my bucket list, 2026

my bucket list, 2026

happy friday. i hope you are all enjoying your spring break, drinking lots of coffee & matcha, & soakin up the unusually hot sun!

since it's spring break, i might as well post more since i have lots of free time. today's post was inspired by my friend, julie, who is currently on a road trip visiting all of the national parks in cali!! it made me start daydreaming about my bucket list again (which i had to redo). i thought it would be a cute spring break post to share the places i'd love to see someday. not just the "big touristy spots" kind of thing, but the ones that make me pause and think, places where i can walk slowly, notice the little details, soak in the different cultures, take photos, and be blessed to see the Lord's beautiful creation in person. so here is my dream travel bucket list, full of giant trees, cozy streets, sunlit squares, colorful markets, & all of the little moments in between that make a place feel unforgettable.

#1 sequoia national park, california

i adore trees—every kind—but sequoias feel like something else entirely. they’re so massive and still, like they’ve been standing for centuries just to remind us how small we truly are compared to the Lord & His creation. i can picture walking under them, craning my neck, thinking, why did God make them so big?! maybe hugging one, just to feel the strength & peace in its trunk. walking through the forest, listening to birds & the wind rustling through leaves!

#2 england

there’s a certain magic in cozy streets & tiny, hidden cafés. i imagine wandering cobblestone alleys, stumbling across little bookshops that smell like old paper and espresso, stopping for a cup of tea in a corner where i could sit, watching the rain slide down the windows & the people pass by. afternoon pastries, people chatting in hushed tones, the quiet of everyday life… it feels like the kind of place you could stay in forever and never stop noticing things.

#3 rome & greece

rome feels like history pressed into every stone. i picture gelato in hand, walking cobblestone streets lined with fountains, stopping to admire the gorgeous architecture that is centuries old. greece, on the other hand, feels like sunlight you can step into—whitewashed walls, blue roofs, ocean breezes that make you squint & smile at the same time. i’d love to sit in a little café, drink coffee slowly, and watch life move by in a way that’s both timeless and alive.

#4 japan & thailand

japan calls to me for the tiny details—stationery shops that feel like treasure troves, pastries arranged perfectly, streets so clean it almost hurts to walk on them. cherry blossoms, quiet mornings, and little corners of calm everywhere. plus the unbelievably buttery, delicicous noodles & ramen, the fresh matcha lattes, & insanely beautiful vintage photography. thailand is more vibrant chaos, in the best way—street food bursting with flavor, colorful markets, tiny shops crammed with things i didn’t know i needed. i want to wander, taste, & explore it all!

#5 spain

sunlight everywhere, squares alive with music and laughter. streets scented with fresh bread and orange blossoms, flamenco dancers twirling as if the earth itself is beneath their feet. more architecture i probably wouldn't stop capturing through photos. i imagine sitting at a fountain with coffee, just watching life and color swirl around me.

other dreamy places

• switzerland - mountains that make you feel small in the best way, perfect little villages with flower boxes everywhere, and the kind of crisp air that makes you breathe deeper than usual.

• ireland – wild, green coasts, quiet pubs with wood floors and fireplaces, and cliffs that stretch into forever.

• new zealand – epic landscapes, rolling hills, rivers, forests.

• morocco – vibrant markets, lanterns everywhere, spice-filled air, and streets full of color that feel like a dream.

• paris – tiny cafés on cobblestone streets, fresh croissants, bookshops with a million things to get lost in, and city lights.

and of course, i don’t want to do any of this alone. the people i go with—friends & family who laugh at my random photo stops, someone to share quiet moments with, someone to get lost in new streets alongside me—are just as much a part of the adventure as the places themselves. dreaming about these trips makes me excited not just for the sights, but for the memories, conversations, and little moments of wonder we’ll share together. even if it’s just a daydream for now, imagining it feels like a little adventure in itself, and i can’t wait for the day it becomes real. one day!! & maybe not at all. i hope you enjoyed reading.

have you been to anywhere on this list?? share one place on your bucket list!

stay tuned for more spring posts. enjoy the sun, your family, & spend time in prayer + the reading of the Word!

many blessings,

bylilyjohanna