Our 2024 was one for the books. It was our first full year taking time off work, and we made the best of it by traveling in the U.S. and abroad, spending time with friends and family, crossing bucket list experiences off our list, and focusing on our health.
This year’s travels took us across 21 states, four Canadian provinces and territories, and nine countries. We hosted family members and met up with them on the road, explored new cities with friends, and returned to Seattle and Ohio several times throughout the year to see many friends and family members in our former hometowns.
Our big bucket list adventures included spending a month motorcycling to Alaska, visiting my 40th country on my 40th birthday, taking a long-awaited, two-month trip to Scandinavia, crossing the Arctic Circle for the first time, and seeing Jay Leno perform standup at his local comedy club in Los Angeles.
We are officially in our 40s and focusing on ways to improve all aspects of our health and explore new areas of interest. In addition to hiking close to home, we were able to enjoy time in the outdoors in nine national parks in the U.S. as well as several national parks in other countries.
I kept my various house plants alive, learned how to work with sourdough starter, and completed my Goodreads reading challenge (60 books this year!). Brian had several new firsts: hunting antelope, making homemade venison tallow, removing a driveshaft from a motorcycle, and contributing to this blog! We both tried making pottery for the first time (not a hobby we are planning to pursue!) and continued to work with our favorite local charity – Rooted in Cheyenne.
Looking ahead, I’m excited about what 2025 has in store. In addition to more trips to see family and friends, we’re planning to explore new national parks in Utah and Nevada, taking an extended trip to Australia and New Zealand, making our 20th anniversary return to Ireland, visiting friends and former work colleagues in Germany, and moving to the Black Hills area of South Dakota. I’m looking forward to all of the opportunities to connect with friends, family, and a new community, and spending a lot more time outdoors.
I hope 2024 was kind to you and yours, and I wish you very happy times and travels ahead in the new year!
-Heather
A few fun facts for 2024:
- New states: Louisiana, Kansas, North Dakota
- New Canadian provinces and territories: Saskatchewan, Yukon
- New countries: Panama, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Finland, Sweden, Norway (and Svalbard)
- New U.S. national parks: Gateway Arch, Great Sand Dunes, Petrified Forest, Canyonlands, Arches, Indiana Dunes, Theodore Roosevelt, Wrangell-St. Elias, Kenai Fjords
2024 Travel Recap
January: New Orleans, Louisiana
February: Santa Fe and Albuquerque, New Mexico
March: Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park, Utah
April: Savannah, Georgia
May: Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota
June: Wrangell-St. Elias and Kenai Fjords National Parks, Alaska & Kluane National Park, Yukon
July: Panama City and El Valle de Anton, Panama
August: Baltic States (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania), Finland, & Sweden
September: Norway & Denmark
October: Golden and Denver, Colorado
November: Los Angeles, California, Seattle, Washington, & New York, New York
December: Central and Northeast Ohio
Heather's Compass 