Where I’m going in 2025 (12/16)

As part of what I do every year with this blog, I write about the travel I plan for the coming year. Part of me wondered if I should travel as much as I likely will, given the upcoming political climate. But this is my work, and I will keep hitting the road until I’m not allowed to go places for whatever reason.

Some of these are happening (for example, the first three destinations, Palm Springs and Quebec City), while others are not yet confirmed. As things stand, my travel plate looks full for the year, and I hope to fill it wherever something hasn’t been scheduled.

It’s also a time when I must reevaluate the work I would like to focus on for 2025. In other words, I am thinking of scaling back on my travel advisor work and ramping up the content creation. I’ve thought about this for a while, but this seems to be the time to make a concrete decision. I’ll keep you posted here.

Los Angeles at night, near the Griffith Park Observatory (photo from Bigstock)

Los Angeles – January

This is a short trip that was postponed until December. While I lived in the LA area for ten years in the 1980s and 1990s, I don’t know much about it anymore and need to approach it as a visitor. I plan to stay at the iconic Westin Bonaventure Hotel and visit Little Tokyo and the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures.

RAS and I will be sailing on a ship like this one, Symphony of the Seas

Western Caribbean cruise – February

RAS and I plan to take our annual winter cruise to the western Caribbean on Harmony of the Seas, one of Royal Caribbean’s mega-ships. Why are we going on something we have avoided for almost a decade? We want to stay in Galveston so I can write an article and see Roatan, Honduras, a place we haven’t been to yet.

The main piazza in Siena, Italy

Tuscany – March

I am taking a group from one of our local chamber of commerce groups to Italy. We’ll visit several famed towns in Tuscany and take a day trip to the Cinque Terre. I hope this will go well in transitioning into more organized group travel, like the Alaska cruise I’d like to do in 2026.

I'll return to one of the most densely populated places in the world, Tokyo

Japan/Korea – April

This will be a more practical trip than for enjoyment, as NLS will finish her study-abroad year in Tokyo. JRS will come with me, and we’ll stay a few days before we possibly go to Seoul of a few days. It seems to be a good time to hop over to South Korea, since we will be in the general area.

The Rocky Mountaineer train in Denver

Rocky Mountaineer – May

I am working with this luxury railroad company to make a FAM trip to the Red Rocks area of Utah. The trip will start in Denver, stop overnight in Glenwood Springs, then head to Moab by bus before going to Salt Lake City. I’m looking forward to this, even though I’ve been to this area countless times.

I probably will not see much natural beauty like this during my conference in Palm Springs

Palm Springs and Quebec City – June 

These two destinations are related to conferences, and both happen to be in the same month. I enjoy going to Palm Springs even though I’ve been there at least a dozen times. I’ve never been to Quebec, so I’m excited about a new-to-me destination. Maybe I can squeeze in a visit to Montreal.

Hoping I'll get to see much of Canada's largest city, Toronto, next summer (Photo by James Wheeler: https://www.pexels.com/photo/buildings-near-body-of-water-at-night-1519088/)

Toronto – July; Pittsburgh or San Diego – August

Going to these cities is tentative and related to JRS and my quest to see every Major League Baseball venue. These destinations could change depending on how well our favorite team, the Giants, plays and where certain players end up.

I hope to try authentic Cajun food like this Jambalaya (Photo by salah amrani: https://www.pexels.com/photo/stew-with-meat-and-shrimps-garnished-with-parsley-and-a-bowl-of-rice-20157989/)

Lafayette, Louisiana – October

Another city that’s hosting the IFWTWA writing conference, Lafayette is the center of Cajun country and a place I’ve never been to. I’m looking forward to trying some of the local cuisine and seeing what this city has to offer

We will either start or finish our river cruise in Budapest, Hungary (Photo by Dominika Gregušová: https://www.pexels.com/photo/building-near-body-of-water-732057/)

Danube River – November

RAS and I will be going on an AmaWaterways river cruise, partly because I need to use a cruise credit before the end of next year. But it’s also for him to experience a river cruise. I’m concerned that he’ll find it too sedate, but we’ll at least have some active shore excursion options.

September and December – I don’t have travel scheduled for these dates, but you never know what might happen.