top travel destinations

Best Destinations of 2017

blonde atlas best destinations 2017

As each year closes, I can’t help but feel that this one came more quickly than the last, and man- that’s certainly true of 2017. That can be discouraging though, can’t it? Every year, we set audacious goals for everything that we want to accomplish in the months ahead. But before we know it, it’s over (often far before we’ve accomplished all we set out to do). 

 

Last year at this time I was convinced by the end of 2017 I’d be living in London. Though I’ve put forth great effort, I’m technically no closer to that goal now than I was 365 days ago. Life is funny like that, isn’t it? If I had to guess, I’m sure you have some sort of “London” of your own. 

 

If you’re circumstances aren’t as different as you hoped they’d be right now, you’re not alone. And while that can drive you mad at times, this year I’ve learned that life is a lot more about enjoying the journey than simply arriving at a destination (and yes, I realize how terribly cliche that sounds… I’m rolling my eyes even as I type it). 

 

No, 2017 didn’t deliver me to my goal of living in London. It did however, write some incredible chapters in my story of life that I can’t imagine living without now. It took me to new corners of the world and connected me with wonderful people I already love dearly. It humbled me to do things I said I’d never do and taught me valuable lessons I’ll keep forever. It knocked me down and made me cry, but taught me the resilience to get back up. It made me realize no time is wasted if you keep your eyes open to appreciate the gifts along the way. 

 

This time of year, we see lots of “year in review” posts on social media. While we must remember these are highlight reels (usually only showing the good things, not the struggles), I still think it’s a beautiful way we can celebrate how far we’ve all come together. But I also think when we can share what we’ve learned with each other, it provides an opportunity for all of us to gain wisdom and insight heading into a new year. 

I visited over 12 countries and 50 cities in 2017, so trying to recap all of that would take me an entire year in itself! But since I shared some of my top trips from 2016, along with a valuable lesson I learned in each place, I thought I’d at least share my highlights again from the past year. I hope it not only inspires you to see some of these places for yourself, but that you gain encouragement from some of my greatest takeaways from the year. 

 

FRANCE

valensole lavendar fields
etretat france
mont st michel
menerbes

I couldn’t pick one single destination from my road trip through France, because each place I visited was unforgettable. For two weeks this spring, I drove all across this country with various friends. I started in Toulouse and drove to Montpellier, Saint Remy de Provence, Aix en Provence, Valensole, Gordes, Menerbes, Lyon, Dijon, Etretat, Mont Saint Michel, Loire Valley and made a few stops in Paris along the way. Between seeing the lavender fields like I’ve always dreamed of, connecting with new friends and chatting for hours into the night under the Eiffel Tower, and discovering tiny villages I didn’t even know existed, my two weeks in France were easily some of my favorite this entire year. There were nights I stayed in 5 star hotels and was treated like royalty, and also nights that I shared an Airbnb with strangers (with no AC in the heat of the summer too). There were times I was anxious and had no idea where I was sleeping the next night, but also times when I was so relaxed I’d fall asleep in sun while reading my book. I got a police escort off a pedestrian bridge. I attended a French press event where I had no clue what was going on because it was all in French. I tasted wine from (arguably) the most prestigious region in the world. I spent time with so many different people and time wandering through various bits of the country by myself. Much like life in general, France provided a variety of experiences and emotions, highs and lows, but all weaving together an incredible chapter and some of my favorite memories of the year. 

paris
paris
france road trip

 

CANADA

canada

I’m a 7 on the Enneagram (a personality test I’m fascinated by). 7’s are labeled “The Enthusiast” because well, we’re pretty excited about everything. At our best, we view the world in child-like wonder, dream up crazy big ideas and have more fun than most people are capable of having. But the pitfall of a 7 is that we can be so preoccupied by the future or “riding our next high” that we miss out on the present. 

