Marquette, Michigan. This is a cute little town in the Upper Penninsula right near Lake Superior. They have a fun little farmers market, good bike paths and a good bakery. What more could you ask for?
 |
| Lake Superior, Marquette |
Peter Lougheed Provincial Park, Alberta. Although I have been here before, I liked it then and I liked it again! This is a beautiful park in the Canadian Rockies and is not quite as busy as Banff or Jasper, so is quite a treat! It has beautiful views of lakes and mountains and often you will see wildlife here (we saw a grizzly bear!)
 |
| Day One of the Tour Divide |
Icefields Parkway, Alberta. Yup, two Canadian places in one! It was cold and rainy when I was here, but it was still very beautiful! I also saw several bears here too and had fun camping in some very pretty locations.
 |
| Waterfowl Lake, Banff NP |
Crooked River, Oregon. As I passed people fishing and sitting next to their camper reading, I knew I wanted to eventually come back to this place again. It is dry and stark, but very beautiful all the same.
 |
| Crooked River, Oregon |
Bellingham, Washington. A fun town near water (I am seeing a theme here) with a Saturday market (another theme) and lots of good food, beer and places to walk. It checks a lot of boxes!
 |
| I love a town that loves beer! |
Nelson, BC. Another town near a lake with a nice walkable downtown and everything that you could possibly need nearby. There is hiking, skiing, water sports and more! Oh, and hamburgers and beer (another theme)!
 |
| Nelson Post Office |
Fernie, BC. A cute little ski town nestled in the heart of the Rockies. Also the downtown is walkable and the guys at the bike shop were very helpful. I am actually surprised this made the cut, as I actually passed through it twice and had to go to the bike shop both times! Booo!
 |
| Downtown Fernie |
Quebec City, QC. I also liked Montreal, but both cities have such a fun international flair and I enjoyed wandering, learning some history, and eating!
 |
| La Fresque des Québécois |
Colorado. Yup, the whole state. Actually, for the entire Tour Divide, Colorado was my favorite. I did not really stay in too many towns and a lot of the time I was riding as far as I could and spending most of my town time in grocery stores and crappy motels. However, even though it was hard, some of the climbs in Colorado were just beautiful, and were through forests full of trees, and I could feel the fresh air and I loved it.
 |
| East San Juans, Colorado |
Peggy's Cove, NS. The lighthouse here is one of Nova Scotia's most known and photographed lighthouses for a reason, as it sits on a rocky bluff and is surrounded by colorful houses and fishing bouys. Once again, places with water make the cut more often than not.
 |
| Peggy's Cove Lighthouse |
Obviously there were so many more places that I went this year that were beautiful, and where the people who I met were also great, and I could go on and on (as I sometimes do) but for now, I will leave you with these ten lovelies!
Where was your favorite travel destination in 2024? Have you ever been to any of these places and if so, what did you think?
I am here for your Canadian content! Especially the ones that pertain to my life specifically - Peter Lougheed is a fantastic park and of course the Parkway is spectacular. I am biased but I think that the Canadian Rockies is the most beautiful space on this planet. I haven't been to Nelson since 1999! It's not even that far from here, maybe I should go sometime. You had so many great experiences this year, here's to 2025!
ReplyDeleteAmen to that sister! I do love the Rockies, and the US ones are also quite nice! I happened to also be there at the almost perfect time, where it was warm enough, but the snow was still on the mountains (and the ice on the lake) so that it was just beautiful to ride through. But I have also been in September and it was beautiful then too. I am obviously partial to mountains and water, so it checks a lot of boxes! I liked Nelson and had a good time exploring, but would like to go either in summer where it was warm enough to swim, or in winter so I could ski. I kind of hit it in a shoulder season, which was good for crowds, but not as good for swimming!
DeleteI have not been to any of these places, and they all sound like winners.
