Places to Go & Plates to Break: The Bucket List That Grows
Looking for bucket list inspiration? Meet Amanda, a member of our travel tribe whose diverse bucket list ranges from cultural experiences to personal challenges, from luxury indulgences to meaningful encounters with nature. Her list reflects a beautiful balance of grand adventures and simple pleasures, each item carrying its own special significance.
Amanda checks something off her bucket list—our Morocco group trip—in early 2024.
The Bucket List
Still to Conquer:
Visit Cappadocia
Visit every state with Cody
Break a plate in Greece
Travel to Morocco
Ride in a hot air balloon
Write a book
See the Southern Cross
Get sniffed by an elephant
Climb the Eiffel Tower
Perform stand-up
Escort baby turtles to the sea
See a concentration camp
Name someone's child
Kiss the Blarney Stone
Take dance lessons
Spend Christmas in Vienna (RIP Grandpa Eddy)
Own a piece of American turquoise
See Eminem in concert
Run a race
Hang glide in the Swiss Alps
Go ice fishing
Buy a bottle of Clase Azul
Grow loofah
Drink a Bombay Sapphire martini
Already Conquered:
See American Gothic
Save a life
Visit Oak Alley
Travel to Morocco
Catch a starfish
See Crazy Horse
Visit Lake of the Ozarks
Meet a manatee
Find a Hummel
On the same Morocco trip, Amanda conquers her fear of riding an ATV.
Behind the List: Q&A with Amanda
Laura Ericson Group Trips: Your bucket list includes several cultural experiences like breaking plates in Greece and kissing the Blarney Stone. What draws you to these traditions?
Amanda: My Grandpa Dick and Nana taught me how to travel. They traveled the world, and Grandpa never said no to a genuine experience. He wasn't shy and was always happy to immerse himself in new cultures. After he passed, Nana flew back to Ireland and Greece with a small part of him, leaving pieces of his memory in two of his favorite places. It was her way of honoring his love for these experiences.
LEGT: Bucket list item "Spend Christmas in Vienna (RIP Grandpa Eddy)" seems deeply personal. What's the story behind it?
A: Grandpa Eddy was my brother-in-law's grandfather, born and raised in Austria. One day, he described seeing the Vienna Opera House as a young boy, surrounded by Christmas markets, drinking hot chocolate as snow fell. He made me promise that if I ever went to Austria, I would spend Christmas in Vienna. Though he passed away two years ago, I think of the look on his face when he described Vienna to me all the time.
LEGT: There's an interesting mix of adventurous activities and quieter pursuits on your list. How do you balance these?
A: I try to mix big ticket items like visiting Cappadocia with smaller adventures like growing loofah. I struggle with depression, so having smaller things I can accomplish without flying across the globe gives me something to be excited about.
LEGT: What's the story behind wanting to name someone's child?
A: I never got to have children, and I am very good at naming things—or so I've been told. To suggest a name and have someone actually use it for their child would be such an honor. Then later in that child's life when they're asked where their name came from, maybe they'd talk about their parents' friend, Amanda. Just a way for a tiny part of me to be remembered.
LEGT: The goal to "Visit every state with Cody" suggests a shared journey. How does having a travel partner influence your dreams?
A: He's my sweet, easy-going husband and best friend. Every time we drive past a state welcome sign, we throw our hands in the air and yell 'WHOO HOO!' It started as a way to get our dogs excited, but now we do it even when they're not with us.
LEGT: Your list includes both luxury experiences and nature encounters. How do these different types of experiences contribute to your life goals?
A: Nana taught me how to have champagne taste on a beer budget. Appreciate the natural, pure things we are lucky enough to experience and enjoy life's luxuries when able to. Immerse yourself in every culture you find yourself in, and you will learn not only about others but yourself as well...and life is way too short for cheap tequila and ugly men.
Through Amanda's bucket list, we see a tapestry of dreams woven with threads of family history, personal growth, and pure adventure. Her story reminds us that the best bucket lists aren't just about checking off experiences—they're about creating meaningful connections, honoring loved ones, and finding joy in both the extraordinary and the everyday.
What’s on your bucket list?
Amanda and Laura on the blue-hued Chefchaouen streets.
