When I hit my 20s I decided to create a bucket list, and though I’ve managed to tick a few things off over the last few years, my list is still growing.  Quite a few of the things on my list involve travel, and though I’m not yet very well travelled, I’ve been lucky enough to tick a couple of them off fairly recently, albeit the ones that are close to home.  In 2013 My fiancé and I flew to Dublin for a fun-packed mini break, and last year we went to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival – something I’d been wanting to do for years.  However, I’m still saving up to go on my three big bucket list holidays, so I thought I’d share them with you today.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA(Copyright Naomi Willett, 2012)

1. Ontario, Canada

When he was young my dad lived in Ontario in Canada, and his stories of the hot summers and snowy winters of his childhood have had me longing to visit there for years.  I’m a sucker for a beautiful landscape, and from what I hear Ontario has an abundance of them, especially during Autumn, when the rust coloured trees transform the mountainsides into glowing dunes.  I’m a keen photographer and hope one day to hike through Canadian woods, and take a boat trip over Ontario’s lakes, so that I can photograph the natural beauty of the land.

I’d also like to visit Toronto whilst I’m there, as I’m not averse to the bustling city vibe either.  I can just picture myself grabbing some poutine from a little independent café, before wandering the streets and browsing shops full of books and trinkets, before stopping for dinner in Hogtown Vegan, a fab little vegan restaurant that I’ve heard nothing but good things about.

2. Pennsylvania, USA

California, Florida and New York tend to be the American holiday destinations of choice for most people, but I feel more drawn to Pennsylvania.  As well as Ontario, my dad spent some of his childhood in Pennsylvania, so one day I want to take a trip there to see where he grew up.  I’d love to stay for a while, and treat the state more as a home than a holiday spot, blending in rather than doing the tourist thing, so that I can really get a feel for what life is like for the people who live there.  I want to visit all the spots that my dad has told me about, and eat the food he used to eat.  I’d also like to go to some NFL games, as my fiancé is a big NFL fan.  It would be great if we could see his team (Minnesota Vikings) playing my team (Philadelphia Eagles)!

3. Oslo, Norway

Last but certainly not least is my ultimate bucket list travel destination, and that’s Norway.  Or any Scandinavian country for that matter.  Ever since I was a toddler I’ve been fascinated by space, and one thing that’s always intrigued me is the Northern Lights.  Every time I see a photograph of clear night skies lit up with smudges of green, pink, purple and blue, like an oil painting, my heart skips a beat at the sheer, phenomenal beauty of it.  It’s been a dream of mine for a long time to stay in a humble log cabin, in the snow, under the stars, next to a roaring fire, under a blanket with my fiancé, eating toast and watching as the magic of the sky dances above us.  It would be amazing.  Truly amazing.

Visiting Norway would also be a great opportunity to pack in some action, and create lifelong memories with activities like husky sledding, snowmobiling, reindeer spotting, and trekking through vast forests.  Imagine the stunning photographs that I could take!

This post is my entry into Transun‘s #TransunLights Blogger Competition, and the prize is to win a trip for two to see the Northern Lights.  Winning would help me tick a trip off my bucket list, which would be incredible, so I’m keeping everything crossed!

What destinations are on your travel bucket list?

Naomi x