ReplyDeleteArgh how can you force me to pick a single favorite destination???? I can't do it!!!!!! It's mean to even ask me to pick a favorite trip, but at least I can narrow it down to my big road trip in June to IL/WI/MN.
You have had some grand adventures this year! I am so glad that I got to be part of one of them, even though it was not your favorite! I did like meeting up with you but of all the cities, Buffalo was not the top one. However it was a fun time all the same!
DeleteI literally was holding my breath hoping that Nova Scotia got a nod somewhere. Peggy's Cove has a piece of our heart forever (we were discussing going there on Christmas Day again...though it's going to be cold and snowy and icy so probably not a great idea)!
ReplyDeleteFavourite travel destination in 2024 - Montserrat in Spain.
I HAVE been to Peggy's Cove (with you *all the heart emojis*), but nowhere else on your list. (I think I was in Quebec City when I was a kid, but it was before I have any memory of it, so I'm not counting it. Quebec City is on my list! It's shameful we haven't made it there yet.)
Well, since many of these places are in Canada, I hope that you eventually get to all of them. And the US ones too, of course, but you must go to the Rockies too! Quebec City is pretty and is a fun city to walk around. If you have a choice though, probably don't go in the height of summer, as I bet it is packed with people!
DeletePeggy's Cove was special, and I hope that you do go tomorrow, even if it is cold. It is a great location and I am sure the kids love the tradition!
I had to google that Crooked River spot. We have been in that vicinity when we went to Bend years ago. The desert high country is really unique and pretty. We did a great hike in that area. And it's nice that you are still close to the pine-tree covered trails so you get a lot of diversity in terrain! I could totally live in Bend or a Bend-like area.
ReplyDeleteI only saw the more popular areas of Banff but would say it's the most beautiful place I've been with the exception of the south island of NZ. But it's pretty neck-and-neck. I'd love to go back and stay for a longer period of time so that is unlikely to happen until we retire.
The Colorado picture reminds me of the views we saw during our May trip to Colorado many years ago - that was probably back in like 2014 or 2015? I will have to look on my blog to figure that out. I want to say 2015 because in 2014 I was just moving back from Charlotte and wouldn't have had the bandwidth to go on a trip. And May 2016 is when I had my hip surgery and we had just visited you in the Bay Area in April I think.
Did you go to Smith Rock State Park when you were in Bend? It is a fun hike, but is definitely not like a green tree lush forest kind of hike! It has some cool rock formations too. We went to CO in 2015, in May, and remember how much snow there still was!? I remember a few of our hikes getting stymied!
DeleteYou really need to come back to CA in the summer and go to the Sierra Nevadas, especially the high parts, because they are also stunning, and also Yosemite because being there is different than looking at pictures. So lets plan to meet in CA in 2030 for a trip with the kids, since they will be old enough to hike for a few miles by then. :)
What a great list. Colorado is amazing. We've been there many times - usually to Estes Park. The Canadian spots are so beautiful in your pictures. Maybe someday? We didn't go anywhere new or unusual in '24. We visited friends in Dallas, so that was special. Oh, wait - we were in Rock Hill, SC visiting Coach's brother. That was cool, but again as with most of our travels of late - we mostly visited with family between Curly's b-ball games. This year Coach and I hope to go to Florence and other places in Italy, so I anticipate my fav list for '25 having some cool new destinations. I'm with you, a small town with water, great views, and good food/drink checks the boxes. I can't drink beer - but Coach does.
ReplyDeleteI think Estes Park is where Lisa and I went in 2015! Unfortuanately even though it was May, it was still quite snowy, so we did not get to hike as much as we wanted to. I would love to go back again though. I also hiked part of the Colorado trail from Denver to Twin Lakes and that was really pretty. I like the San Juans a lot.
DeleteSC is one state that I still have not been to, so it's on my list! I think visiting family is great too and am really enjoying being home with mine now! As for Italy, I am not sure if I will make it there in 2025, but I was just looking at some hiking in the Dolomites and Cinque Terre and they both are beautiful. There is just not enough time in a day/week/year!!
