Travel gives me a spark of joy unlike anything else. When we land from a 14-hour flight, I want to rush off the plane and experience it all. I’ve been fortunate to visit 11 countries and countless U.S. cities in the last 10 years. These 10 cities are my favorite from the past decade.
Sonoma, California
Sonoma started my love affair with visiting wine regions. California has plenty of great wineries, but I loved these four in Sonoma. Coppola is still my go-to wine to keep at the house. The Sonoma vibe is relaxed and can be enjoyed by any level of wine drinker.
Barcelona, Spain
I didn’t expect to love Barcelona as much as I did. Work sent me on a trip here and my mom tagged along. We stayed a few days after my conference to explore the city. La Sagrada Familia, a beautiful church that’s been under construction for more than 100 years, was the highlight for me. The light is on the people which is a stark contrast to many other European churches.
New York City, New York
Every time I land in NYC city it feels like coming home. I lived here for a semester during college. It was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. There is nothing quite like NYC. From the Brooklyn Bridge to the endless restaurant options, it’s a must-visit for big city lovers.
Toronto, Canada
Toronto, you were a pleasant surprise. To me, Toronto is a friendly version of NYC. It has all different types of cuisine, a public transportation system and friendly people. I can’t see enough good things about it. We did a self-made brewery tour and tasted all the delicious beers. We also used it as a base to visit Niagara Falls and the Niagara-on-the-Lake wine region.
Beaune, France
Wine and biking in the French countryside. Do I need to say more? Beaune is a great spot for exploring the Burgundy wine region.
Zion National Park, Utah
Utah is known for the Mighty 5 National Parks. We chose to spend five days exploring Zion National Park. We visited in early December. It’s a perfect time to visit due to off season.
Galway, Ireland
Galway is a great base for exploring the Aran Islands and Connemara National Park. It’s a cute town with plenty of delicious restaurants including our favorite, the Pasta Factory.
Bovec, Slovenia
Bovec is a small ski town on the edge of Triglav National Park in Slovenia. It’s the perfect size town from walking to trails to walking to dinner. We loved it as a base for exploring Triglav National Park.
Murren, Switzerland
Leave it to Rick Steves to recommend a town halfway up a mountain. Murren is a great place for a long stop in Switzerland. We hiked up the mountain and down the mountain and on the third day we couldn’t move. ha!
Manarola, Cinque Terre, Italy
If I could only pick one, it’d be Manarola. It’s been more than six years since I’ve visited this coastal Italian town. It brings back the fondest memories of swimming in the Ligurian sea and drinking wine. Positano and other Italian towns are becoming more popular, but Cinque Terre still has my vote. Plus, it has the best restaurant.
For the next decade, we plan to travel to more of the United States, specifically the National Parks. I’d like to add countries in South America and Asia to our places visited list. I love Europe too much to stay away for too long, so you know a trip or twenty there.
Read some of my favorite travel stories from the past decade here.