 

I start with that explanation because I'm very much guilty of always romanticizing the grand adventure of Europe. Don’t get me wrong- a lot of it is for good reason. Europe easily holds the large majority of my favorite places in the world and I feel like it “fits me” in more ways than I can count. But because it’s harder to get to it can feel like a larger or “more special” experience than a domestic trip. So as a 7 who always wants more, More, MORE!!! this is very seductive. So seductive in fact, you could accidentally neglect the amazing places around you. This is exactly what I’d done with Canada- up until last month (travel guides coming next month!)

 

I couldn’t have been more impressed with the natural beauty I witnessed in Emerald Lake, Lake Louise, Banff and Whistler. They were the kind of place that take your breath away and leaves you simply standing in wonder, trying not to drool. It was the most I’ve ever been still while traveling. Not running around to see sights or hustling to make all the museums or stuffing my face at every restaurant possible. Instead, we spent slow cozy morning by the fire and taking in the views. Cell service was spotty, which forced us to unplug and be in the moment. It was unlike most other trips I’ve ever taken, but in a wonderful sort of way that I really needed. 

 

This trip reminded me that some of the most beautiful gifts in life are closer than we think. This is true both in the literal sense of neighboring destinations that aren’t oceans away, but also in a figurative sense. Slow cozy mornings or unplugging from distractions or pausing to appreciate the beauty of nature around us— these are all rich gifts we can tap into from anywhere in the world. So why don’t we more often?

canada
canada

 

 

PORTUGAL

I loved visiting Lisbon, Porto and Madeira, but the stories I want to share for this particular blog were from Lisbon and Madeira.

 

LISBON

lisbon portugal
lisbon portugal

Last August on a boat in Croatia, I met a woman named Paula, with whom I became fast friends. She was exotic and gorgeous and quintessentially Portuguese. She shared my love of travel and fascinated me with her stories from adventures around the world. At the end of the day, we exchanged emails and she told me to contact her if I ever came to Lisbon. Fast forward to this spring, and I was booking at ticket to Portugal to meet up with some friends. Naturally, I wrote Paula to see if she’d want to meet for lunch before the rest of the group got in. 

 

It would have been great if Paula simply said yes. I would have been keen to reconnect and possibly pick her brain for some recommendations. But instead, Paula picked me up from the airport and took me into her house for a homemade Portuguese meal on her balcony, overlooking Lisbon. We caught up on life from the last few months- she told me about her trip to Japan while I told her about my coast to coast road trip. She even wrapped up a Lisbon travel book as a gift for me and wrote out a detailed itinerary with her best recommendations for my allotted amount of time in her city. We had the loveliest afternoon and I didn’t want it to end. 

lisbon portugal

 

Lucky for me, she ended up joining my friend Caitlin (another fast friend I met from traveling) and I for dinner that night. She took us to a trendy, bustling restaurant full of locals that we definitely wouldn’t have found on our own. She ordered our food and drink in her native Portuguese tongue. We sat there for hours swapping travel stories, eating course after course of amazing local cuisine I felt so much gratitude well up from my bones I could have cried. Sure, I was in an incredible city I’d wanted to visit for a while. But I was there with two fascinating women whose friendship I’d acquired from getting out in the world and connecting with the people in it. And it all sparked from striking up a conversation with a stranger on a boat. 

 

How many amazing connections like this do we miss on a daily basis? Sure, we don’t have time to be best friends with everyone and I can certainly respect being thoughtful about who and what you give your time to. With that said, I’d also argue most of us operate day in and day out like robots- speaking only to the people we know or addressing strangers when communication is required to meet a need of ours. But this friendship I made with Paula makes me think about random passerby’s a bit differently though. What story does my Uber driver have? Or the man sitting next to me at our gate at the airport? We all come into contact with countless strangers day in and day out, and they all have a story. And if we aren’t willing to strike up friendly conversation, we’re going to miss a lot of fascinating ones. 

 

MADEIRA

madeira portugal
belmond reids palace

This place was incredible simply for its beauty (read more about what to do here).

