Well, 2021 is now behind us and it was another tough year for most everything, including travel. Although some travel has restarted around the world, the pandemic continues to cause major disruptions and disappointments. We are very hopeful though that travel will rebound later this year and so we are busy planning our trips for 2022!
Even with all of the challenges during 2021, we did manage to make two international trips. In July, we spent 8 days in Iceland and were truly amazed by the distinctive landscapes and hospitality of the people. You can read more about this trip in these two articles: Reykjavik: A Perfect Introduction to Iceland and Iceland’s Natural Beauty – A Viking Ocean Cruise.
In October and November, we spent 24 days in the Mediterranean touring Italy, Croatia, Montenegro and Greece. This trip was so amazing and we are looking forward to sharing a lot of information about this trip in our blog articles later this year.
For this post, our first of 2022, we thought we would recap some of our most popular articles. We have included the top 5 tips and top 5 destinations that our readers have found the most interesting since the start of our blog in 2019. So, regardless of whether you are seeing these articles for the first time or if you just need a little refresher, we hope these tips and destinations will inspire you to start planning your own 2022 travel adventures!
Tips
– Tips for Packing Light – On Your Next Flight
This post has continued to be the most popular article year after year. We try to fly using only carry-on luggage whenever possible and the suggestions offered in this post will help you do just that. However, even if you typically check your luggage, this article provides lots of tips and products that will help you pack in a more efficient and organized manner.
– How to Pack for the TSA – Fitting it All in that Little Quart Bag
This blog post has also been extremely popular and actually pairs well with the previous Tips for Packing Light blog post. We know that when you fly it can be tough to fit all your liquids into a single quart bag. In this article, we discuss ways to minimize those liquid items in order to meet TSA requirements, while still bringing along everything you need.
– Tips for Booking a Viking Cruise
Viking is a very popular cruise line for both river and ocean cruises. But if you have never sailed with this cruise line before, and frankly, even if you have, this article contains some tips to help you make the most of your trip and to eliminate any surprises before you even leave for your cruise. And by the way, a lot of these same tips apply to all cruise lines and may be helpful regardless of which cruise line you choose.
– What to Wear on a European River Cruise
Maybe you have just booked your first European river cruise and are looking forward to traveling down the beautiful Rhine or Danube. Undoubtedly you are excited at all the sites you will see. But are you confused about what to wear? You have also probably heard that river cruises tend to be much more casual than the typical ocean cruise. So, how casual is ‘casual’ and what should you pack? This article will help you know what to pack and maybe even more importantly what not to bring along on your European river cruise.
– Getting Safely Through the Airport with Less Stress
One of the most stressful parts about air travel these days is just getting through the airport. Between the check-in process, keeping track of all the documentation needed for travel during COVID, new TSA rules, boarding and just trying to stay ‘healthy’ through the whole process, you may find that you are a bit worn out by the time you finally get seated on the plane.
The key to reducing stress is to know what to expect and to prepare for it the best that you can. In this post, we share a number of tips for streamlining the process of getting through the airport and on to your flight. So, if you share any of these concerns, this post will help!
Destinations
– A Day Trip to St. George Island
We ‘discovered’ St. George Island during the winter of 2021 while on an extended visit to north Florida. This is 28-mile, largely unspoiled, barrier island located just off the coast of the northeastern portion of Florida’s Panhandle near Apalachicola. There are fewer than 800 full-time residents on the island, so you will not find the large crowds sometimes found on other Florida beaches. What you will find are miles of gorgeous beaches and unparalleled serenity!
– 3 Days in Glacier National Park
It is tough for us to pick our favorite National Park, but Glacier National Park is truly a special place. The mountains are rocky and rough. The verdant valleys and meadows are filled with an abundance of flora and fauna. Thanks to the ice ages, the park is filled with more than 700 lakes. And then there are of course, the magnificent glaciers themselves. If you have never been, Glacier is one of the bucket-list spots that everyone should see!
– 30A – A Stretch of Paradise on Florida’s Emerald Coast
Located in Walton County, Florida, 30-A is a scenic stretch of road that follows the Gulf of Mexico for 26 miles. Along those 26 miles you will find more than a dozen little beach towns, each with its own individual vibe. We spent several weeks there last winter, and in this article we will highlight our favorite spots along Florida’s Emerald Coast.
– Viking Rhine Getaway – A European River Cruise
One of our favorite travel memories is cruising the Rhine River through Germany. The cities, villages, castles and vineyards offer the most spectacular scenery. In this post, we share all the details about our Viking Rhine River cruise from Amsterdam to Basel, including a post-cruise visit to Lake Lucerne and the Swiss Alps.
The Disney’s Vero Beach Resort is one of our favorite beach spots and we have been there many, many times. The resort is located only 95 miles from Disney World and a lot of vacationers schedule a pre or post stay at the beach resort in combination with their visit to the theme parks. The resort is located right on the beach, and since there are no other hotels or similar types of resorts in the area, it is very quiet and relaxing. If you are looking for a beach getaway, you really cannot go wrong with Disney’s Vero Beach Resort!
We hope you enjoyed this recap of our readers’ favorite articles. Thanks to all of you for following Forever Touring on our blog and on social media. We truly appreciate your continued interest and support! Join us in the upcoming months for some more interesting posts, all intended to help you make the most of your own travel experiences!
Until next time, safe travels!