Travel Beggar's Travel Plans & Wish List for 2008

Well, it's almost my 32nd birthday, February 25th to be exact, and I haven't made my travel plans or wish list for this year yet. Therefore, I am setting up my Travel Plans & Wish List now. Now when it comes to my yearly travels, they are divided into several catagories: Work Related Trips (W), Family Trips(F), American Adventures(A), & International Adventures(I).

• Hawaii (w)
• Cabo San Lucas, Baja Mexico (w)
• Panama City Beach, Florida (f)
• Fairfax, Virgina (f)
• Portland, Seattle, & Vancouver (a)
• Cuba (I)
• Pamplona, Spain & Portugal (I)
• Kiteboarding School

~~~~W: Now it may be hard to believe, but I, the Travel Beggar, actually have a real job in a medically related industry. This job has been a great blessing in that it offers me a great balance between time to spend with family, friends, and for travelling & a good career that offers me financial security. With this job, I have several perks that are travel related like travelling for company meetings or winning contests that the rewards are trips to fun places. This year, there are no away company meetings planned yet. However, I am in contention for 2 big contests. The 1st contest where I have the best chance of winning is for a week long trip to Hawaii and the 2nd trip where thus far I am in the lead is for a trip to Cabo San Lucas, Baja Mexico. I will find out the results of both contests around June 30th. So here is to hoping!!!
~~~~F: Every Year, I have at least one Family Trip with my parents, sister, and miscellaneous cousins. That trip is to Panama City Beach, FL during the last week of July & the first week of August. Now I know people think of this area as the Red Neck Riviera, but it's a great family trip where we have been going to the same hotel for nearly 20 years.
I am also trying to to make plans with my sister to travel to Northern Virginia, outside of D.C., to see my entire family and visit with my Grandparents. It has been way to long since I have been up there & travels to see family are some of life's greatest adventures.
~~~~A: I think that American's often overlook the great adventures in their own backyard. When you ask them where they would want to take a vacation, they immediately say Italy, or Europe, or the Caribbean. Perhaps, this is due to the perception that most of the country is exactly the same. This is a big misconception because there are plenty of great experiences in the United States. This year, I hope to take a trip to the Northwest Corner States and see cities like Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver. It's the one major section of the continental USA that I have not seen yet & hopefully this year will be the Year to see it.
~~~~I: International trips are often the hardest trips to take. For whatever reason, the planning, budgeting, and executing of these trips eludes many travellers including myself. Well this year is the Year for at least 1, if not 2 trips. The ultimate trip on my wish list this year is to go to CUBA. This is particularly important to me cause my mother is full blooded cuban and fled the Castro takeover. Now, that is a very difficult trip for Americans to take due to embargos. However, in recent years, there has been relaxing of the travelling restrictions to Cuba. I have been researching Missionary Travel and Cuba cause I have a distant cousin whom I was told is a priest in Cuba rebuilding orphanages. If I can go there for a couple of weeks and see cuba caught in the time warp, experience the people, and do great Missionary work for the cuban children, I would have the greatest trip ever.
My 2nd International destination wish would be to go to Pamplona, Spain during the Running of the Bulls in early July and then tour Spain and Portugal. This Hemingway Adventure has been on my hit list for several years now, and perhaps this year is finally my year to go.
~~~~Miscellaneous Adventure: Finally, there is Kiteboarding School. I always wanted to learn how to kiteboard, and in 2006 I took a day long lesson and bought all kinds of gear from a great school in Ft. Walton Beach called XLKites. From there, I practiced and took my gear out all the time only to Never, Ever, get up and sail on the board. I then let it die, however, I have still wanted to re-attempt this adventure sport. Therefore I will be looking for a weeklong Kiteboarding school either in the states or in the Caribbean.
There is also the possibilty of taking a Caribbean cruise. I often find Cruises to be a great way to sample cultures of the Caribbean. If possible, I think I will research an eastern or southern Caribbean cruise.
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