My Travel Wishlist For 2017

There are so many places I want to go in the world. Where do I start? Well, to break it down a little, I have decided to set out my travel wishlist for 2017. I’ll see how many of them I can achieve throughout the year (got to love ticking things off a list). Last year we visited seven different countries, including two new ones (Sri Lanka and Norway) and went on four road trips. Of course, opportunities come up. Life happens. New places are discovered. Who knows, 2017 may see me going somewhere I’ve never heard of…yet. For now, here are the places I would like to go to in 2017. How many would you like to visit?

London

There is just so much to see in London. I have barely scratched the surface despite living there for the past 12 years. One of the places that has so far eluded me is the London Eye. I wanted to go for my birthday but it was shut in early January for maintenance. Instead I went to the Tate Modern (somewhere I have wanted to revisit for a while so that’s one to cross off the list).

There are lots of attractions I think my four-year-old daughter will appreciate now she is older. Last year we went to the Natural History Museum and she loved it. The Transport Museum has been high on my list ever since reading My Travel Monkey’s post while The Science Museum is also one I think she is ready for and Cathy at MummyTravels always seems to have a great time with her daughter. The Cutty Sark is also on my list since reading Suitcase and Sandcastles post and the Wetland Centre in Barnes too. Not forgetting the Magic Lantern Festival at Chiswick House in early 2017.

I have always wanted to see inside the Houses of Parliament so a tour around the political powerhouse is in order. They even do tours for children. I have never done a river cruise along the Thames either so that needs to be rectified and I would also like to try out the family-friendly London bus tours with The Original Tour.

Rest of UK

We did a bit of exploring in the UK last year but not loads so in 2017 we need to up our game! My husband’s family lives in Yorkshire and we visit a few times a year. The Hepworth art gallery in Wakefield is somewhere I would like to go as well the Eureka! The National Children’s Museum in Halifax. Perhaps we should brave a visit to the coast, maybe Whitby and sample its famous fish and chips?

Perhaps this year will be the one which sees me visit the Lake District. Can you believe I have never been? It could tie in well as we have friends living not so far away, who recently took over a hotel in Hexham. I would love to see them and explore Northumberland, including a hike along the Roman Hadrian’s Wall.

At the other end of the country, Brighton is high on my list to return to with a trip on the British Airways i360 Observation tower and see view of the south coast. I have also never been to The Royal Pavilion. It is running a special exhibition on Jane Austen by the Sea from June to mark the Bicentenary of her death. As an English Literature graduate, this sounds very appealing.

Cornwall and Devon make my list too. I have friends there so a summer enjoying the English seaside, like I did in my childhood, would be a delight. I will certainly have no shortage of ideas as travel blogger TinBox Traveller has activities in Devon covered.

Europe

France has already been ticked off our 2017 list with our New Year trip to the Alps and a look around Dijon to boot. We are retuning in the summer to go to Bordeaux. As a lover of its wine, I am fairly sure I will enjoy it. We’ll do another road trip. I have always wanted to go to Biarritz while my husband is keen to do a bit more of Provence following our trip last year.

For somewhere new, Croatia has long been on my radar and I reckon 2017 is going to be the year. I quite fancy crossing over to Montenegro too! As for some new city inspiration, the Spanish city of Seville is somewhere I have wanted to go to for ages and Trish at Mum’s Gone To has reinvigorated my interest with her recent posts. Vienna is another place that has been on my wishlist. Maybe this year it will happen.

Last year we checked Norway off our list following 36 hours in Oslo and we spent a week travelling across Sweden taking in Gothenburg and Stockholm. I think it is about time we added Finland to our Nordic countries list, starting with Helsinki.

The Rest of the World

A trip to Asia, taking in Hong Kong, Bali and Singapore will be our main long-haul holiday in 2017. After absorbing the hectic vibe of Hong Kong, I am very much looking forward to exploring the Indonesian island or perhaps just chilling out on one of its tropical beaches. We have been to Singapore before but my daughter has yet to do the Night Safari at Singapore Zoo and if we were to make the short trip over to Malaysia, I know she would love Thomas Town and Hello Kitty Town.

I am going to wait and see how we get on with two children on a 12 hour flight before we book any more long-haul flights although I would like to take a trip to America to see my brother in Boston. I am also very intrigued by the state of Texas. We wanted to go to Austin a few years ago and I have recently been inspired to visit the smaller city of Fort Worth where an authentic taste of Texan life beckons. I think the kids would love it there too. Or how about the Caribbean? St Lucia is my top pick!

Of course, now we are restricted by school holidays, I’m not quite sure how we will fit it all in – or afford it – but it’s always good to aim high, right?

Where are you planning on travelling to this year? What else should be on my wishlist for this year? 

*Pictures courtesy of Pixabay and Wander Mum

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