Our 2021 TROVE Travel Bucket List

We cannot believe it’s been a year since we’ve stepped on a plane! Since we’re constantly daydreaming about all the places we want to go around the world, we thought we’d share the 10 places that are on our 2021 TROVE travel bucket list with you all. They are a wonderful mix of adventure, new cultures, delicious foods and beautiful sights. What’s on your bucket list this year? Share it with us in the comments!

1.    Relax in the Maldives

We have been keeping our eye on travel deals to see if we can make this once-in-a-lifetime trip to the Maldives a reality. Those crystal blue waters and brilliant, white sand are calling to us!  This seems like the perfect getaway for full relaxation and a gorgeous change of scenery from our home base, Seattle. We’re dying to visit these beautiful islands and stay in one of the luxurious over-the-water bungalows before they disappear.

2.    Adventure in Abu Dhabi

Beautiful architecture, spectacular food and gorgeous hotels are commonplace in Abu Dhabi, UAE’s largest emirate. High on our list is a tour of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, one of the largest mosques in the world. The religious structure has 82 domes and more than 1,000 towering columns, all adorned in a brilliant white and gold. We also want to hop on a camel to take in desert Rub Al Khali, the world’s largest uninterrupted sand mass. Yes, we will be channeling Sex in the City 2 with a picnic in the middle of the desert.

3.    Scuba dive in Okinawa

We had to cancel our big trip to Japan this past summer where we were planning to visit Tokyo, Kyoto and Okinawa. Okinawa is about a 3.5 hour flight from Tokyo. Okinawa is known as one of the top dive sites in the world, and we’ll be aiming for some of the warmer months to explore underwater caves, tunnels, shipwrecks and even a mysterious underwater pyramid. We’re also eager to do like locals do, and food hop to 5 or 6 restaurants to sample what the chef is choosing to serve that night across town.

4.    Take in beautiful art Mexico City

Just a few hours flight away, we’ve been lucky enough to escape for some weekend beach time and margaritas in Cabo and Puerto Vallarta. However, we’ve yet to make it to the colorful, culture-rich Mexico City that is starting to top travel lists but is surprisingly not yet overtaken with tourists. One place that’s a must-see for us is La Casa Azul, Frida Kahlo museum, set in the house where Frida was born and died. We’re also already salivating over a visit to Condesa’s Tacos Don Juan, the godfather of tacos, and pastries at Panaderia Rosetta, and pulque bars (“kombucha on steroids”).

5.    Explore Chefchaouen, Morocco’s stunning blue city

We have had a trip to Africa on our sights, and Morocco is one of those mesmerizing places that continues to fill up our Instagram feeds and beckon to us. Half of our time would probably be spent getting lost in winding streets lined with beautiful architecture and markets, and the other would be filled with seeking out tagine dishes, camping (okay glamping) in the Sahara (to take in the sunset and sunrise!), and other adventures like a stop in the city of Chefchaouen where the whole city is painted blue, creating a unique sea of color.

6.    Find happiness in Bhutan

Bhutan is one of those magical places in the world we’ve heard is full of inspiration. This captivating kingdom, rooted in traditions and beliefs of a fast-disappearing Buddhist universe, opened its doors only a little more than a quarter-century ago. This tiny, landlocked Asian nation is found in the Himalayas Mountain Range and is bordered by India and Tibet. It has some of the most amazing mountain landscapes and is naturalist's dream including the most enchanting Tiger's Nest Monastery near Paro, Bhutan. Bhutan’s unique defining feature is the people’s focus on happiness and wellness. “Gross National Happiness” is a statistic measured by the Bhutan government and has even been deemed even more crucial than gross domestic product.  This country deeply values culture, religion and history, making it an incredible spot to visit and learn about a new way of life.

7.    Sight-see in Portugal

Incredible old architecture is around every corner in Portugal’s castles, churches and towers. We can’t wait to walk along the (more than 800 miles of) beautiful Atlantic Ocean shoreline and explore the rich culture that the country has to offer. Specifically, we’re excited to stroll along the beautiful cobblestone streets of Porto, the second largest city in the country and a must-visit authentic location, according to other travelers. Sinking our teeth into a delicious Pastel de Nata, a flaky egg custard pastry, and passing through the massive wrought-iron gates of the historic Mercado Do Bolhão to shop from local artisans are just a few more experiences on our Porto bucket list.

8.    River Cruise in Europe

We like to joke that we’d have to sell a lot more TROVE boxes to finally go on this luxury cruise. It’s been on our bucket list for years, but we are going to find a way to make it happen one day! Viking® River Cruises will take you on a journey on the Danube River through four different countries: Hungary, Austria, Germany and the Netherlands. On this 15-day excursion (aptly named the Grand European Tour), you’ll visit incredible cities lining the river, starting in Budapest and ending in Amsterdam.

9.    Experience something new in New Zealand

The photos we have seen of New Zealand are all breathtaking, and we’d like to experience the lush landscape, diverse wildlife, incredible wine, and friendly people one day. There are many adrenaline-filled adventures that we would be willing to try to take in this country’s beauty – parasailing or even sky diving!  

10.    Girl’s trip to Charleston

Charleston has a little something for everyone: art lovers, history buffs and foodies (us!). The restaurant scene is almost as unique as the city itself, ranging from fancy French bistros to seafood joints to some of the best southern barbecue in the world. It’s like we can smell the smoked ribs already. We might even splurge on a luxurious spa treatment at Belmond Charleston Place for a deep tissue massage and a relaxing facial... This trip sounds like heaven!

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We can’t wait to get out and explore the world again someday soon. TROVE started as a way to scratch our travel itch, but we believe this will continue to be a way to bring incredible new cultural experiences to more people around the world.

We’re going to be starting to ship out our Spring Box, headed to Chiang Mai, Thailand, this week! Orders yours by March 4 to join our LIVE online cooking class, where a local chef will teach us to make Chiang Mai’s specialty meal, and tour Elephant Nature Park, one of the world’s leading elephant sanctuaries located in Chiang Mai!