18 Summers

Nancy Mom's Corner, Our Adventures

A friend once said to us “18 summers. That’s the number of summers you have until your kids become adults and leave the house (theoretically). Yikes! Gulp!  When this was first uttered to us, we were in the midst of babyhood. Where the days and sleepless nights seem, well, endless.  You always think you have so much time. 

We now have one entering High School! Do I really only have 4 more summers with her before she heads off into the world? Or at least to college?  Wha? How’d that happen SO fast.   Cliché in hand, they do grow so fast.

Bucket list time.  Here is a sampling of the places and experiences I wish to share with my children before they head out in the world.

In no particular order:

  • New York.  What do we need to say here?  This is a must-do for my theatre obsessed child.  A Broadway show is absolutely on the list!  As is… Statue of Liberty, Central Park.  Cafes. Awesome restaurants.  Shopping!
  • Universal Studios.  Studio tour to see “behind the scenes” and of course to go the Wizarding World of Harry Potter – a must for any fan of the book series.
  • Walt Disney World.  We held off on Disney trips until they were older, I think L was 8, when we first went to Disneyland.  Wish to visit WDW.  Haven’t been there since I was about 14.  
  • Hawaii.  We took them to Maui when they were 2 ½ and 14 months.  Would love to go back with them.  Surfing. Whale Watching. Luau. Would be so much fun now that they are older.
  • See the Penguins in Patagonia.  When TBK Dad and I went to Chile, we didn’t make it as far as Patagonia.  But to see the Penguins…And since L has a special affinity to penguins.
  • Rome / Tuscany.  History of the world. The colosseum, the Roman Forum, the Vatican.  Gelato.  To stay in a Tuscan villa would be amazing. I probably wouldn’t want to come home.
  • Barcelona / Costa del Sol.  The Ramblas, Gaudi.  Drive down the coast and stay in amazing little seaside towns.  Drive a bit inland to see the Alhambra.  Rock of Gibraltar.
  • African Safari. L has always been fascinated with Lions.  She is definitely an animal lover.  I can see her as the Dianne Fosse of the Lions.  
  • Eastern US Tour. Would love to do an entire Eastern Seaboard tour.  Carolinas to Maine. 
  • Montreal / Quebec.  Visit old Montreal.  France in Northern America. Quebec then head to Prince Edward Island for a tribute to Anne of Green Gables.
  • Guatemala.  L had to do a report for school on Guatemala.  When I was pulling pictures down for her to include (sights to see), I was amazed at how beautiful the pictures were.  I thought, this cannot be Guatemala.  Research shows it is under traveled.  People go to Cancun/Cozumel.  But there are Mayan Temples here too.
  • South East Asia.  Vietnam. I know, when I think of Vietnam I think of the war.  But the pictures, it looks so beautiful and lush and I hear the people are super nice. Cambodia.  Real history here.
  • Brazil and Argentina.  A taste of Paris in Buenos Aires.  Visit the Amazon.  Iguazu Falls. Patagonia.
  • Iceland.  Beat the heat for sure.  Volcanoes, geysers, hot springs, lava fields.  See icebergs and whales.  Relax in the blue lagoon. Northern Lights.  

Honestly, the time goes by so fast! It seems like it was really yesterday she was a little baby in my arms.  I wish we could travel internationally each year.  Unless we take a year off to travel we will not get to all of these.  So, we are off to prioritize these and try to plan out what is realistic or not.  

So at the top of the list is:

  • New York / Boston
  • England / Scotland
  • Montreal / Quebec
  • WDW/Universal Orlando / Florida Keys
  • Vietnam / Cambodia

Hoping we get released to fly and travel again soon.  We have places to go!