods in São Paulo. This culminated in a short-lived mini series called São Paulo 360. It aimed to give a more in-depth look into specific parts of the city that other bloggers might skip during a short stay.

2. Santos (May)

I spent my first month of lockdown (March to April) in a rented room in the center of São Paulo but decided to move to a studio in the town of Santos on the coast. I wanted to live completely alone to avoid any possible COVID-19 transmission among housemates. During the month of May, Santos had a true, city-wide lockdown. Only grocery stores were open. I spent most of my time walking along the water, cooking, watching Netflix, and teaching English via videoconferencing.

3. Ubatuba (June)

After spending the month of May in Santos, I took an Uber with windows open over to Ubatuba in June. I continued to social distance, spending most of my time admiring the truly amazing beaches that I had mostly to myself. Ubatuba will always be one of my most highly recommended destinations in Brazil, and I can’t wait to go back someday post-pandemic.

In Ubatuba, things had slowly begun to reopen, so I cautiously began to patronize a couple of restaurants. Since Brazil is pretty warm all year, many eateries either have outdoor seating or large windows that can be fully opened, allowing for good ventilation.

4. Aparecida (July)

In July, I headed to another small town called Aparecida, where I spent about three weeks. Despite being a small town away from the coast, Aparecida appears in the world record books for being home to the second largest church in the world, after only St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. The church, known as the Santuário Nacional de Nossa Senhora Aparecida, is absolutely breathtaking with a lot of modern elements both inside and out.

5. Cunha (July-Aug)

Only about an hour or so away from Aparecida is a village called Cunha (pronounced “cuña”). Along with Ubatuba, Cunha was one of my favorite places to spend a number of weeks social distancing. Despite not having any beaches, the rural landscapes were spectacular. If a traveler wanted to experience a Brazilian small town only a few hours’ drive from São Paulo or Rio de Janeiro that isn’t on the water, Cunha is my top recommendation.

6. Paraty (Aug)

In mid-August, I finally crossed the state border from São Paulo to Rio de Janeiro. After seven uninterrupted months of being in a single state, crossing into Rio definitely felt bittersweet. However, I only passed through the foothills to the town right across the border: Paraty.

Paraty is a famous colonial town with a UNESCO World Heritage Site designation. The cobblestone streets and white buildings with splashes of color on doors and windows are truly unique. I enjoyed the time I spent there, but I did focus my blog post on whether Paraty should be considered a tourist trap or not.

7. Angra dos Reis (Sept)

My penultimate destination in 2020 was Angra dos Reis. This is another famous tourism destination, but I had a bit of a weird experience there. Although this waterfront town is surrounded by tiny islands with world-class beaches, the actual town of Angra is not so nice. I was a bit disappointed in that, but if you ever go, be sure to take the ferry over to neighboring Ilha Grande, which is a really pretty destination perfect for a day trip.

8. Rio de Janeiro (Sept-Dec)

Finally, we’ve come to my last destination of the year: Rio de Janeiro! I arrived by Uber from Angra dos Reis back in September and have been here ever since. Despite being based here for over three months already, I am still finding new things to see and do all the time. Rio is not a massive city, especially compared to São Paulo. However, the mountains, beaches, forests, and urban environments come together in an unbelievable way, unlike anywhere else I’ve ever been to.

Rio is truly stunning, and you should really take anything negative you’ve heard about the city with a grain of salt. I’ve never run into safety problems here and thoroughly enjoy going out whenever it’s sunny. To complement São Paulo 360, I’ve also started a series called Rio de Janeiro 360, and am still planning on adding a number of blog posts. Be sure to check it out using the image link below!

I’ve got about two or three weeks left in Rio, and I’m scrambling to do a handful of activities and bucket list items before I leave. I’ve already done about 90% of my wish list for this current long-term stay, but you could honestly spend years exploring the metropolitan Rio area and still have neighborhoods and hidden gems left to find.

So, where am I heading next, you ask? Well, since I will be here in Rio de Janeiro until a few weeks after New Year, that question will be answered in the next section, where I discuss everything planned for 2021. Check it out below!

