I love travelling throughout autumn and winter. I’ve ticked off a fair few Christmas markets over the years and have my first NYE trip planned for this year. However, I’ve been building up a bucket list of events I’d like to experience throughout the festive season.
I’m a big fan of Christmas and the run-up to it. It’s such a magical time of the year and I’d really like to experience different traditions, events and festivities around the world.
As with any bucket list, there’s no rush to complete it. It’s simply a bunch of things I’d like to experience around the festive season when it comes to travel. I’d love to have the chance to experience everything on this list over the next few years. Hopefully putting this list here on PGT will give me the push to start planning things in advance (we’re normally terrible with this).
I think I’ll make this into something pretty to print out and stick on my office wall.
Photo creditCelebrate Canyon Lights at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park in Vancouver
Vancouver is right up at the top of my all-time travel bucket list. It’s somewhere I hope to live too, even if it’s just for a couple of years.
I’m longing to attend the Canyon Lights Festival which runs from November 22, 2018, to January 27, 2019. The Suspension Bridge, Treetops Adventure, Cliffwalk and park are all covered in magical lights.
I’m not normally one for heights but hand me a cup of hot apple cider, cover it in pretty lights and I’ll be ready to push myself to explore the park.
Photo creditTake a Christmas cruise to see the Northern Lights
I’ve never been on a cruise before but I’d love to try one.
I wouldn’t be looking to escape the winter weather, although I’m sure venturing off to sunnier climates is often a more popular choice. I’d much prefer to have the chance to explore Norway and hopefully see the Northern Lights.
Hopefully, I’ll have the chance to book an all-inclusive cruise holiday in the coming years. I like the idea of having everything from food and drink to excursions all planned out and included. P and I rarely have the time to research and plan out a holiday so this would be perfect.
Go ice skating at The Rink in NYC
A trip to NYC over autumn and winter is something I really should have done by now. I visited New York a few years back and loved it. The people were friendly and it truly exceeded my expectations.
So, just being in the city throughout the colder months would be perfect in itself. Adding a visit to the Rockefeller Cente to go ice skating at The Rink would make the trip even more iconic.
Attend the Nuremberg Christmas market
I’m lucky to have been to a fair few Christmas markets in Germany and Austria. However, I haven’t ticked off one of the most famous of all, the Nuremberg market.
I’m keen to visit Nuremberg in general but to attend the Christmas market, particularly for their opening ceremony would be so much fun. I know it won’t be hard to get Phil involved either, I’ve heard they make the darkest of beers.
Be in town for Brighton’s Burning The Clocks Parade
I’m always up for a trip to Brighton. I’d love to make a trip on the 21st December for their long-standing winter solstice tradition.
The shortest day of the year sees locals with paper and willow lanterns taking part in a parade which makes its way through the city centre. It ends with the lanterns being passed onto a big bonfire on the beach.
Photo creditVisit Edinburgh’s Christmas market
I’ve never been to Edinburgh but I’ve heard good things about the city and I know that Gemma loves it.
I’d really like to visit the city, especially for their famous Christmas market. It’s on for 6 weeks from 16th November to 5th January 2019. I’d love to just walk around with a mug of hot mulled wine and people watch to get into the festive spirit.
I think it would be the perfect place to go for a long weekend late November or early December.
I imagine I’ll come back and add to this post as and when I discover new trips I’d like to take throughout autumn and winter.
This is a collaborative post.