But what I loved so much about this trip was the company. I traveled here with other travel bloggers- friends I’d met from different corners of the world. Like Paula, they were the kind of friendships that happen instantaneously because you just click so well. So when I had booked my flight to London this spring, knowing I’d make it to some new places too, they were the first ones I reached out to. One of them suggested Madeira, and to be honest I had never even heard of it. That didn’t deter me of course (one of my goals every year is to go somewhere I didn’t even know existed) but it did make for a particularly memorable moment.  

 

We had spent the first day catching up since we lived in different cities around the world (they’re in Berlin, London and Austin). So on the second day, we decided to go explore. We had a rental car and drove up to Pico Do Arieiro, the highest point on the island. It was a pretty tumultuous drive up: lots of hairpin turns and drop off cliffs and literally required driving through the clouds to reach the summit (which meant very low visibility at times). We all pulled together to safely arrive at the top for easily one of the most impressive views we’d ever seen. 

madeira portugal
madeira portugal

 

There were so many things about that moment I would have never seen coming. I didn’t know I’d be back in Europe on another open ended trip. I didn’t know I’d make friends over here I connect with on a deeper level and love traveling with so much. I didn’t even know this entire island existed, much less this incredible outlook. At the risk of sounding cheesy, it reminded me that while some things won’t look different a year from now (and that can be frustrating) some things will lead you down a wild path of beautiful twists and turns that lead you to asking (in the best kind of sense) “How did I wind up here?"

 

CHICAGO

Considering I moved to Chicago in September, this destination wasn’t exactly a “trip."  Even still, this last season has been one of the top highlights of my year and I couldn’t not include it. I explained here that I decided to come to Chicago when I couldn’t get a visa to London, but I still really wanted to try out life in a new city. My hope was honestly to find something to replace the desire for London, (which seemed like an easier solution than finding a visa) but that’s not what happened. Instead, I found a new kind of appreciation for another city I also love dearly - just in a different way. And while I could rave on and on about why Chicago is so fascinating and all there is to do there, I’ll save that for my travel guides (one is here but I’m working on a 2.0 now that I’ve lived here!)

chicago

 

What I want to focus on about Chicago here is all that it taught me. It was here I realized even if my year may not have gone exactly as I would have planned it to, that didn’t mean it wasn’t still a great year. Chicago enriched my life in more ways than I can count. 

 

I was able to fall in love with another great city and get to know so many intricate details  that you just can’t appreciate as a visitor: knowing your way around, having your “regular spots”, mastering the public transit… it all feels incredibly gratifying.

 

I was able to go from seeing some family I love once every year or two, to living in their guest room and doing day to day life together. We shared countless meals. I got to see my little cousins at swimming or gymnastics and hear about their day at school. I got to know all of them even better and love them even more now because of it. 

 

I was able to experience being “the new girl”. I went to countless dinners with people I barely knew (or didn’t know at all!) and slowly, over time, got to experience how good it feels when groups of friends welcome you with open arms and include you in their plans for brunch or dinner parties or Halloween. 

 

And man, I was able to learn so much just from dating (I’ve never been on more dates in a condensed period of time in my entire life!) I actually stayed put in one place long enough to date the same person for a while (not just be a perpetual casual dater like I’d been the last few years). I was able to see first hand that sometimes the really hot guy you’re so excited to go out with ends up being really dull and not that interesting, while the guy who's "cute enough" at first glance actually can end up blowing you away. I learned honest feedback and communication is how we learn and grow from dating, even when ghosting seems easier (I experienced both being ghosted and being the one tempted to ghost myself). I went on a couple terrible dates that make hilarious stories now, but also some amazing ones with great guys I'll definitely keep in touch with.

Chicago let me “start from scratch” and ask myself things like “What are you looking for in a church? In a partner? In a friend group?” Because when you start over somewhere new, you get to choose the foundation for how you build on all of those things. So whether or not I build future seasons in Chicago or in London or in another corner of the world, I’m infinitely grateful for all the things Chicago has taught me about who I am and what I want out of my life that will make future seasons even sweeter. 

