Looking forward to 2018 - travel plans and a blogaversary!

It's been five years since I started this blog on a whim - and I've truly enjoyed sharing my travels here. This blog serves as my travel diary. I love looking back over the year and seeing where I went - who I visited - and all the wonderful places this planet has to offer. And I truly appreciate all of you who take time out of your busy lives to stop by here - thank you, friends! 

And with that, let's look ahead to travel plans for 2018 - 

The Beach A Month Club
Mr. UR has come up with all our big travel ideas. He thought up the 50 States by 50 Years idea - wherein we traveled to all 50 states by the end of our 50th year. He came up with the Every Other Christmas at Our Kids Place idea. And he had the excellent Mystery Trip idea as our daughter's graduation from college present. His newest vacation idea is the Beach A Month Club. He proposed that we - as beach lovers - spend at least one day per month at the beach. We're going to try to make that happen. Some beach visits will be weekends, some will be just a day and some - hopefully - will be longer. Some may be a stretch - and some may be amazing. Our first scheduled beach trip is in the spring when we are visiting the Florabama shore - Pensacola, Florida and Gulf Shores, Alabama for a long weekend. Let's roll the dice and see how we do....




A Mystery Trip
Our daughter graduates from grad school in the spring. And just as we did when she graduated from her undergrad studies, we're taking her on a Mystery Trip.(She went to college in Pennsylvania and moved home for the summer after graduation. We made the drive home into a "mystery trip" stopping someplace new along the way every day) She and her dad love this stuff. Me - I like a little more control of where I'm going. But I love planning mystery trips. So I can't tell you where we're going. But she's gonna love it. And I'm so glad that she still likes to travel with the old 'rents! (You can read about the first mystery trip here)



Oktoberfest
The Mr. made a business trip to Europe several years back and missed going to Oktoberfest due to logistics. He's wanted to rectify that ever since. In fact, it's been at the top of his travel wish list for quite some time. That, and the fact that Bavaria is his favorite area of Europe. So plans are in the works to attend Oktoberfest for our first time - and my first time to Germany. Prost!
source

I hope to balance these trips out with visits with friends and family. Our youngest will be home from Korea for two weeks in February, my mom turns 90 in March and we will proudly watch our oldest daughter graduate in May from NYU. Along with that, our son and his girlfriend just got engaged so we can start talking wedding planning. Fingers crossed that there may even be a trip to watch the Ohio State Buckeyes play football in the fall with friends. All sound wonderful!


So I hope you'll all stop back here to check up on where I've been, where I am and where I'm going. I hope to give some travel inspiration and ideas to those of you that want - or need - it. Happy 2018! And happy travels!


Linking up with: Travel Photo Thursday at Budget Travelers Sandbox, The Weekly Postcard at Travel Notes and Beyond and The Weekend Wanderlust Weekend Travel Blog Party!









Comments

  1. Oh My! I think I'm just as excited for your travels as my own. I love the beach a month idea. Cape May, New Jersey would be a fun one for the list. We usually try to visit a couple of times a year. Thanks for the inspiration. I turn 40 next week and I think I'll create a side quest to visit 50 countries by the time I turn 50.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've never been to Cape May - would definitely love to go! When we first talked about Beach A Month, I thought there was no way I could find affordable options but now I'm finding lots and lots. Can't wait. Thanks for visiting The Unpaved Road - and Happy 2018!

      Delete
  2. Wow! Sounds like you have quite the busy year! Funny how family always seems to keep you on your toes! I'm like you in that I like a set plan as opposed to a mystery trip, but it still sounds fun, as do all your other planned activities. I wish you the best of luck with your adventures!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you - and thanks for visiting The Unpaved Road! Happy 2018!

      Delete
  3. I love the beach a month idea! I might have to steal that! Congrats to all your kids, what wonderful accomplishments! Happy New Year and Happy #WeekendWanderlust

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Steal away! I love the idea, also. I hope it works out. Thanks for visiting The Unpaved Road - and Happy New Year to you!

      Delete
  4. I love the idea of thematic travel, Jill. The Beach a Month sounds great. We have beaches galore in Southern California, so maybe I should start a challenge like that. I can hardly wait to see where you are taking your daughter for her graduation. Should I try to guess? I think you'll enjoy Octoberfest tremendously. Watch for the food an beer though. You may go home with a few extra pounds. #TheWeeklyPostcard

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm very excited about our travel ahead! The Mystery Trip is actually to a place that many people have been but my daughter hasn't. I'm picking places that she will (hopefully) love. And I know the food at Oktoberfest will get me - but you only go around once, right? Thanks for stopping by - and thanks for the link-up!

      Delete
  5. What an exciting year you're going to have. I can't wait to follow along. I love the idea of a beach a month and the mystery travel. We love Germany and I'm sure you will too. Happy New Year and wishing you a great year of adventures.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Mary! Happy New Year to you - and wishing you a great year of adventures, also!

      Delete
  6. You husband sounds like a fun person to travel with! I love all his travel ideas! If you're headed to Oktoberfest, I live in Bavaria not far from Munich and wrote a guide: https://www.caliglobetrotter.com/a-beginners-guide-to-oktoberfest/ Hope it helps! Happy 2018! Thanks for linking up with #TheWeeklyPostcard!
    (www.caliglobetrotter.com)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for the heads up - I'll definitely be using your guide. And yea, the husband is pretty fun to travel with :) Happy 2018! Thanks for visiting!

      Delete
  7. I love that your husband comes up with inventive travel ideas. I'm starting to think of some ideas myself now.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Most travel is fun but I'm glad he comes up with some fun ideas also. Happy 2018, Jan!

      Delete
  8. A mystery trip! So inventive. And building such wonderful memories with your children. Sounds like you have a wedding and a lot more travel in front of you to enjoy. #TheWeeklyPostcard

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's definitely shaping up to be an active and fun year! Thanks for visiting, Deborah!

      Delete
  9. I like the mystery trip idea because I am not one to plan an itinerary.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think that's one of the benefits of being on the receiving end of a mystery trip - no planning! Just enjoy. Thanks for visiting The Unpaved Road!

      Delete
  10. This sounds very nice! Seems like the year is going to be great. I enjoyed reading about your husband coming out with all these ideas. My husband is not a planner at all so he relies on me for taking care of everything when we travel. Going on a trip without tons of plans would be hard for me but have to admit I need to do that one day. I have heard about people relying on locals or online communities for things to do during a trip.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Ruth! I would have a hard time going on a trip with no plans also - I need to do that someday too. Happy 2018! Happy Travels!

      Delete

Post a Comment

Popular Posts