27 Favorite Travel Memories

In honor of turning "old" today... here are 27 of my favorite travel memories:

1.  Marveling at the beauty of my own "back yard" with this spectacular view of the Shenandoah Valley (VA). (2009)

2.  Spending my 20th birthday on the Nile in Uganda with my Dad and brother. (2007)

3.  Cozying up at Buckingham Palace for a jet-setter's weekend in London with my hubby! (2014)

Source.
4.  Exploring the oldest masonry fort on the continental U.S., Castillo de San Marcos, in St. Augustine (FL) with my family. (2003?)

5.  Contemplating how to sneak these kissing prairie dogs home in my luggage while visiting a friend in Denver (CO). (2013)

Source.
6.  Acting like a wide-eyed kid on a family trip to Disney World (FL) (ok, so I still was a kid then...). (2003)

7.  Honeymooning in Germany and touring Neuschwanstein Castle. (2010)

8.  Following the Freedom Trail in Boston (MA). (2014)

9.  Admiring the canals and waterways in Amsterdam. (2007)

10.  Basking in the pristine sunsets of Virginia's Northern Neck. (2014)

11.  Learning about Virginia's early history at Colonial Williamsburg with a dear friend from Texas. (2014)

12.  Viewing the Old Town Square and looking the Church of Our Lady before Týn face-to-face from the top of the Astronomical Clock Tower in Prague. (2012)

13.  Hanging out with John Wayne, my husband, and brother-in-law at the Alamo in San Antonio (TX). (2011)

14.  Visiting Blackbeard's watery grave on Ocracoke Island (NC-OBX). (2009)

15.  Falling head-over-heels in love with Dinkelsbühl, Bayern, and Germany on my first visit.  And constantly coming back for more! (2010)

16.  Wondering if the Civil War Dead really do haunt Little Round Top in Gettysburg (PA) and if they're the reason my husband is missing a leg in this picture... No Photoshop here, I swear. (2010)

17.  Soaking up the rays and splashing in the waves at Bagni della Regina Giovanna just outside Sorrento, Italy and feeling the ominous shadow of Mt Vesuvius lurking behind us (left hand side across the water)- an in-depth post about Sorrento will be hitting the blogosphere tomorrow! (2014)

18.  Imagining this room in 1776 as a new nation was born in Independence Hall, Philadelphia (PA). (2012)

19.  Feeling really, really small in the Colosseum. (2014)

20.  Delighting in the beauty of the longest waterfall east of the Mississippi - Crabtree Falls (VA). (2012)

21.  Reflecting quietly at the World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War Memorials on numerous visits to Washington D.C. (2012)

22.  Feeling L'Amour in romantic Strasbourg, France, with dear friends from Stuttgart. (2014)

23.  Savoring American small-town charm in Harper's Ferry (WV). (2012)

24.  Making a pilgrimage to St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. (2014)

25.  Verifying that we're not liars at the Bocca della Veritas (a la Audrey Hepburn style) in Rome. (2014)

26.  Experiencing one of the oldest festivals in Germany, the Kinderzeche, two different times.  The Kinderzeche celebrates the salvation of the town from the invading Swedes during the Thirty Years' War. Stay tuned for a future post solely on the Kinderzeche! (2010)

27.  Relishing a beer (ON THE STREETS! You Americans will appreciate the wonder of that!) in celebration of Germany's World Cup WIN while with our dear friends in Stuttgart!  By far, this night was the best I've ever had in another country and numbers in the top five best experiences of my LIFE.  WELTMEISTER!!! (2014)

After compiling this list, it occurs to me just how fortunate we are to have been able to see, do, and experience so many things.  While our list of countries visited pales in comparison to a lot of travelers, I am incredibly thankful for each and every place we've been to and for the blessings that have contributed to making those trips possible.  As I turn 27, instead of dreading becoming another year older, I look forward to seeing what a new year will bring.