When Sean and I were first dreaming of this trip, we knew we wanted to be warm all year. He wants to surf, I want to do a bunch of yoga, and we both want to do lots of gorgeous hiking (as for the kids… riding a horse and playing soccer were the answers they gave. Good thing we are travelling around the world to offer them such unique experiences! Eye roll). We’re also big foodies, and not ones for huge crowds. With these elements in mind, we started a “hot list” a few years ago. Sometimes we’d read an article about a specific town, event, or attraction that piqued our interest; sometimes it was just the lure of a country we’d heard lots about but had never visited.

Eventually we had a massive list of places on my trusty old iPhone. We also had a list of “let’s skip it this time” areas which we want to visit at some point but didn’t think this trip gave us the time to do it properly. From there, we ordered a giant laminated wall map of the world and got out the erasable pens. We researched seasonal weather for various places and matched those to the approximate time we might be there, based on a high-level route on the map. It emerged very quickly that it made more sense for us to go westward instead of east.

California Love

January 2 – January 10

Palm Springs

Our adventure will begin in sunny California. Sean’s parents spend some of each winter in Palm Desert; its a natural starting point for us so we can spend time with them before we head away. El Paseo Drive, here we come (though I’m sure my pack will have zero room for any cool finds).

Chasing Sun Across the Pacific

January 11 – March 1

French Polynesia

Cooks

Marquesas

NZ

Our desire for beachy adventures will lead us from LAX to Tahiti, which will be a base for us to explore other surrounding islands of French Polynesia, as well as some of the Cooks and hopefully the Marquesas as well.

From there, we will fly over to New Zealand, where we may rent an RV for a few weeks of national park exploration. Also, it will be vineyard harvest season!

Southeast Asia Beckons

March

Bali

Thailand 

Cambodia

Next stop: Bali, Indonesia. Southeast Asia is a must for us, and Bali’s tropical vibes seem like they’ll make a good ‘hub’ from which to visit nearby countries such as Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Malaysia.

From SE Asia, we will fly to the United Arab Emirates or Qatar (pending flight prices!), where we will spend a few days en route to Europe.

Exploring Eastern and Southern Europe’s Hidden Gems

April

Turkey

Bulgaria

Albania

Our spring abroad will begin in Turkey, then on to Bulgaria and Albania. We are attempting to choose somewhat lesser-traveled paths, but we also appreciate that Europe in the summer is going to be busier in general. We look forward to the stunning coastlines, ancient ruins, and gorgeous nature in these countries.

Greek Odyssey

May

Ionian Islands

Peloponnese

Crete

I’m turning 40 in May and I want to do it in style on a boat somewhere in turquoise waters! My sister Erin is going to come and help me celebrate 😊. We want to enjoy a bit more of a relaxed pace, so we’re opting to avoid the Cyclades and instead venture through the Ionian Islands, down the west side of Greece to the Peloponnese, and to Crete.

A Slice of History in Malta, and Italian Island-Hopping

June

Malta

Sicily

Corsica

I am embarrassed to say that until I worked with a Maltese colleague last year, I wasn’t aware that Malta was its own nation (don’t ask me which country I thought it was a part of! I had no idea!). But since then, Sean and I have become a bit obsessed with it, and we’re so excited to visit this small island republic with a rich history, architectural marvels, and crystal-clear waters.

From Malta, we embark on our Italian portion of the adventure, island-hopping from Sicily to Sardinia to Elba (to mention a few) plus the French island of Corsica. Bring on the White Lotus OOTDs!

Slovenia’s Stunning Beauty, and Bonjour France!

July

Slovenia

Le Cote Bleue 

Alsace

We’re excited to hike some of Slovenia’s captivating landscapes, including Lake Bled and Triglav National Park. (It’s a bit out of the way on the route, and it may make more sense for us to skip it, or do it prior to Greece, but I’m hoping we can get there at some point.)

Our journey will then take us to France, where we will stay with some friends in Provence and indulge in French cuisine and, I’m sure, beaucoup de vin. We look forward to exploring some of Le Cote Bleue, and potentially hitting up Alsace on our way up north.

Nordic Vibes in Denmark and Finland

Early August

Denmark

Finland

Latvia

Estonia

As the weather heats up, we’re choosing to head north to the slightly cooler climes of Denmark and Finland (and potentially Latvia and/or Estonia as well). Hopefully meeting up with Finnish / Canadian friends in Helsinki will add a local’s special touch to our adventure there!

Cape Breton’s Natural Beauty, and a Celebration in Victoria

Late August

Cape Breton Island 

Victoria 

Salt Spring

Before venturing south to Central America, we will pop back home for a few short weeks for the wedding of some dear friends on Salt Spring Island. If flight prices and times work out, we hope make a detour on our way back to Cape Breton Island. I’ve never been further east in Canada than Montreal, and the rugged beauty and my own ancestral links to Nova Scotia have always called me.

Central & South American Delights, and Caribbean Sailing

Fall/Winter

Mexico

Peru

USVI / BVI

Finally, we fly south for the winter like the geese! This part of the trip is still up in the air, but on the list are Guatemala, Belize, Nicaragua, Guyana, Venezuela, Colombia, and Peru. We’d love to sail some of the more easterly Caribbean islands (St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Lucia, Martinique, St. Kitts and Nevis, Guadeloupe…) towards the end of our time away, and potentially meet up with friends in Mexico on our way home in time for Christmas.

Phew! That’s the trip as it stands so far. But I’d love to know from you… where would you recommend? Any intel on any of the above places (or others that I don’t list)? Let us know in the comments!