Happy New Year, everyone! As always, it’s been a whirlwind of a holiday season — I barely had enough time to breathe, let alone publish the dozen drafts I have ready for this blog (and then my host server was down for an entire week!) Like I usually do, I made some resolutions for the new year (most of which revolve around my 30 Before 30 bucket list!) and I’m excited to share my journey with all of you as I attempt to complete them.

For starters, I’m planning a road trip from San Diego to Yosemite, Yellowstone, and Glacier National Parks – a trip that will take us through five or more Western states and three national parks. This was inspired not only by my bucket list goal to road trip the U.S., but by the brand new 6-person cabin tent we received for Christmas! It calls for some serious camping trips (we’ve already planned half a dozen short weekend trips, too.)
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I’m also going on my first cruise since I was 11! I’m a bridesmaid in my boyfriend’s brother’s wedding, and we’re sailing to Mexico on a 3-day cruise for one helluva bachelorette party.

Lastly, I’m *hoping* to finally make this the year I complete my solo backpacking trip through Europe. I’ve only been talking about this for years. There are some big things to arrange and put into place before this happens, so stay tuned for updates/details…like the opportunity I got to stay in Switzerland and Italy with friends. Um, hello bucket list!
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I’m inspired by how much traveling and exploring I got to do in 2015. From Iceland to Ireland to London to Utah and all the short side trips in between, it was a fantastic year for travel and re-ignited the passion that had been left to San Diego backcountry and Baja trips for the past three years.

So, to celebrate a great year gone by and the start of another yet to come, I’ve put together a collection of 20 photos from the best places I visited in 2015. I hope it inspires you as it has inspired me. Enjoy!

1. London, England

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2. Bryce Canyon, Utah

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3. Morro Bay, California

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4. Skógafoss, Iceland

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5. Cliffs of Moher, Ireland

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6. Stonehenge, England
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7. Capitol Reef National Park, Utah
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8. Big Sur, California
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9. Eyjafjallajokull, Iceland
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10. Dingle Peninsula, Ireland
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11. Salisbury, England
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12. Zion National Park, Utah
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13. Redwood National Forest, California
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14. Vik, Iceland
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15. Glendalough, Ireland
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16. San Francisco, California
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17. Thingvellir National Park, Iceland
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18. Monterey Bay, California
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19. Brú na Bóinne, Ireland
(The ancient Newgrange Fort)
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20. Solvang, California
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