2023 Bucket List

The exquisitEXPLORATIONS Travel Bucket List for 2023

Updated 11/25/2023
Though we were able to take a few short trips - San Antonio, New Orleans, Tampa, and Brenham - and two longer trips to Croatia and Scotland in 2022, we did not make it to all the places we had hoped we would. For 2023, we have set some tenacious travel goals. Will we be able to make it happen?

Read more to see our 2023 travel goals.

Cruise from Galveston

Emmett's big Christmas present is a 4-night Disney cruise out of Galveston in January on the Magic. We are especially excited to watch Emmett meet his favorite cartoon character - Mickey Mouse!
Completed January, 2023

Los Cabos

Though we are not sure whether we should stay in Cabo San Lucas or in San Jose del Cabo, our goal is to celebrate Marvin's birthday in February in Baja California.
Completed April, 2023, for Carolyn's birthday

College Station

I cannot believe that we have been in Houston for so many years without ever making the 1.5-hour drive up to College Station, but we are planning to rectify that situation with either an overnight trip or a day trip there in March.
Completed February, 2023, for Marvin's birthday

New Orleans (added)

Completed March, 2023

Austin

The last time we were in Austin was during the great Texas "blizzard" of 2021, and unfortunately everything was closed and the sidewalks were sheets of ice, so we hunkered down with our four-month-old in our hotel. Next year, we hope to take Emmett to Mayfield Park, the Austin Zoo, and BookPeople, the largest bookstore in Texas. We'll eat along Rainey Street and maybe even do some mini golfing!
Completed June, 2023

The Netherlands and Belgium

We are hoping that our big trip for the year will take all of us over to Europe in May. Though Marvin may not be able to stay the whole time, my goal is for Emmett and I to spend about two weeks or so there. While there, we would like to visit Amsterdam and Rotterdam in The Netherlands, as well as Antwerp, Ghent, and Bruges in Belgium. Can we also squeeze in a flight to Scotland to visit the cousins? Perhaps!
Unfortunately, Europe didn't fit into our schedule or budget this year, but we are really hoping for a big Europe trip next year.

Tampa Bay Area

I try to get down to Tampa each year to visit family and friends. This year we were able to see  a few friends and my brother and his family. We visited the St Pete Pier and walked along the Riverwalk while we were there. Next summer, I would like to get down to Madeira Beach to see a couple fun sites there, as well as take Emmet to the Florida Aquarium and Ybor City.
Completed November, 2023

Greensboro & Winston-Salem

One of my oldest and dearest friends lives in Winston-Salem near Greensboro, NC, and I would very much like to fly up there in the summer to visit her and see some of the sites of Greensboro and Winston-Salem, like the International Civil Rights Center in Greensboro and the Children's Museum in Winston-Salem.
Pushed to 2024

Meadville

The Crawford County (Pennsylvania) Fair is an annual tradition dating back to 1852. Growing up in Meadville, PA, every year I looked forward to the week-long extravaganza of rides, games, concerts, and fair food, plus visits to the 4-H barns to see the horses, cows, pigs, goats, and other livestock, and the arts and crafts buildings to see the samples of handmade items. Is there anything better than indulging in homemade ice cream and lemonade, corn dogs and funnel cakes, and then trying to keep it all down while you spin relentlessly on the Scrambler and the Gravitron? I think not! Next year, Emmett and I will fly to my hometown in August, attend our annual family reunion, and check out the festivities at the Crawford County Fair.
Completed August, 2023

Cartegena

Of all the countries we have been to, Marvin and I have never visited a country in South America, so our goal is spend a few days in Cartagena, Colombia, provided that we can find tickets down there that do not cost a small fortune. The weather should be beautiful in September, when we are hoping to go, and I cannot wait to walk the cobblestone streets and explore the food scene!
Pushed to 2024

Los Angeles & Anaheim

For the past two years, I have planned fairly elaborate birthday parties for Emmett's birthday in October. Next year, we are planning to do things a little differently by flying out to LA and taking him to Disneyland for his birthday.
Pushed to 2024

Dauphin Island, ALabama (Added)

Because of a health scare, we did this instead of the trip to California. We left on our road trip the day after Emmett's birthday party and spent a nice, relaxing vacation in the outdoors.
Completed in October, 2023, for Emmett's birthday

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These are lofty travel goals, to say the least, but by mixing some shorter trips with some longer ones, I think we might just be able to pull it off! And with our growing network of young ladies who can stay with Einstein while we are gone, I feel more comfortable booking travel. What are your travel plans and dreams for 2023? What factors hold you back from traveling like you wish you could?

Though we didn't complete all of the trips we wanted to originally, we did add in a couple that we hadn't originally planned. At the close of 2023, Emmett has been to three countries (including the U.S., where we live) and has been to seven U.S. states (including Texas, where we live).

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