If you could go anywhere right now, where would it be?

It’s such a simple question and yet has half a million answers. I find myself daydreaming about this question quite a bit. Sometimes the answer is as simple as enjoying quiet time with someone I love and sometimes it’s exploring a city I’ve never been lucky enough to visit. I’ve spent a lot of time watching documentaries over the last couple of weeks. The thought of traveling seems a little weird given, well, you know. But I suppose that is why the wanderlust is real. Oh, so real. With every day just feeling more uncertain, uncomfortable, and just a little chaotic, it’s not really a surprise my brain is thinking of all the places I might rather be. It’s not lost on me that we’ve been hearing for months now that life would get back to some kind of normal and much of us took 2021 to make that a reality. Now it just kinda seems stripped away again and very overwhelming. I know I even felt optimistic and went on a trip which frankly left me begging for more.

Now Los Angeles is my home away from home but there are plenty of other places on my travel bucket list. The only international travel I’ve ever done was to Mexico in the early 2000s, so for me, there is plenty more to explore and to see out there. I do love to travel and I think vacation me is sometimes much more preferred to regular everyday me. Low stress…a real go with the flow vibe. Me having fun with little effort? Wow. A sight to see. All of the places in this post have caught my eye in one way or another. Whether it’s the Lonely Planet guide for must-see travel, social media posts, or just a couple of places I’ve always wanted to go, I thought we could all take a virtual trip. I hope shortly we can all travel freely again without sacrificing our health or the health and lives of others.

Burgundy, France

This region is best known for, well you know, its Burgundy wine. But that isn’t the only reason to visit this area of France. Burgundy has been called a must-visit in 2022 especially because it will welcome a brand new complex this year. The Cité Internationale de la Gastronomie et du Vin (International City of Gastronomy and Wine), will contain a cooking school, hotel, a handful of restaurants, and, most importantly, a wine cellar with over 350 offerings. Talk about a place I really want to go to. Even if wine isn’t your thing (and uh, what?) Burgundy boasts some of France’s most beautiful countrysides with rolling hills and medieval villages. In addition to wine, I personally would love to visit the markets, museums, view the architecture of buildings, chapels, towers, and courtyards. But most importantly, the Design District. Be still my heart.

Amsterdam, Netherlands

I have wanted to visit Amsterdam forever and I’m pretty sure it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out why. Yes, of course, it’s the design culture. Amsterdam is widely considered one of the greatest cities in the world. It’s all about history but fully embraces its modernity. It has a vibrant, creative food scene and some of Europe’s best clubs. There are art galleries, craft breweries, and plenty of places to shop Dutch-designed home goods and fashion. There is even, allegedly, an entire niche restaurant featuring avocados. Who can resist the flower stalls and picturesque canals, bridges, and homes? This easily walkable city has so much to experience and plenty of places to enjoy and even learn - Like the Anne Frank Huis.

Santa Ynez Valley, California

The Santa Ynez Valley is grown in popularity recently, or at least according to my Instagram feed it has. More and more people seem to be visiting or even moving to this rural, beautiful area 2 hours outside of L.A. It has grown grapes for decades and more and more tasting rooms, restaurants, and hotels have moved in over recent years - leading it to become a destination on everyone’s radar. I’ve heard about everything from olive oil tasting to, of course, wine and a delicious roasted tomato and fennel risotto. There is so much character to this historic area that has been growing Syrah grapes for decades, that even young minimal winemakers are coming in droves. It’s slowly becoming a magical corner of California and recently traveling to Sonoma and Napa has made me really want to travel here next. Plus, it’s fairly close to Solvang which has been on my to-do list for what seems like forever. The towns in this valley all have their own character and are worth exploring.

The Maldives

The Maldives have been a popular pandemic era travel destination because of its isolation factor. It seems like almost everyone has been lucky enough to escape here once the travel borders were reopened. The Maldives is made of over 1,000 islands in the Indian Ocean. There are over 150 places to stay including a nature retreat with wellness at the forefront. There are also luxury villas and even a place that boasts a six-course meal in 30 feet about the sand. Oh and don’t forget the spa experiences as if this distant, isolated local wasn’t enough to relax even the most stressed of us. The water looks incredible and the beaches most certainly belong on a postcard. It looks like the most glamorous and beautiful place to spend some quiet isolation time when the world just gets to be too much.

Palm Springs, California

Another trusty California locale I love, Palm Springs. I haven’t been to Palm Springs in what feels like forever which is why it gets to make the list. It has been a hideaway since the days of the Rat Pack and why not? It’s colorful and offers literally everything you could need to escape the city. It’s less than two hours from Los Angeles which makes it the perfect getaway. With the surge in outdoor activities, Palm Springs has been ready to deliver. There are streets lined with palm trees hosting popular brunch places worthy of people watching - and mimosas. There is year-round sunshine but that isn’t what draws me to this desert dream. You guessed it, it’s the art and architecture. Everything about Palm Springs art, design, and culture curate the best vintage shops, poolsides, and outdoor markets.

Costa Smeralda, Sardinia

Sardinia is a retreat of the wealthy who are most frequently seen upon yachts, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t some fun to be had for the rest of us. Also called the Emerald Coast, it rose to popularity in the 1960s as an escape for Prince Karin Aga Khan IV. But over the years this glitzy location has been unveiling everything from new hotels to nightlife. There are 35 miles of incredible coastline to absorb which is the real selling point here. Just look at those crystal blue waters! I would love to just sit on the beach here, but if activities are more your style there is everything from sailing to scuba diving and golfing. Of course, there are also a few of my other favorite past times: shopping, eating, and partying!