10 Things to Put on Your 2019 Travel Bucket List
Healthcare travelers: Get inspired to try new things and create a bucket list of your own!
By the TravelNursing.com staff
Certain travel nursing assignments enrich our skills, others our resumes, still others our personal relationships. This year, why not book some assignments that enrich your life experiences?
Even though it's named after a euphemism for dying (“kicking the bucket”), bucket lists are for those looking to live their fullest life of adventure and achievement. Luckily, healthcare travelers like yourself have more flexibility than most people--to plan a short trip, get away for an adventure and take in the sights around different parts of this diverse country.
This year, instead of making a New Year's resolution, make a bucket list of travel goals for the year and then browse TravelNursing.com’s extensive database of travel nursing jobs to find assignments that help you check these life experiences off your list.
Start your 2019 travel bucket list with these suggestions:
1. Go whale watching off the California coast. Winter is the most popular time to see whales migrating off the California coast--in locations from San Diego to Monterey to San Francisco. It’s best to get out on the water for a close-up view; just don’t forget to pack the Dramamine! Peak season for seeing California gray whales ends in March or April, but some bays and islands off the coast play host to gray whales, hump back whales, killer whales and dolphins during several months of the year.
2. Take a “color tour” this fall. Plan now for a trip to catch the amazing foliage displays of red, orange and yellow throughout New England, the Great Lakes Region or the Pacific Northwest. These Fall Foliage Maps from Weather.com can help you know when the leaf colors will be at their peak. While you’re at it, take a look at your bed and breakfast options along the way. (Hint: Book soon, as these accommodations fill up far in advance of the peak season.)
3. Go camping for at least one night. Bring friends or family members along to experience the great outdoors in a tent or RV, either on the way to your new travel nursing assignment or on your days off. Find just the campground you’re looking for with the Oh, Ranger app or Recreation.gov. If you aren’t really into roughing it, you could rent a cabin or use HipCamp to find a “glamping” options at a myriad of resorts around the country.
4. Throw a dart at the map, then go there! Are you adventurous enough to try this? Why not? The surprise is more than half the fun. (Hint: The closer you stand to the map, the more likely you are to hit a region of the country you might prefer.)
5. Attend a professional sporting event. Whether you enjoy football, baseball, beach volleyball or extreme winter sports, it’s time to stop watching the games on TV and get into the stands to experience the action and fan atmosphere of live sports. Bring along your fellow healthcare travelers for a road trip or host a tailgating party to make it a real event.
6. Experience the Wild West at a rodeo. Watch some of the toughest athletes in the country take on bucking broncos, steer roping and more. Two of the largest, multi-day events--including carnivals, parades and concerts--include Cheyenne Frontier Days, held during the third week of July, and the National Finals Rodeo held in Las Vegas during the first week of December. Travelers can find plenty of other regional and national rodeos throughout the country, as well.
7. Eat at a diner or restaurant featured on TV. Pick your favorite foodie show and try out the places they recommend. Whether you prefer “Diners, Drive Ins & Dives,” “Food Paradise” on The Travel Channel, or another mouth-watering show, it’s fun to try out the locals’ favorite dishes all across the country.
8. Catch a show in New York, Las Vegas or even Branson. If you are looking for entertainment, New York’s Broadway theater district is world famous, and the smaller off-Broadway venues are popular, as well. Las Vegas visitors can find plenty of comedy, music, and other performance artists to their liking, and the shows in Branson, Mo., are even more plentiful than New York or Vegas, including many family-friendly options.
9. Go treasure hunting at a flea market. Whether you visit a local flea market or travel to one of the bigger venues--like Brooklyn Flea in New York (weekly), the Springfield Antique Show & Flea Market in Springfield, Ohio (weekly), the open-air Fremont Sunday Market in Seattle (rain or shine), or the Rose Bowl Flea Market in Pasadena (second Sunday of every month)--you’re sure to find some unique treasures to decorate your travel assignment housing, wear to your next event or give to someone special.
10. Take a day trip to somewhere you’ve never been. While on assignment, make it a point to get away for a day with one or more fellow healthcare travelers. Maybe you want to visit the Getty Museum in L.A., see the spectacular scenery in Sedona, Ariz., take a ferry from San Francisco to Sausalito, visit the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, tour the memorials on the National Mall in D.C., or see a quirky point of interest nearby. Just do it, and make it a day to remember.
Ready to create a travel bucket list and start accomplishing your goals? TravelNursing.com helps you connect with leading travel nursing agencies across the country. Request a call today!
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