A Year in Travel: 2012 Recap

In 2012 I did a healthy amount of traveling. It certainly wasn’t as much as I’d have liked, but on a budget and while maintaining a full-time job (and even getting a promotion!), I think I did pretty alright.

So there we have it. All my travels this year in one lovely infographic.

While I did some repeat destinations this year, I also added quite a few new places and managed to see more in those places I’d already visited. I also got to experience some really awesome and new things:

Preakness

I grew up 45 minutes from Baltimore but had never once ventured down to Pimlico to see any race, let alone the Preakness. This year I had the opportunity to check it out for the first time. We had some of the best seats at the track and enjoyed several days of eating great food and betting on horses. I even managed to win a bit of money!

2012 London Olympics

 While I’d been to London several times before, I was so thrilled to go for the Olympics. I just knew there’d be a whole different vibe in the city and that it’d be teeming with excitement for the games. I thought that tourism would be rampant with everyone from around the world in town for the events, but I was happy to have been proven wrong. It was awesome to explore London attractions without the tourists I’d experienced in years prior.

As for the Olympics, I’m not even sure what I can say about them that I haven’t already said. What an experience! Every event that I went to outdid the others; every venue was special in its own unique way; and where else can you go where you’re surrounded by some of the world’s most incredible athletes? Additionally, the opening ceremonies were outstanding and abound with celebrities. It was the ultimate in entertainment.

The Olympics also took us to Manchester to see a soccer match. I’d never been to Manchester, so I got to check that off my list of places. (Though, let’s be honest, the day visit only made me want to go back for a longer period of time, so it’s not like it’s really been checked off.) I had two favorite parts to this visit (besides the soccer match–that’s implied): the delectable Indian food I had for lunch and visiting John Rylands Library.

Edinburgh

 I. Loved. Edinburgh.

If there’s one place on the entire trip that I desperately want to go back to and really spend an extended period of time in, it’s Edinburgh. I know that, out of the destinations I visited on this trip, most people love London or Paris, but Edinburgh just spoke to me. I still haven’t quiet put my finger on why it felt so powerful being there or why I fell head of heels for it, but it’s special. And I’m so glad it was my first taste of Scotland.

Paris

Paris. Paris. Paris. What to say about the City of Lights? Paris was a lot of ups and downs for me. On one hand, I had such a fabulous time for both obvious and personal reasons. But I also had a pretty crap go there, with my phone being stolen, feeling a bit in the doldrums due to the Paris Syndrome, and generally not getting the warm-and-fuzzies from people starting the instant I arrived. I won’t write it off though. No sir, I will go back. There’s a reason so many people love it, and I need to find it for myself.

Little Rock

I know. Little Rock is probably not at the top of anyone’s must-see list. I went to visit friends and ended up getting a mini-vacation out of the deal. I actually really liked Little Rock. I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about it. Arkansas just conjures up visions of mulleted-toothless hillbillies with rifles next to their rocking chairs. But I was pleasantly surprised by how awesome and artsy the city was. Plus, I love Bill Clinton and so I was beyond excited to see his library and to check out the town where it all began for him. Oh, and Garvan Woodland Gardens were an awesome treat, too.

Philadelphia

 It’s probably cheating to include Philadelphia on this list since I go back there so frequently. But what the hell? It’s still a treat to visit. It’s not secret that I love Philadelphia. I love the feeling of being there. I love the architecture. I love the food. I love Rittenhouse Square. I love my friends who live there. I love the history of it–both the national history and my own history. Hell, I even love the griminess of it–somehow makes it feel more authentic. (If we’re being honest here though, I really wish Philly would clean its act up and stop topping the charts for violent crimes.) But look how glitzy it is!

Arizona

I went to Phoenix to visit family for Thanksgiving and ended up scoring a few extra places out of the deal–I also went back to Sedona and Flagstaff. I’d visited all three cities on a prior trip out (and Phoenix an additional two times). There isn’t much to say about any of the places in particular. Their beauty speaks loudly enough.

Phoenix

Sedona

Flagstaff

There were a few other odds and ends travel-wise throughout the year, but nothing really worth delving into in this post.

I am really looking forward to 2013 and all that it’ll bring. I have a few things up my sleeve right now and can’t wait to start traveling/sharing with all of you. Are there any destinations in 2013 that I absolutely shouldn’t pass up on seeing? I’m all ears!