 

 

 

The thing about reflecting on the good stuff in life is that it usually leads you to remember even more good stuff. Typing all of this brings back dozens of other stories I want to tell: meet cutes about new friends in Prague, singing “Sweet Caroline” at Fenway in Boston, my entire coast to coast road trip from the spring, Jackson Hole with my best friends, Greece with another best friend… so much has happened this year! But in effort to keep this succinct (and so I can go get ready to ring in the New Year in London tonight!) I’ll simply end on this note: you may not be exactly where you want to be in life right now, and 2018 may not take you anywhere close to where you think you’re going either.  But there is so much life to be lived and stories to be told as each day goes by. So whatever happens, let's be sure to look closely at all the goodness that’s around us and enjoy the journey along the way.

2017 in review

 

Wishing you an amazing New Year's Eve tonight! I'm in London and will be sharing our celebration (several hours ahead of the US time zones!) so follow along in real time on Insta-stories. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR, FRIENDS!

xx

Whitney

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Top 10 Travel Destinations of 2016

2016 has been getting a lot of hate lately. But at the risk of sounding argumentative or insensitive, it happened to be the best year of my entire life. I’ve seen more of the world in the last year than I have collectively the other 28 years of my life (and as a result, I've also been asked which of those destinations was my favorite more times than I have hairs on my head). Since I'm a big fan of optimism and looking on the bright side (and since picking a single favorite place is impossible), I thought it’d be fun to share my Top 10 Trips of the year, along with a valuable life lesson that I learned in each spot. So let's jump right in: 

 

10. AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS

AMSTERDAM IN A NUTSHELL: 

The Dutch capital is hands down one of the most charming places I've ever been in my life (not just this year). The bikes, architecture, canals, tulips + stroopwafels are just a few of the many things about it that stole my heart. If you've never been, check out my Amsterdam Travel Guide and add it to your list of destinations for 2017!

 

WHAT I LEARNED IN AMSTERDAM:

My friend Sarah came to visit me in Amsterdam, which was after I'd been away from home for over 2 months. Sarah is one of my very best friends and someone I do life with on a regular basis. Before I left for my trip, I remember worrying that things might feel different or that friendships might fade while I was gone. But that wasn't the case with our time in Amsterdam. We didn't skip a single beat. It was the nail in the coffin to affirm what I had already been learning: the people in life that really matter will always be there for you- whether you're in the same city or on the other side of the world. 

 

 

9. GRANADA, SPAIN

granada spain
granada spain

GRANADA IN A NUTSHELL: 

This city in Spain’s Andalusia region is nestled in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains and known for its lavish Alhambra palace. I loved embracing all the Moorish influence by visiting a Turkish bath, getting a henna tattoo, browsing the Arab markets, drinking tea + admiring all the gorgeous architecture (I felt like I was in Morocco rather than Spain!) If you’re looking for a destination that’s rich in history, diverse in culture, and brimming with incredible food + architecture— look no further than Granada!

WHAT I LEARNED IN GRANADA

While watching the sunset over the city one night, I had the realization that less than a year ago, I'm not sure I even knew Granada existed. What a cool feeling to know that another year from now I could be somewhere else that's amazing but I don't even know about it yet! It's easy to default to popular destinations that everyone loves, but Granada showed me that there are SO many other cool places in the world to discover-- I haven't even scratched the surface!

granada spain
alahambra palace granada spain

VENICE IN A NUTSHELL: 

Venice is one of the most iconic destinations in the world. With its 150 canals and 400 bridges, it was unforgettable navigating this beautiful city. I loved embracing the quintessential Venetian experiences like drinking bellinis, riding a gondola, touring neighboring islands like Murano, indulging in local cuisine (which is delicious Italian plus incredibly fresh seafood) and watching the sun dance on the water of The Grand Canal. I HIGHLY recommend visiting   this year (as you likely know, Venice is slowly sinking). Head to my Venice Travel Guide on the blog for everything you need to plan your trip!

