2018 was jam packed with wonderful travel opportunities for our team here at She’s On The Go. We got to see gorgeous beaches, snow covered mountain ranges, far away places full of culture and beauty, and so much more. We are all so grateful for the new experiences and changes of scenery these past 365 days. Throughout all of our travels, we captured some special destinations and special moments that fueled our never ending wanderlust spirit and filled our hearts with unforgettable memories. Here are She’s On The Go team’s 18 favorite travel photos of 2018
KENDRA
Las Vegas, Nevada – On my 40th birthday my girlfriends and I went to see an art exhibit just outside of Las Vegas, Nevada. Ugo Rondinone’s Seven Magic Mountains is a vibrant large scale artwork exhibit located in the desert. I love the color splashed in the middle of what appears to be a dead ugly wasteland. I love the desert and just had a moment on my birthday recognizing that we are the burst of color in a sometimes ugly world.
Puerta Vallarta – This photo was taken just outside of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. For our 20th anniversary my husband and I went on a cruise with a group of friends. During the day in Puerto Vallarta we went on a zip lining tour and, to my surprise, my favorite part was not the zip lining (although it was fun). The best part was the speed boat ride back to the ship. The guides had some extra time so they took us to feed the fish in these natural caves and the view between them was amazing. The way the wind and water created arches and tunnels was beautiful.
NICKY
ANDREA
Grandfather Mountain NC – One of my favorite places to visit is the Blue Ridge Mountain range here in North Carolina. We spent some of our fall break doing all kids of sightseeing that we can’t do when we normally visit in winter. We all had the best day at Grandfather Mountain, not only braving the famous mile-high swinging bridge but also learning about NC wildlife at their own private little zoo. It’s a fantastic day trip!
CocoCay, Bahamas – We celebrated my 40th birthday this year by going on a kid-free cruise on Royal Caribbean with some friends. It was a quick Bahamas cruise but we made the most of it! On our island day, we spent nearly all our time on or next to this floating bar. It was pretty close to heaven!
TANIA
Niagara Falls was one of my favorite 2018 travel destinations! I didn’t expect it to be as stunning as it was. When the rainbow showed up, that’s it, I was dead. Now you’re just showing off, Niagara, and I’m here for it. Explore both the U.S. and Canadian sides for extra adventures!
TARA
Tokyo, Japan – For my 10-year wedding anniversary, @LaTwinoDad and I headed to Japan for the first time. Not exactly romantic, but definitely an exotic escape and a bonding adventure. From Tokyo Disneyland, to experiencing a real tea ceremony or the over-the-top Robot Restaurant to going up the SkyTree Tower, it was a sensory overload and a delight. Not to mention the yummy eats – Sushi, Hibachi, Ramen and so much more. They hope to go back again soon!
MELISA
Rome, Italy – This photo of the kids on our last day in Rome in October just really struck me. It wasn’t posed and we were all on overload from history, crowds and walking. But it was a quiet moment for all of us to reflect and I’m glad I was able to snap it.
Lanai City, Hawaii – We traveled to Maui in January 2018 and one of the things on our bucket list was taking a boat to Lanai, to visit this cat sanctuary. This picture sums up my son’s dream, as you can see his pure bliss on his face.
FADRA
Saudi Arabia – What better way to end the year than with a trip of a lifetime. I hesitantly accepted an invitation to travel to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. After traveling for over 16 hours and catching a few hours of sleep, I boarded another plane to visit the remnants of an ancient civilization in Alula. We were greeted by local men celebrating our arrival and it was at this moment that I looked around with the realization that I was truly on the other side of the world experiencing things that very few get to do!
The Thousand Steps – This photo is a beautiful view but not a breathtaking one. However, it literally took my breath away as I climbed over one thousand steps to reach this vista near Raystown Lake. It was an old trail used by quarry workers in central Pennsylvania and was in danger of falling into disrepair until it was turned into a well-maintained trail. This solo hike was pretty strenuous for an amateur hiker like myself but it was well worth it when I was rewarded with the view from the top.
Burlington, Vermont – When Nissan invited me to head to Vermont right smack in the middle of leaf peeping season, I couldn’t think of a better way to welcome fall. Not only was the weather on the warmer side (relatively speaking) but the sun brought out magnificent colors as we kayaked down the Winooski River. I loved the composition of this photo that I snapped with my phone just before boarding the bus to head up river.
SUSAN
Telč Czech Republic – I had the chance to travel to the Czech Republic this past summer and one of the most magical places I visited was the city of Telč. The entire City is filled with vibrant and beautiful architecture and you feel as if you’ve stepped back in time while wandering the cobblestone streets. The food and local beer were a definite highlight too.
Quebec City – Like Nicky I was also smitten with Quebec City. It’s one of those places that makes you feel right at home the minute you arrive. Although it’s lovely no matter what time of day you venture out, I loved exploring the City at night to enjoy the brightly lit empty streets.
Breckenridge, Colorado – November travels brought me to Breckenridge for the first time and I absolutely loved it! It took a few days for me to adjust to the altitude but once I did I had a great time taking in all of the breathtaking snowy mountain views.
Breckenridge, Colorado – This photo was also taken in Breckenridge. This spot and the snow falling reminded me of Narnia from The Lion, The Witch, and, The Wardrobe. I really felt like a faun was going to show up at any minute and invite me in for tea.
Leavenworth, Washington – I ended my travels this year with a trip to Leavenworth, Washington. I can’t even begin to describe how truly wonderful this City is. Imagine being surrounded by stunning mountains blanketed in white and streets exquisitely decorated in holiday lights…it’s like being inside of a snow globe. It’s one of the most special destinations I have ever been and I am already planning my return trip!
Do you have any special memories from your travels in 2018? Please share them with us in the comments, we’d love to hear about them! Here’s to 2019! May it be full of friends, fun, and lots of new adventures!! Happy New Year!!
Susan is a Travel/Lifestyle Writer & Photographer. She’s Mom to four children ranging in age from 13 to 24 and is an avid solo and family traveler. She’s always on the look-out for her next adventure and loves to share each of her journeys along the way!
OMG I need to go to that cat sanctuary too! My boys would love it too.
It truly is a one of a kind experience!
That floating bar at Coco Cay is where my husband and I celebrated our 10 year wedding anniversary, it’s definitely paradise. Kayaking in Vermont is wonderful we did that in 2017 and loved it.