You went to so many wonderful places in 2024! I enjoyed reading about them, traveling vicariously through you! I only traveled to California this year. Four trips to San Francisco and one trip to Davis, all for medical reasons. Ugh. Yet, there were things I enjoyed about those places. And I don't have to go back again until August! Woot! Woot!
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing how your experience of a place can change depending on why you are there or who you are with. I know that I probably went through some great places, but if it was raining a lot and I was cold or I had a flat tire, I may not have appreciated them as much. I know San Francisco is beautiful and great, and Davis has a really good Burmese food place, but if you are there for medical reasons, it can probably taint it a bit. I am glad that you still enjoyed them and that you are medically doing good, and if that means that you never go back again, woohoo!
DeleteI get your affection for Colorado. I've been there a few times, and honestly, it's just gorgeous. The mountains are everywhere you look, and the air just feels so good. One year, I went there ( Denver) to attend a seminar, and during breaks, we'd go outside. I hated going back in! The air even felt different on my skin.
ReplyDeleteAs a kid of 17, I was dragged all the way across the US and two provinces of Canada for a huge trip that my parents wanted to take. I hated most of it because all they did was look at scenery. At one point, I had fallen asleep, and when I woke up, all I saw was this huge, craggy peak outside my window. I felt like I could touch it. I kept looking up and up. We were driving through Banff. Secretly, I thought it was beautiful, but I never would tell my parents.
Haha! That is funny, as most of the places I like now are because of the scenery! However, my parents used to do the same thing and I hated it. I remember my Dad getting us up at the crack of dawn when we were in the Grand Canyon because he wanted us to look at the sunrise and I really abhored him for that. Of course, what do I do now? I get up early and boy oh boy, I have seen a lot of sunrises and have appreciated all of them!
DeleteI've only been to Colorado (Denver) once, long ago for work. The bit I have seen is beautiful, and your picture is lovely.
ReplyDeleteWe didn't go anywhere this year, not even for an overnight. We had some day trips to Sonoma County and San Francisco, which are beautiful, so I will say those were my favorite destinations this year. Otherwise I would have to say 'the grocery store', and who wants to hear that?
They are beautiful! My brother lives in Sonoma a d I do like going to visit, especially in the fall! And San Francisco is always fun, although it's amazing how recently I didn't really go there except for work!
DeleteI haven't been to any of these places. I really need to make it to Colorado one of these days. I think I would love it as much as you did.
ReplyDeleteI only traveled a little this year but nothing stands out as a huge FAVORITE. But I did go to IL/WI and just really loved it. It was especially nice because I went in June and there was one afternoon where it was in the SEVENTIES and I was so happy, lol. Hooray for cooler temps and no humidity!
I didn't know that you went to WI this year! Did I? That's fun. I also liked it and of course it was a state I hadn't been to yet so that was a bonus. But it was hot and humid when I was there so that was hard!
DeleteHow wonderful it is to read this recap. You have had an important year! The best place are two: Paris and Calabria. Very different but breathtakingly beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI haven't been to Calabria but am putting it on my list!!
DeleteYou had such a good year of travel this year and you’re backing it up with even more next year. I would love to visit Canada sometime (we have only been a couple of times to ski, and didn’t sight see). It’s so hard to pick a favourite place but I’m going to have to say the first day’s walk of our Camino over the Pyrenees
ReplyDeleteI am inspired by your Camino stories and never really considered doing it until I heard them. I had some other friends go this year too and they really enjoyed it also, so it's moving up on my list!!
DeleteOh such wonderful places. I have Alberta and Banff on my travel wish list. We didn't make it there when we were in Vancouver.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately 2024 didnt hold much travel for me and the husband – for various reasons.
So only a trip to the cabin by the sea (which we have been before a few times so nothing new) and a day trip to Denmark. So I guess Denmark the town of Tønder would be my answer.