How did you travel in 2024? How and/or where would you like to travel next year?

In 2023, I stayed within the state due to limited to PTO and then made it to Utah for national parks! In 2022, I made up for all the lack of traveling by going to the Netherlands, Ohio, Portland in less than 2 months plus a stop in Arizona. In 2021, the second year of the pandemic, we stayed locally although did jet to Hawaii. In 2020, in the first year of the pandemic, I stayed local and only went to a few overnight destinations within a few hours of a drive—one before the pandemic (so it doesn’t count) and down to Central California. In 2019, I made a big trip to Japan and many domestic trips to Phoenix, Portland, and New York. In 2018, I traveled very domestically, mostly local for retreats in Ukiah, Scotts Valley, and Big Sur. Then San Diego for a work thing. And a trip to Squaw Valley. And a crazy long adventure through Chicago and New York. In 2017, I traveled to Minnesota for work, LA twice for “fun”, Las Vegas for a not-so-good fun, and Thailand/Myanmar! Also somehow forgot to mention Cincinnati for MidwestUX! And did I forgot to mention Phoenix? In 2016, I traveled to Finland/Sweden for my first big speaking gig, Portland for a “bachelorette” party, road trip to LA for my sister’s wedding, and Minnesota for work. In 2015, I went to Brazil for a conference, multiple work trips, and a midwest trip. In 2014, I went on multiple weekend trips, increased business trips, and found a destination for ice cream and writing. In 2013, I finished off the bulk of the travel for the Ice Cream Travel Guide. In 2012, I started the journey of a life and went to what I thought was unfathomable (in my life) — six domestic destinations and eight international destinations — for professional and personal reasons. In 2011, I went on one international trip, one domestic…and one super local. In 2010, I went on one international trip and multiple domestic trips.

In 2024, due to the national park pass and helping Chris with mental health and some unexpected things, we went to:

• Point Reyes for a three day workshop and parks!
• Tahoe for a ski trip
• Arizona to visit my sister and Jakobe! Then also to Tucson to Saguaro National Park, Chiricahua National Monument, Bisbee, and a few nearby attractions
• Colorado for Litfest since I got into an advanced weeklong writing workshop at Lighthouse and Rocky Mountain National Park
• LA several times to take care of Chris’ mom’s estate :(
• Washington State to visit friends, Olympic National Park, and Mt. Rainier

Next year? I got the devastating news of a health diagnosis plus the estate in LA requires a lot of work. So I am not sure what travel things will be happening. I had planned to be in LA for a writing conference, Washington DC for a work conference, and possibly Portugal for a writing conference. But everything is now on pause. At the very least, I know there will be at least one trip to LA. And maybe I can make it to Washington DC? But I am not even sure!