The Bucket List

The Bucket List

Recently me and Tonya experienced the greatest adventure and vacation of our lives; a three day 100 mile rafting trip down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. The idea for this journey had been boiling in my brain for a few years even amidst other great vacations that came to fruition in the meantime. I had the brochure and promo DVD mailed to me almost 3 years ago. It really takes a lot of planning to bring these "Bucket List" ideas from fantasy to reality. In this blog I will take the first step in bringing these ideas to life by identifying the places that we desire to travel to the most.

      When I think about "Bucket List" vacations and adventures it takes me back to a lecture I heard earlier this year at the Arkansas Governor's Conference on Tourism by celebrity turned travel writer Andrew Mccarthy. He said that he searches for the "Ah-Hah" moment in his travel. Its that feeling of amazement when we experience something for the first time. A child can have these moments on a daily basis. The first time they experience the beach, feeding a duck at a local park, seeing a snake or catching their first fish. As we grow older these "Ah-Hah" moments come fewer and farther between. The best way to recapture that feeling of amazement is to leave our comfort zones and routines and explore the beautiful world that God has made for us.

Macchu Picchu - Peru

I think there are certain elements that differentiate a "bucket list" adventure and a typical vacation. I wouldn't consider a cruise, a week on the beach, a all inclusive resort or somewhere you live a few hours away from as a "Bucket list" vacation. A "Bucket List" vacation is so grand that you are likely only to be able to experience it once. A bucket list trip is also usually more expensive than a typical vacation, but is also far more rewarding and memorable. 

Everyone has different agendas when it comes to their personal bucket list. Some people desire to experience different cultures, while others like to visit great historic landmarks. For me, those trips are on the bottom of my list. My list is more focused on a combination of adventure, wild life, and natural beauty. While seeing the pyramids of Egypt, the Great Wall of China, and the Eifel Tower would be really cool, they are a very low priority for me. I don't want to just see something, I want to experience it. This is why we didn't go to the rim of the Grand Canyon and look at it with millions of other people, we became a part of the canyon by living in it for three days.

#10. Cataract Canyon - Canyon Lands, Utah

Estimated cost for 2 people - $3,500

We experienced the biggest white water of our lives on our Grand Canyon trip, but now I want bigger and wilder. A few hundred miles up the Colorado from where we rafted is some of the largest rapids in the US during the spring. This is an adventure that starts in Moab, Utah where we will also be able to visit Arches National Park and Canyon Lands National Park. I would have never heard of this trip had it not been for our Grand Canyon expedition which is a great example of the knowledge you learn by going on one of these great trips.

#9. Costa Rica

Estimated cost for 2 people $5,000

Every time I ask Tonya what she wants to add to our bucket list she says Costa Rica. I'm not really sure why, but it has Volcanoes, water falls, and wild life, so count me in. I haven't done much research of Costa Rica but the pictures remind me of a Central American Hawaii. From my limited research Costa Rica is home to an active volcano and lots of sloth creatures.

 #8. Bora Bora - French Polynesia

estimated Cost for 2 people $5-7,000

Bora Bora is the only relaxing vacation to make it on the bucket list. This trip might not quench my thirst for adventure, but when it comes to scenic paradise this location seems to stand out when compared to the thousands of other clear water beach getaways. Staying in one of the huts over the water would be a must. I think if we stayed here for a week we would probably never have a desire to stay at any of the other typical honey moon resorts. I've been to Atlantis in the Bahamas and I think this would be much better. Not to say that we couldn't find adventure here. I think renting boats to explore the lagoons and biking on the island would be fun.

#7 Zion National Park - Springdale, Utah

Estimated Trip cost for 2 people $2-$3,000

"The Narrows" 14 mile hike

"Angel's Landing"

Conveniently located 2 hours from Las Vegas it is safe to say that Zion National Park may be one of the least talked about national parks in the United States. Most people that I have mentioned it to have never even heard of it. I found out about it from a guy that sat beside me on a plane ride back from Vegas to Shreveport. He told me that he had just hiked "Angel's Landing" I had no idea what he was talking about, but it peaked my interest. I kind of wish he would not have mentioned it because now I am destined to climb the dangerous 1,488 foot rock formation. This is a bucket list item that needs to happen relatively soon. You never know what kind of physical condition you will be in 10 years down the road. If we are not brave enough to climb up Angel's Landing, there are miles of other amazing trails in Zion that blow my mind just from looking at the pictures, including "The Narrows" which is ranked #5 in America's top 100 adventures by National Geographic. I have read a few publications that even rank Zion ahead of Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon! I really hope to spend a few days in Zion sometime in the near future. Zion is also a couple of hours away from exceptional road trips like "Bryce Canyon National Park" "Red Rock" and "Valley of Fire State Park"

