Once-in-a-Lifetime Adventures
Bucket list vacations change the priority of travel. For some, the yearly vacation is for resting up and relaxing while building relationships with friends and family along the way. Bucket list vacations bring in a more nuanced motivation: that of prioritizing the experience above all else. Relaxation and bond-building are still there, but it’ s the moment you see the northern lights ignite the sky or when you hear a colony of sea lions barking in Antarctica that you remember most.
You remember those the most because they are life-changing moments. As humans, we desire meaningful experiences, and that is exactly what travel— when done right— can provide. We travel to see things that are new, big, bold, amazing, inspiring and awe-striking. That’ s the novelty of it all, reminding us that there’ s so much in life to experience.
As for where you have these life-changing moments, the destination you choose is not a place you’ ll visit twice. It is a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, after all. It can be a big one to events and experiences that typically grace top-10 lists worldwide— climbing Kilimanjaro, exploring Petra or Angkor Wat, hiking the Grand Canyon, walking the Great Wall of China, hearing glaciers calve into the sea in Alaska. Or they can be smaller, more personal travel goals. Maybe you just want to see the little village in Italy where your grandma grew up or watch the sun rise over the Caribbean Sea like your parents did on their honeymoon back in the’ 60s.
Wherever you go, a proper bucket list vacation— like the ones listed throughout this magazine— will leave a mark on you. You won’ t just be ticking a box on your bucket list; you’ ll also be checking off other boxes. Achieving a life-long dream: check. Creating a great story to tell your kids and friends: check. Proving to yourself that you are still a dreamer, an explorer, able to take on a grand adventure: check. }
Great Wall of China
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