 

WHAT I LEARNED IN VENICE

My two lodging partners in Venice really couldn't have been more different. One was a luxury 5 star hotel and the other was a hostel (a nice one, but still a hostel). My friend Tillie and I were crying we were laughing so hard because we were still wearing our hotel slippers from our luxurious experience the night before when we got to the hostel (clearly we weren't ready to trade in the luxe life). But when I take a step back and look at all my Venice memories, I honestly don't know which ones were from the day of the nice hotel vs. the hostel.  While hotels can certainly offer an incredible experience, what you'll truly take with you from your travels will be the memories you create exploring each destination and drinking up the local culture- not merely where you choose to lay your head at night.  

IRELAND IN A NUTSHELL

Ireland romanced + surprised me, far exceeding any of my expectations. From the popular tourist spots like Blarney Castle + Cliffs of Moher to more remote locales like Dingle or Connemara, I adored every place we went. Its dramatic rocky coastlines, lush green countrysides, stunning castles and kind-hearted people are just a few of the many things you'll love. If you're looking for some inspiration to plan your own trip, be sure to check out my "One Week in Ireland" guide!

 

WHAT I LEARNED IN IRELAND

To be perfectly honest, I wasn't jazzed about spending an entire week in Ireland. I'm more of a city girl, and Ireland hadn't been quite at the top of my list to begin with because there were so many other places I wanted to go. But my friend had airline points that could bring her to Dublin to meet me and so I said yes. I'm so thankful that I did.  It made me realize it's always worth saying yes and capitalizing on the chance to explore a new place when the opportunity presents itself- even if you're not over the moon at first. Your favorite spot in the world could end up being somewhere you didn't even know you wanted to go. 

CLIFFS OF MOHER IRELAND

 

 

6. ROME, ITALY 

ROME ITALY
TREVI FOUNTAIN ROME ITALY

ROME IN A NUTSHELL

Rome was the first city I ever visited in Europe and what made me realize how much I love to travel. But aside from my sentimental ties, the Italian capital is brimming with more history than arguably anywhere else in the world. Seeing the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, Roman Forum, Pantheon or Spanish Steps with your own eyes is unforgettable and indescribable (and don't even get me started on the food). Stay tuned in the coming weeks for my travel guide with everything you need to plan a trip of your own!

 

WHAT I LEARNED IN ROME

Rome will forever be a page turner in the history of my life. 5 years ago I had never been to Europe, even though I always dreamed of going. At long last my family planned a trip, and I honestly can't think of a time in my entire life where I've been more excited than I was when those airplane wheels touched down that summer in 2012. My dad still recalls how my mouth hung open in wonder like a little kid at Disneyland. Going back for the third time reminded me of what I learned on that initial visit: I am happiest + most alive when I'm traveling. It's my greatest passion, a key part of my life's purpose and something I truly can't imagine not having discovered. And because of that, I'll forever be grateful to Rome for teaching me about my greatest love to date. 

rome italy colloseum
rome italy trastevere

 

 

5. CROATIA (HVAR + DUBROVNIK

DUBROVNIK CROATIA
VILLA DUBROVNIK CROATIA

CROATIA IN A NUTSHELL

Nestled along the Dalmatian Coast + the sparkling Adriatic, Croatia offers so me of Europe's most sough-after destinations (my personal favorites? Hvar + Dubrovnik). I've never been anywhere that offers as much natural beauty, crystal clear water, interesting medieval architecture, incredible wine + delicious seafood. It's unlike anywhere I've ever been + somewhere I'll most definitely return again + again. Check out my Hvar + Dubrovnik travel guides to start planning your trip in 2017!