Looking Forward to 2021

Now that this year is finally coming to an end, let’s take a look at what’s in store for the blog in 2021! Just keep in mind that everything mentioned here is tentative. My plan for next year assumes that as more and more people are vaccinated, the pandemic will finally come to an end. I’m also assuming that borders will slowly reopen and that movement will be less restricted with each passing month.

1. Salvador, Brazil (Jan-Feb)

My first plan of 2021 is to move from Rio de Janeiro to Salvador. Salvador is the capital city of Bahia, a really large state north of Rio. Salvador is known for its historic architecture, seafood-based cuisine, and gorgeous beaches. Like in all of my stops in 2020, I’m planning on social distancing while there and enjoying the outdoor attractions and activities.

2. Maragogi & Porto de Galinhas (Feb-Mar)

After a month in Salvador, I’m going to head further north to spend some time in two small beach towns. Maragogi and Porto de Galinhas are both recognized as some of the best beaches in Brazil, and I’m aiming to spend about two weeks in each.

3. Recife (Mar-Apr)

Recife is the next large city north of Porto de Galinhas, and I have to admit that my plan to spend a month there is one of the most tentative items on the list. That’s because I plan to fly back home to Seattle when the COVID-19 vaccine becomes available to the general public, so if that happens earlier than expected, it might cut my time in Brazil short.

If it takes a bit longer for vaccines to roll out, I will spend some time in Recife. I have to admit that I haven’t researched the capital of Pernambuco state as much as Salvador, but I’ve heard that the northeast of Brazil is pretty distinct from the southern half of the country where São Paulo and Rio are. I’m curious about it and am hoping to be able to experience it in person!

4. Seattle (Apr-Oct)

As mentioned above, I’m going to go back to my hometown of Seattle when I can get the COVID-19 vaccine. I’m guessing that this will happen around April or May based on reporting I’ve seen, but it could be sooner or later than that. Nevertheless, I’m really hopeful that next summer will be a bit more normal. I plan to spend those months with family and friends after we all get immunized.

A spring, summer, and early fall in Seattle would be an open book for me. I’d likely try to find a couple different jobs and continue with teaching or tutoring if I can. As you can see on the blog’s US destinations list, I haven’t actually blogged about Seattle as of December 2020. It would be a lot of fun to write about my home city from the perspective of a local who’s spent the past few years abroad.

Washington State also has a ton of other cool destinations further out from Seattle. If it’s safe to, I would love to blog about a place like the San Juan Islands or even a town like Yakima or Ellensburg in Central Washington. This would be a totally new “genre” for Caffeinated Excursions, which is very exciting!

5. Montana Camping (Summer)

The one major trip I’m really hoping will materialize for summer of 2021 is a camping trip to Montana. This is something that’s been in the works for a number of years with some friends, and I think next year would be an ideal time to do it. This is the one item on my travel wish list for the decade that I’d really like to cross off next year, so fingers crossed that it works out!

6. Iberia? (Fall?)

I have Europe on my 2021 plans with a question mark because I have a flight credit with TAP (Air Portugal) that expires in the middle of next year. I’m sure I could get a refund if EU borders remain closed until then, but I think it would be the perfect excuse to spend a week in Portugal and Spain in the fall if it’s safe to.

7. Indiana (Sept-Oct)

After spending the summer in Seattle, I’m heading over to Indiana in October, and this trip is happening for sure. That’s because my cousin Kailyn and her fiancé Andrew are getting married! I am so excited to be in the Midwest with the fall colors for such a joyous occasion! The wedding has been something I’ve really looked forward to for much of this year. It’ll bring our entire extended family together in celebration!

Kailyn is also a travel blogger who’s been to an (almost) completely different set of destinations than I have. Check out her blog, Kailyn Travels, by clicking or tapping here. You can also follow her blog’s Facebook page, Instagram, and Pinterest.

