New Adventure Goals for 2016 and Recapping the Best Adventures of 2015

year in review

2015 was an incredible year!  Thank you so much for coming along with me on this journey of self discovery and adventure.  I hope reading about my adventures has inspired you to go after your own adventures as well and step out of your comfort zone. Stick with me! 2016 is already shaping up to be just as exciting if not even a little bit more.

Last year I set some pretty good adventure  goals for the year.  Let’s see how well I did from last year’s 2015 goals

1.  Travel solo internationally  –  PASSED As you know I went to the Azores Island of Sao Miguel, Portugal for a week.  Would you believe I’m still editing pictures?  A complete guide on visiting Sao Miguel is coming very soon!  Trust me it will be well worth the wait and you will want to book your trip ASAP.

2. Whale watching –  PASSED I went whale watching on my Azores trip; sadly we didn’t see any whales because it was just the beginning of the season. I did see striped nose dolphins though.

3. Swim with manatees – FAIL I just couldn’t fit in the time to go.  This will definitely get added to the 2016 goals list.

4. Snorkel in at least 3 Florida springs I haven’t visited before. –  PASSED I did Rainbow River, Rock Springs Run, and Deleon Springs!  Passed this one with flying colors.

5.  Hang glide PASSED We went hang gliding at Wallaby Ranch.

6.  Plan another glamping tripPASSED My son and I glamped at the yurts of Fort Yargo State Park

7.  SkiPASSED I went skiing in upstate New York for the first time.

8.  See a volcanoPASSED  I saw many volcanoes on the Azores trip.

9.  Do more waterfall hunting (domestic and abroad) – PASSED Visited waterfalls in Tobago and Ohio

10. Visit the Everglades – PASSED Went on an airboat tour in the Everglades

11. Stay in a yurt out of state – PASSED

12.  Visit Dry Tortugas National Park – FAIL

13. Visit the Florida Keys by boat – FAIL

14.  Stay in a house boat – FAIL

15. Stay in a tree house overnight – FAIL

16.  Speak to young ladies/girls about appreciating nature and the benefits of traveling. – PASSED I hope to have more opportunities to do this again in the coming year.

17.  Attend a blogger convention – PASSED TBEX North America Conference was an awesome time!

18. Go water biking PASSED – I went twice! Once with my son and I took the OD group on a waterbike excursion

19.  Get scuba certified – FAIL

20.  Visit Discovery Cove – FAIL

I completed 65% of my adventure goals for 2016.  Honestly I’m pleased with that, all things considered. In 2015 I also went through a break up of a relationship that lasted over 3 years and subsequently had to find a new place to live. I also had to transfer my son to a new school and adapt to the demands of having a high school football player which really put a damper on making plans during the summer and fall.  There are just some things that can’t be helped and I’m 100% ok with that.  I also accomplished adventures I didn’t even set out to do. 2015 may have been emotionally challenging, but it was also one of the best years of my life.

  • I met the Harry Potter Weasley Twins at Celebration of Harry Potter and I was crowned the top Gryffindor fan.
  • We had an amazing trip to the Lake Erie region of Ohio where I went bird watching for the first time, did a surfing simulator, stayed at an indoor waterpark resort, and saw glacial grooves in the earth.
  • I also visited New York City for the first time as an adult and I was able to play in the snow in Central Park and visit the American Natural History Museum.
  • I took a last minute trip to Tobago with a couple of friends for my birthday and had an amazing time.  I also saw rare hummingbirds on a rain forest hike and had some amazing food.
  • I drove on Daytona Beach for the first time, climbed the tallest lighthouse in the state, and I attended my first NASCAR racing event at the Coke Zero 400.
  • I went to my very first professional golf championship at the Valspar Championship in Innisbrook.
  • I traveled back home to Dallas, TX for Thanksgiving and ate EVERYTHING.
  • I went to a murder mystery dinner with my mom for the first time.
  • I completed a Christmas bucketlist item to visit all of the Disney World main resorts to see Christmas Decorations.
  • I stayed at my first all inclusive resort in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
  • Visited a few new domestic locations: Boston, New Hampshire

It was truly a fantastic year and I’m so blessed for all of the opportunities I was afforded.  I’m looking forward to what’s in store for 2016 and I hope I continue to inspire you to live your most adventurous life!

2016 Adventure Goals

  1. Get scuba certified
  2. Visit Discovery Cove
  3. Stay in a houseboat
  4. Visit 3 national parks I’ve never visited before
  5. Travel to key west by boat
  6. Stay in a treehouse
  7. Plan another solo international trip
  8. Visit the UK
  9. Stay in a castle
  10. Swim with manatees
  11. Visit Devil’s Den Prehistoric Underwater Spring – I checked off this one on New Years Day! Post coming soon.
  12. Go Luxury Glamping
  13. Visit at least one other European country on the UK trip
  14. See Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
  15. Zip Line at a new location
  16. Explore at least 6 new local parks
  17. Visit more Florida beaches I haven’t visited before
  18. Tent Camping trip
  19. Visit California again
  20. Travel internationally with my son

What do you have your sights set on for 2016?  I would love to know what’s on your adventure goals list for the year. Share in the comments below!

Lauren G. , Outdoorsy Diva™
“Adventure is a lifestyle.”

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11 Comments

  • Reply
    Zoe
    January 4, 2016 at 4:45 pm

    That’s some pretty impressive goals – I might need to add “staying in a treehouse” to my bucket list. Also, I highly recommend the UK – it’s lovely over here if a bit wet at the minute!

    I don’t really have a list as such – I’m just going travelling for a year on my own. I’ve wanted to go for years, just a case of saving up enough. Finally going this summer.

    • Reply
      Lauren
      January 5, 2016 at 1:15 am

      Zoe I have an entire Pinterest board dedicated to treehouses you can stay in!! You should definitely check it out.

  • Reply
    Bree
    January 4, 2016 at 6:29 pm

    LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE. Proud of you for accomplishing so many goals. 2016 looks like it will be another great year. P.S. Super jealous that you met the Harry Potter Weasley Twins and were crowned the top Gryffindor fan!!

    • Reply
      Lauren
      January 5, 2016 at 1:14 am

      Thanks Bree! The Weasley Twins was an epic day. Nice to meet another Potter fan!

  • Reply
    Nadeen
    January 4, 2016 at 9:56 pm

    This is awesome! What an adventurous year you had and you accomplished a lot! Look forward to seeing what lies ahead for you in 2016!

    • Reply
      Lauren
      January 5, 2016 at 1:13 am

      Thanks Nadeen. I’m looking forward to this year as well. You also have qutie a few adventures lined up yourself!

  • Reply
    Shakira
    January 5, 2016 at 1:19 am

    Great 2015 accomplishments!! Awesome 2016 list! I have weekend camping trip on my experience bucket list, so if you plan something, I would love to go!!

    • Reply
      Lauren
      January 5, 2016 at 1:20 am

      Will do Shakira!

  • Reply
    Tia
    January 5, 2016 at 10:15 am

    I never thought of myself as an outdoorsy person but you make it look so fun. It awesome that you accomplished so many of your goals. I look forward to seeing your adventures in 2016.

    • Reply
      Lauren
      January 5, 2016 at 11:05 am

      Thanks Tia. Looking forward to you joining me again this year on some adventures!

  • Reply
    Currently, Jan 2016 | Running Betty
    January 6, 2016 at 7:09 am

    […] Current Favorite Blog – Outdoorsy Diva […]

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