16 Epic Adventures I Had In 2016

2016. What an amazing-crazy-fun-exciting year! In 2016, I stepped foot in 15 countries, explored over 40 different cities, took off on 11 flights, slept in over 35 beds, and spent countless hours on trains, busses, and ferries in my pursuit of the next great adventure. Keep reading to discover what my all time favorite experiences were in 2016!

1. Working as a student travel guide in Florence, Italy

How was I able to visit 10 countries and over 15 cities in 2016 for free while living in my beloved Florence? By working as a student travel guide for an Italian tour company. Getting a job at a student travel company right after graduating college was one of the best things that ever happened to me (but more on that here). I was lucky enough to spend my week days falling more and more in love with Florence and spent my weekends sharing my favorite cities with study abroad students. Don’t get me wrong, I was working very hard, but the experience was truly unforgettable and every moment an adventure!

2. Playing in the snow in Switzerland

While I must admit that I generally prefer warm weather and sand to cold weather and snow, I was absolutely amazed by the beauty of the Swiss Alps. My weekend in Interlaken, Switzerland was filled with beautiful scenery, stunning lakes, majestic mountains, delicious chocolate, and -you guessed it-snow! Unfortunately I didn’t have much time to ski, but there are plenty of other things to do in Interlaken, check them out here!

3. Bathing in Budapest’s Széchenyi Baths

I’ve wanted to visit Budapest’s famous thermal baths since the moment I first saw a picture of them. This year, I visited the baths in February, and though it might have been cold outside, it was so fun being able to swim around in these architecturally stunning heated outdoor baths. If this is on your bucket list, you’ll want to read my guide to Budapest’s thermal baths before you go!

4. Attending Springfest in Munich, Germany

Last year, I had one of the best days of my life at Oktoberfest. Naturally, when I found out I’d be going to Springfest for work I was more than a little excited. The weekend didn’t disappoint, and I celebrated by making a DIY flower crown, spending wayyyy too much money on an authentic dirndl, and prost-ing away the day in a beer tent filled with fellow Fruhlingsfest goers.

5. Chasing waterfalls in Croatia

Croatia is a beautiful country and is somewhere I wish I could go back to for more than a weekend. After exploring Split (where Game of Thrones was filmed!) and heading on an 8 hour island hopping boat tour, my tour group headed to Krka national park, where some of the most incredible waterfalls I have ever seen are. I hope to head back when there is better weather so I can jump in!

6. Glamping in Slovenia

Slovenia turned into a surprising an unexpected 2016 highlight. On my first visit, I spent the night in prison (okay, okay, it was a hostel that used to be a prison.) On my second visit, I spent several days on a glamping getaway in Big Berry relaxing in a luxury suite along the Kolpa river complete with a jacuzzi, locally sourced breakfasts, and surrounding countryside. There is so much to see and do in Slovenia, from glamping, to visiting Lake Bled, to exploring its capital Ljubliana. Read my 10 Things To Do In Ljubljana, Slovenia (Plus Day Trips!) to see why you should make Slovenia a must-visit destination for 2017!

7. Getting lucky in love in Verona

Verona is one of the most romantic cities in the world. not only is it incredibly beautiful, but the city serves as the fictional setting of Romeo and Juliet. Shakespeare lovers can check out Romeo’s house, touch the statue of Juliet for luck in love, and even write a “Letter to Juliet” of their own. Oh, and did I mention the city is also home to the oldest wine bar in Italy? Since I visited this year on Valentine’s Day, I’m guessing I’m covered in the love department for a long time! Plan a perfect day in Verona by checking out A Day Trip to “Fair Verona”: Romeo, Juliet, and Me.

8. Driving a (pink!) Vespa in Tuscany

I loved this adventure so much that I actually did it twice! One of my friends in Florence is the owner of Tuscany Cycle, an awesome bike and Vespa tour company in Florence. Their motto is “Put The Fun Between Your Legs” and that is exactly what happens. The Vespa tour also includes a visit to a historic 11th century castle and a lunch and wine tasting. If you are planning a trip to Italy in 2017, make sure a Vespa tour is on your itinerary-it was the highlight of my parent’s visit! You can read more about this adventure here! And trust me, if I can drive a vespa, you can drive a Vespa.