 

WHAT I LEARNED IN CROATIA

My friend Brenna and I had always planned on going to Dubrovnik, but our original plan was to go to Istanbul rather than Hvar. Given Turkey's civil unrest in August, we were saddened when advised by wise counsel to change our itinerary. To be honest, I was pretty pissed. Istanbul is someplace I've always dreamed of visiting and it felt like a tease to have to change plans in the 11th hour. But the time I added to Croatia was a beautiful reminder that sometimes our good plans fall apart so better plans can come together. I had never heard of Hvar prior to that last minute planning we were forced to do. But it ended up being one of my favorite places of my entire trip. We met some wonderful people from Lisbon that became friends, toured some of the most unique wineries I've ever seen, explored so many cool islands by boat -- and I almost missed all of it. I have all intentions of still going to Istanbul, but in hindsight I'm thankful for the annoying complication that lead me to all the amazing memories I made in Hvar. 

 

CROATIA
HVAR BOAT TOURS

NAPA IN A NUTSHELL

Visiting Napa was a bucket list item + sincerely special to experience with some of my best friends. Even after visiting some of the most prestigious wine regions in the world this year, Napa was my favorite over Rhine Valley, Champagne and even Tuscany (although they were all incredible!) I found Napa to be surprisingly down to earth + more beautiful than I could have ever dreamed. Check out my Napa Travel Guide for my list of favorite wineries + things to do!

 

WHAT I LEARNED IN NAPA

Napa was really special to me professionally because it was the first time I was ever able to use my blog as a tool to cover my travel costs. I had spent so much time and energy growing an audience and writing about travel experiences that I had paid for out of pocket, and I finally got to see the fruit of my hard work (and more importantly, God's provision). It lead me to dream even bigger dreams (like maybe even being able to travel Europe for a while...)

But Napa wasn't just special because of what it meant to me professionally on the surface level. For years I always said I wanted to go there someday for my bachelorette party. Looking back to years past, I realize now that a lot of my dreams to travel and see the world were tied to being in a relationship (in some form or fashion). I dated someone for many years who traveled a lot for work and was on a trajectory to travel even more in the future. I'd occasionally tag along, but we often talked about me being able to do more and more of that in the future. But this Napa trip made me realize that I was absolutely capable of making those dreams a reality without needing someone else to do it for me. It was my own talents and skills and hard work that afforded me to travel- not anyone else's. And it was an absolute game changer to realize that I could apply that same mindset to every dream I had. So no, I didn't go to Napa for the first time because of my bachelorette party (and who knows where I'll go when that time comes). But I got to experience it with 3 of my very best friends with a new-found sense of confidence (as cliché and "I am woman, hear me roar" as that may sound). I'm deeply grateful it was the latter. 

 

 

PARIS FRANCE EIFFEL TOWER
FOUR SEASONS PARIS GEORGE V

PARIS IN A NUTSHELL

Paris will forever be one of my favorite cities in the world. I'll never grow tired of walking along the Seine, practicing my French while ordering croissants at a local boulangerie, admiring the stunning architecture and of course, watching the Eiffel Tower sparkle. There is something so magical about this place and countless reasons it's such a popular destination. If you've never been, check out my travel guides and add it to your 2017 travel itinerary! 

 

WHAT I LEARNED IN PARIS

After being a serial monogamist for almost 11 years, I've really hit my stride as a single this past calendar year. After taking necessary time to heal, I've loved developing confidence, knowing who I am on my own, and embracing this season to be completely focused on myself. With that said, I became so proud of how independent I'd become that I kind of put dating on the shelf entirely (without even expressing the slightest little interest in seriously giving it a go).  So when a guy asked me to drinks while I was in Paris, my knee jerk reaction was to say no ("Um, I'm sorry but I'm like, really busy enjoying the best city in the world right now...") My friend Brenna all but forced me to say yes, and I'm so thankful she did because I had a great time. No, I didn't meet the love of my life or fall head over heels-- but I had a great time. Paris taught me that I had become so confident and comfortable that I was missing out on a really fun part of being single: going on dates. Because of Paris, I ended up going on lots of dates all over Europe with lots of interesting people. Some guys were incredibly fascinating and fun to talk to. Some guys were really attractive. Some were incredibly fascinating, fun to talk to AND really attractive. But regardless of any experience in particular, I'm thankful that Paris taught me it's good to not become too focused on yourself. Being willing to put yourself out there, get to know other people and gain greater understanding about what kind of person "fits" you is a healthy part of singleness (not to mention, it's really a lot of fun). 

