Re-imagining My Wanderlust List

August 5, 2020

Villefranche-sur-Mer I wit & whimsy

I have to say that after not traveling since February and all this time at home, I anticipated that I’d be wanting to purse more exotic travel locations following the coronavirus pandemic. But oddly enough, I find myself re-imagining my wanderlust list to be more about comfort, charm and the feeling of familiarity more so than adventure.

The last time I shared my wanderlust list it was in 2018. The following year I ticked off a big one: Australia! (Those blog posts will be coming at some point but our current reality has had me moving them to the back burner).

Of course going to Paris often is going to remain a priority for me as I continue to build Paris, Perfected but I crave trips there even more now than I thought physically possible. I miss those comforting streets so very much. My trips to Paris truly gave sustenance to my soul. They moved me, renewed me, inspired me. My goal of being able to go quarterly was just being realized this year…and then COVID-19 happened. I miss the trips and what they did for my mental well-being deeply. And while I never took the trips for granted, I certainly recognize my ability to go to Paris so often (and to miss it as I do) is an immense privilege.

So in addition to Paris, I’m looking at either returning to places that I have loved to get to know them better or going to spots that don’t feel to adventurous or too much work.

My Re-Imagined Wanderlust List Post-Coronavirus Pandemic:

  1. Paris, France
  2. Normandy, France
  3. Provence, France
  4. The Loire Valley, France
  5. Copenhagen, Denmark
  6. Quebec City, Canada
  7. Venice & Northern Italy
  8. London
  9. Napa Valley, California
  10. Edinburgh, Scotland
  11. Sicily & Capri, Italy
  12. Amsterdam, Netherlands
  13. Rhode Island
  14. The Cotswolds
  15. Côte d’Azur, France

Many of the above I have been to at some point in my life and a few I’ve never been to. Visits like Venice and Quebec City I no longer want to put off. And given my love for all things France, I want to delve even deeper into the country and explore more areas of it that I haven’t visited in a long time. One goal for Paris, Perfected that I had this year was to build out recommendations for popular add-ons to Paris trips such as Normandy, the Champagne region; surrounding nearby chateaus; etc. I hope to be able to begin that process as soon as it is safe to do so.

I’d love to know…where do you want to travel to as soon as you’re able to?

p.s. thoughts on traveling solo and a virtual visit to Paris for the day.

comments +

  1. Christina says:

    Love this! I had planned to go to Quebec City for my birthday in December this year. I want to see all the holiday decorations. Maybe next year….

  2. Melanie says:

    I want to go to Banff! We also had Japan planned for this year… wanting to take a few big trips before some major life changes. This whole thing is reminding me that I need to go with the flow more and know that life will take me where I’m meant to be! Harder in practice though. I feel like there is not enough time to get everywhere I want to go!

  3. Cynthia says:

    Normandy is on my list to- so much history and I know I will get emotional!

    Offering day trip add ons for your Paris Perfected clients is a great idea. I really had a hard time finding a Champagne region tour that had everything I wanted and fit within my budget. I had to go with a less expensive version and unfortunately alter my expectations.

  4. Danielle says:

    The Alsace Region at Christmas time is also on my list! Then pop over into Germany to do southern Germany for Christmas markets and holiday fun!

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