9. Letting the hills come alive on the Sound Of Music tour in Salzburg

The beautiful town of Salzburg, Austria is where much of the movie “The Sound of Music” was filmed. As a long time lover of “The Sound of Music,” I was especially excited to channel my inner Julie Andrews and sing along on the tour bus while checking out the filming locations in person. I’m pretty sure I annoyed my roommates for weeks after this one. I would highly recommend this tour if you are visiting Austria’s lake and mountain district!

10. Hitting the hot springs at Bagni San Filippo

In case you haven’t noticed, I have this thing with hot springs. I’m pretty obsessed with them. This spring, I took a weekend off of work and headed on a personal getaway in Tuscany’s Val d’Orcia, staying in a beautiful Airbnb complete with fireplace in the quaint medieval town of San Quirico. The highlight of the weekend however was visiting the Bagni San Filippo, where I had the opportunity to soak in a personal natural pool on the side of a hill. A once in a lifetime experience for sure!

11. Paddle boarding in Skopelos, Greece

This August, I packed up my bags, left Florence, and started a new adventure in Skopelos, Greece. I spent an idyllic month on the beautiful island where Mamma Mia! was filmed soaking up the sun, snorkeling, and paddle boarding around the island. The best part? I spent the entire month there (almost) for free! Find out how I did it here.

12. Visiting the Athens Acropolis

As a lover of art history, visiting the acropolis in Athens was a dream come true. The entire city is filled with history and ancient ruins, and I loved every minute I had to explore there. If you are planning a trip to Athens in the future, you’ll want to read my list of the top 10 things to do in Athens.

13. Exploring Santorini

There are so many awesome adventures that I had in Santorini that its hard to pick just one! Was my favorite watching the sun set in Oia? Exploring the white and blue cliffside towns? ATVing my way around the island? Cliff Jumping in Ammoudi Bay? Visiting the volcano and hot springs? I really am not sure, all I know is that I loved every minute of my week on this stunning island. See more my favorite unforgettable things to do in Santorini here.

14. Sightseeing My Way Through Spain

I have been wanting to properly explore Spain ever since a brief visit to Barcelona earlier this year, and, after leaving Greece, spent about a month touring some of Spain’s most beautiful cities. I went gaga for Gaudi in Barcelona, caught up with friends and had the best chocolate con churros in Madrid, fell completely in love with Seville, visited the Mezquita in Córdoba, marveled at the Alhambra in Granada, celebrated my 24th birthday in Malaga, and spent a romantic weekend in Ronda. Its safe to say I had an incredible time in Spain! Who knows, maybe I’ll be moving there next! 😉

15. Getting in Touch With Nature In São Miguel, Azores, Portugal

If you can only visit one place in 2017, make it the island of São Miguel. São Miguel is one of my favorite places I’ve ever been (and I’ve been to 6 different continents!). The island is perfect for nature lovers. With its gorgeous lakes, stunning greenery, beautiful blue hydrangeas, tranquil hot springs, and cascading waterfalls, you won’t soon want to leave. Stay tuned for more posts on São Miguel by subscribing today or liking Miss Adventures Abroad on Facebook!

16. Journeying through Morocco…by camel!

Okay, so I didn’t spend my entire 15 day trip in Morocco on the back of a camel, but I did ride one to an overnight camp in the Sahara! Sleeping underneath the stars in the middle of the desert was definitely one of my best memories of 2016. I also enjoyed getting lost in the medina in Fes, touring “The Blue City” of Chefchaouen, hitting the seaside town of Essaouira, and bargaining in the markets of Marrakech. More to come on these adventures in the new year!

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There you have it! As you can see, 2016 has been a year filled with some pretty epic adventures. I can’t wait to see what 2017 has in store. What were some of your favorite travel moments of 2016? Let me know in the comments below!

For more travel inspiration, check out these posts:

• How I Spent 1 Month In Greece (Almost) For Free!
• Two Incredible Weeks In Italy: The Complete Itinerary
• 10 Essential Tips For Traveling As A Couple

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