#6 Yellowstone National Park - Wyoming

 

Estimated cost for 2 people - 3-$4,000

No scenic/wild life trip list would be complete without Yellowstone National Park. Yellowstone was the first ever National Park created by the US government. I am scared to death of bears, but that strange fear spikes my curiosity. Yellowstone is jam packed with a plethora of geysers, waterfalls and miles of hiking trips that lead to astounding landscapes with abundant wild life. Getting to Yellowstone wont be cheap or convenient, but its a place I must go. This trip seems more geared towards naturists than adventurers so there is no hurry to get there. Its probably the type of vacation that can be enjoyed at any phase of life and that is another thing that makes it such a special place.

#5 Grand Canyon 7 Day Rafting

Estimated cost for 2 people - $7,500     (Havasu Canyon)

Red Wall Cavern

Three days and 100 miles down the Grand Canyon was just an appetizer for the big seven day journey that is offered by Western River Expeditions. The 7 day trip ends where our trip began so we can go on this adventure and see 7 days and 187 miles of the canyon that we have yet to experience including "Vasey’s Paradise", "Redwall Cavern", and "Havasu Canyon". The white water of the upper 200 miles is also more fierce. The three day trip was a great trial run, but the seven day seems to beat it in every single way (except that it is not accessible from Vegas)  Before our three day trip was even over Tonya and I vowed to return. This will be tough to make happen, but hopefully we will be fortunate enough to do it. With double the amazement comes double the price and no more convenience of being picked up in Las Vegas. we will have to make it to Arizona on our own. Either way, we have unfinished business with the Grand Canyon and we plan to conquer it.

4. Glacier National Park - Montana

Estimated cost for 2 people 3-$4,000

  
Glacier National Park is about half the size of Yellowstone, but many believe it is even more awesome. The park is still over 1 million square acres and sightings of grizzly bears are not only common but are expected. The park is a hikers paradise that leads many travelers to lakes filled with chunks of ice. Some people believe that the ice will be gone by the year 2020 due to rising temperatures. This park is often compared to Yellowstone and is located only about 5 hours away.

# 3 New Zealand

estimated cost for 2 people 8-$10,000

Who wouldn't want to go to middle earth? If you could pick up Glacier National Park and move it to a beach, then you would have New Zealand. The scenery would be astounding. This would probably be our most likely bucket list vacation to miss out on considering the cost of literally flying all the way across the world. Still never hurts to put it on the list even if it is more of a fantasy than a goal.

#2 Alaska

Estimated cost for 2 people 6-$8,000

Alaska has to be the Mecca of outdoor adventure. The entire state could be a national park. Just about every conversation I have had with hardcore travelers always ends with "but Alaska, you have got to go to Alaska" There is not many other places that you can go where you can hike a glacier, see a whale from a kayak and watch grizzly bears fish. With Alaska being so massive, I think the most economical way to actually experience it would be through a cruise line. To get the full experience you would need to book the high dollar excursions when you stop. An Alaskan cruise will not be like your typical Caribbean cruise and the steep price of activities will reflect that. Some excursions cost $500 a person or more!  Also take into consideration that you have to fly to Seattle, Washington just to get on the cruise, which is not a cheap flight. Alaska is sure to be packed with several "ah-ha" moment, but they will cost a lot of money to acquire.

#1 The Galapagos

There is no other place in the world that is comparable to the

Galapagos. If Yellowstone & Glacier National Parks are the most scenic trips, Galapagos is the greatest for wildlife. Galapagos is the only place in the world where the largest land animals are 500 pound turtles and the lizards cliff dive 50 feet into the water to catch their food. It is an astonishing place of natural phenomenon and I have never had a conversation with anyone that has actually been; which adds to the appeal. I don't imagine there will be crowds of tourists. This trip will also be pricey because it requires two different plane tickets. A flight to Ecuador and a flight to the island. Whatever the cost this is #1 our bucket list of travel and we must accomplish it someday.

People always look at me strange when I use the word "Bucket List." Some people think that exotic travel is for older retired people who have already raised all of their kids; but nobody is guaranteed to to get to enjoy their golden years. We aren't even guaranteed tomorrow. Vacation is supposed to be about breaking your routine; don't make your vacations a routine too. Make a list, write down the things you want to do even if its way out of your budget and do some minimal research.You never know, in 20 years you may have only accomplished half of your list it or less, but its better than going to the same beach or cruise 15 years in a row and by then you may be too old, tired or sick to do anything else. The time is now, life is fleeting.