PARIS FRANCE EIFFEL TOWER
TERRASS HOTEL PARIS FRANCE

 

 

 

2. SANTORINI, GREECE

SANTORINI GREECE
SANTORINI GREECE KAPARI NATURAL RESORT

SANTORINI IN A NUTSHELL

Santorini is easily the most beautiful place I've ever been (it felt like a dream!) It's dazzling panoramas, volcanic sand beaches, delicious cuisine and cave-style architecture with cobalt blue roofs are just a few of the dream qualities that made it so idyllic. Stay tuned for my travel guide with even more details to help you plan your trip!

 

WHAT I LEARNED IN SANTORINI

Sometimes I feel like I'm exhausting so much effort into this blog and wonder "Does anyone actually care?" Creating something and putting it on display for all to see is a vulnerable process that takes a lot of work and sometimes it's easy to feel self-conscious about it. But my first afternoon in Santorini while my friends and I were getting fish pedicures, a girl approached me. "Excuse me... but don't you have a blog?" she asked me. I answered yes and assume she must have overheard a conversation between my friends or something. But as it turns out, she was a reader that recognized me (which was both incredibly flattering but also felt like I would have probably had better odds winning the lottery than being recognized). We chatted a bit, but before parting ways she told me that she loved following my travels + that it inspired her to travel more herself. While it may sound like my ego talking, it made me so happy to hear that. Not because someone recognized me, but because it felt like the work was worth something. It reminded me of why I started doing this in the first place: to inspire people to live a big life + see as much of this beautiful world as possible. As cheesy as it may sound, Santorini tangibly taught me that there will always be a million reasons to talk yourself out of doing something you're passionate about, but the reasons for doing it will always outweigh the reasons not to.

 

 

ROCABELLA HOTEL SANTORINI GREECE
SANTORINI GREECE FIRA

 

 

1. LONDON, ENGLAND

LONDON ENGAND BIG BEN
london england photobooth big ben

LONDON IN A NUTSHELL

London is one of the most massive, multi-faceted + incredible cities on this planet. You simply can't see all it has to offer in a quick trip. Even doing life there for a few months didn't allow me to see + do everything that I wanted. It's somewhere you can return again and again and again, and gain something different + special every time. Simply put:

"When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford."
— Samuel Johnson

 

WHAT I LEARNED IN LONDON

London taught me more than any other city I visited (to be fair, I also spent more time here than any other city). But one lesson that I learned here stood out to me more than anything else I learned on this adventure living abroad: you have the potential to create the life you want

This lesson may not sound very profound, and that's because it's not. It's actually very simple. But the reality is most of us won't choose this, because it's easier to drift. To go with the flow. To grow into a life by default rather than building, choosing or chasing after what we actually want. It wasn't until I was in London, living in Europe like I've always dreamed of, that I realized how true it actually was. Sure, it took lots of work to get there-- but it was possible. I mean, I was there. I was doing it! And it encouraged me to keep doing it. To keep choosing the life that I want to live: the kind of people I want to surround myself with. The places that I want to see. The career I want to pursue. I get to choose all of those things.  London taught me that I'm not a product of my circumstances, but that I'm a product of my decisions (and more importantly of my decisions lead by faith that God is a good, good Father).  

tower bridge london england
london oxford street

While I found 2016 to be amazing, sure, I also realize that it wasn't perfect. But the reality is, no year will ever be.  We all have things to be grateful for-- more than any of us probably realize. So regardless of the year you had,  let's part with 2016 as an old friend- thanking it for the ways it challenged us, blessed us, taught us and shaped us into better people. And cheers to all the adventures, lessons, blessings + goodness that 2017 has in store for us. I believe it's going to be a wonderful year. 

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR, FRIENDS!

XO, 

Whitney

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