BUCKET LIST: Month One

By: MJ + PJ

North America – June 2nd to July 2nd, 2018

To give you an idea of the pace of the first month of our trip, here is the list of things or places we stopped at or spent distinct time investigating. There are about 60+ items on the list. Quite a good tally, but there is a consequence.

The travel in this month was primarily by driving our sedan, with occasional public transport use. We covered almost 8000km (5000miles) in the month, hitting that mark the next day driving in Glacier NP. We were in two countries this month.

We found this pace was too hectic – trying to see too much in too little amount of time, but with a target to hit of being in Ohio by July 10th, and to not spend our whole year in just North America. This means that we missed a number of things we would like to have seen, we didn’t spend enough time at some places, and we drove too long or far on some days. Places like Jasper NP, Alaska, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Alcatraz Island, Olympic NP, and Napa Valley. We were able to take a rest day, but these need to be planned and taken more often.

We have no regrets about what we did achieve in this first month, knowing that some places are worth another visit, and the timing of some events and seasons are not always compatible with a plan. We saw a lot of new things, caught up with a lot of generous people, have about 4000 photos already, and now have some wonderful experiences and memories.

Colorado:

• Independence Pass
• Maroon Bells

Utah

• Fishers Towers
• Arches National Park
• Moab – Dinosaur tracks and petroglyphs
• Delicate Arch
• Zion National Park
• The Narrows
• Angel’s Landing
• Emerald Pools

Nevada

• Las Vegas Strip

California

• Legoland
• Cambria seal colony
• Hearst Castle
• Monterey Bay Aquarium
• Lombard St
• San Francisco trolley
• Painted Ladies
• Presidio area
• Palace of Fine Arts
• Coit Tower
• Mission District
• San Francisco Bay cruise
• Pier 39 and Fisherman’s Wharf
• Ghirardelli Chocolate Shop/Square
• Jacks at the Cannery
• Muir Woods
• Sausalito
• Russian River Brewery
• Castillo di Amorosa Winery – Napa Valley

Oregon

• Crater Lake
• Multnomah Falls

Washington

• Mount Saint Helens
• Hops Museum at Toppenish
• Bridge of the Gods and Cape Horn
• World’s Largest Egg
• Downtown Seattle
• Anacortes
• Eileen’s Ice cream

Canada (BC and Aberta)

• Ferry ride to/from Sidney and Twassenen
• Victoria area drive on Vancouver Island
• Beacon Hill Children’s Farm, Petting Zoo, & Park
• Capilano Suspension Bridge
• Shannon Waterfall
• British Columbia coast road drive
• Brandywine Waterfall
• Whistler village
• Glacier National Park (CAN) Drive
• Johnston Canyon Lower and Upper Falls
• Lake Louise
• Lake Louise overlook hike
• Emerald Lake
• Takakkaw Falls
• Yoho National Park drive
• Kootenay National Park
• Spiral Tunnels
• Two Jack Lake
• Banff downtown
• Cascade Gardens in the city of Banff
• Canada Day parade
• Gondola ride near Lake Louise
• Marble Canyon 

Montana

• Glacier National Park (USA)
• Logan Pass drive – GNP
• Avalanche Lake 
• (more Montana on BUCKET LIST: Month Two)

You can follow our general path for these places on our MAP

Onwards to month two!!