8. End of 2021 and Beyond

After Kailyn’s wedding, I really am not sure where I’ll go to be honest! Since the holiday season will be less than a month away, I may stick around in Indiana or Chicago to spend the holidays with my extended family. Alternatively, I may head back to Seattle to spend Christmas with my parents. Assuming that the pandemic is over at this point, I’d love to get a Caribbean trip in at the end of the year, but this is just me thinking out loud.

Looking forward even further, my plan for 2022 is to move back to Asia. There is a small chance that I make the move in October of 2021, but since I’m missing the holidays with family this year, I’d really like to spend that time with them in the States next year. Right now I’m thinking about moving to Japan. However, I’m always changing plans, so stay posted for more info as 2021 progresses. Below are some pictures from my first and only trip to Japan in summer of 2007. I was in middle school then, so I’m more than ready to go back and experience the country as an adult and as a resident!

What do you think?

Does my plan for 2021 sound exciting? Maybe a little bit crazy? Am I being too optimistic about how quickly things will go back to normal next year? I want to know; leave a comment below! If you’ve been to any of the destinations listed for next year, I want to hear from you as well! Thanks for reading, and be sure to follow on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest to stay up to date with everything going on here at Caffeinated Excursions! Happy New Year!

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This post was published on Dec 27, 2020

Bangkok (Sept)
Istanbul (Sept)

The post 2020 End-Of-Year Summary & Sneak Peek 2021 appeared first on Caffeinated Excursions.

End of Year Review and Sneak Peek for Next Year Archives - Caffeinated Excursions

2025 End-Of-Year Summary & Sneak Peek 2026

2025 Review

2025 Stats

1. Seattle, WA (Jan)

2. Philippines (Jan-Feb)

3. Bali, Indonesia (Feb)

4. Sydney, Australia (Feb)

5. Princess Cruise from Australia to New Zealand (Feb)

6. Auckland, New Zealand (Feb)

7. Return to Chicago, IL (Mar)

8. Mexico City, Mexico (Mar)

9. Minneapolis, MN (Apr)

10. Madison, WI (Apr)

11. Muskegon & New Buffalo, MI (May)

12. Montréal & Québec, Canada (Jul)

13. Gothenburg, Sweden (Jul)

14. Return to Madison, WI (Aug-Sept)

15. Milwaukee, WI (Sept)

16. Bloomington, IL (Oct)

17. Kenosha, WI (Summer & Fall)

18. Seattle, WA (Nov)

19. Taipei, Taiwan (Nov)

20. Kaohsiung, Taiwan (Nov)

21. Sydney, Australia (Nov)

22. Move to Brisbane, Australia (Nov)

Looking Forward to 2026

1. Brisbane, Australia (Jan - Nov)

2. Australia Travel Ideas

Gold Coast, Queensland

Adelaide, South Australia

Northern Territory

3. Nearby Islands

Norfolk Island

New Caledonia

4. Albania (Sept)

6. Possibly Seattle, WA for the holidays (Dec)

Plans for 2027 and Beyond

Option 1: Japan

Option 2: Thailand

Option 3: Taiwan

Option 4: Vietnam

Cheers to Another Year of Travel

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2024 End-Of-Year Summary & Sneak Peek 2025

2024 Review

2024 Stats

1. Guadalajara, Mexico (Jan)

2. Charlotte, NC (Jan)

3. Kenosha, WI (Spring)

4. Virgin Voyages Cruise out of Miami, FL (Apr)

5. Milwaukee, WI (Apr)

6. Minneapolis, MN (May)

7. Portland, ME (Jun)

8. Indiana for Independence Day (Jul)

9. Washington State & Oregon (Jul)

10. Washington, D.C. & Virginia (Jul)

11. Two More Seattle Trips for Weddings (Jul & Aug)

12. Chicago, IL (Fall)

13. Indiana for Thanksgiving (Nov)

14. Seattle, WA for Christmas (Dec)

Looking Forward to 2025

1. Philippines (Jan)

2. Bali, Indonesia (Jan & Feb)

3. Australia & New Zealand Cruise (Feb)

4. Mexico City, Mexico (Mar)

5. Montreal, Canada (Summer)

6. Big Changes Coming...

Plans for 2026 and Beyond