New Year’s resolutions may appear a bit discouraging. This year, I’m planning to limit my screen usage. In 2025, my goal is to walk 10,000 steps each day. Those are my intentions, and I already feel a sense of gloom thinking about them.
Thus, I’ve opted to include an additional resolution: a travel goal.
I frequently recall an event from 1994, when a quake caused a power outage in Los Angeles. Inquisitive locals phoned Griffith Observatory, inquiring about the strange silvery cloud overhead. That cloud was the Milky Way. Learning about that story made me realize that despite my explorations, I’ve yet to witness the Milky Way or a genuinely dark sky sparkling with stars. Therefore, in 2025, I aim to experience the night sky without any artificial light obstructing my view of the stars.
There are various methods I could pursue, but I’ll commence with this map provided by DarkSky International, an organization dedicated to protecting and certifying locations worldwide that maintain natural darkness. Currently, I’m contemplating a trip to the Grand Canyon, known for its remarkable dark-sky program celebrated with the catchy slogan “Half the park is after dark.”
I’ve also tracked down some of my colleagues at Atlas Obscura and inquired about their travel intentions. Their plans range from road trips to extensive adventures to altering a routine walk.
“In January, I’ll spend two weeks traveling around Australia with my boyfriend and parents, which is a dream destination for all of us. Our itinerary mainly focuses on nature, and we’ve arranged some early morning birdwatching in the Blue Mountains, hoping to catch a glimpse of my favorite native Australian bird, the superb lyrebird, famous for its stunning tail feathers and sound-mimicking abilities. They are reportedly quite shy, but there’s a chance!”
—Andrew Coletti, Editorial Fellow
“This might stretch the definition of travel, but I wish to change my daily walking paths. Each day, I traverse the same roads to the grocery store, gym, library, and so forth. I want to diversify my routes and discover new sights along the way to remain observant and prevent zoning out!”
—Johanna Mayer, Senior Producer, Audio
“I’ve pondered this one for years. On my birthday this year, I resolved to finally undertake it: In 2025, I aspire to walk the Camino de Santiago in Spain, from the French–Spanish border to Santiago de Compostela! Not sure if I’ll pull it off this year, but that’s the aim!”
—Zak Martellucci, Account Manager, Brand Partnerships
“I’ve previously explored Sturgis and Spearfish, the motorcycle-friendly towns in South Dakota. However, my 2025 travel resolution is to return to the Black Hills by Jeep, allowing ample time to enjoy the sights. I adore a solitary road trip—open roads, open mind—and frequently have my next adventure plotted out. This journey will lead me through the granite tunnels and sharp bends of Iron Mountain, ‘the road that couldn’t be constructed’; to the Hotel Alex Johnson, where Hitchcock and Cary Grant resided while filming North by Northwest; and to Mount Moriah Cemetery, the final resting place of Calamity Jane.”
—Nick Jackson, Editor-in-Chief
“In the coming year, I plan to finally make my way to South America. I haven’t decided on a specific country yet, but I’m torn between Colombia, Peru, and Chile. I have acquaintances in Medellín, which may tip the scales, yet ever since I worked on a dining guide for Santiago in 2024, I’ve been itching to savor Mapuche cuisine and the incredible seafood available along the Chilean coast.”
—Sam O’Brien, Senior Editor
“Next summer, I’ll travel to Portugal to attend a friend’s wedding, and I already have an extensive list of sights and activities I want to enjoy while there. One of my top priorities on that list is to savor some Ovos Moles de Aveiro, a delightful egg yolk-based confection that I tasted once before, when senior editor Sam O’Brien returned from her own trip to Portugal with some. I’m also eager to see the rhinoceros sculpture at Belém Tower, a stone carving that relates to one of my favorite artworks, Albrecht Dürer’s depiction of a rhinoceros.”
—Michelle Cassidy, Deputy Editor
“To start, I wish to truly explore the city I have relocated to. I shifted from New Jersey to Cincinnati this past June and have yet to genuinely experience the city. My wife and I are concluding the year with a visit to…Krohn Conservatory, indeed, so we’re getting an early jump on 2025.
Additionally, I’ve never visited the New Orleans vicinity. I have a friend in Alabama and in Mississippi, so I’m attempting to organize some type of gathering/vacation for us in the French Quarter. As a musician, I am thrilled to immerse myself in the jazz and big band scene there. I am also quite fond of supernatural attractions, so you BET I’ll be on every ghost tour I can discover.”
—Roux Bedrosian, Integrated Marketing Associate
“My travel aspiration for this year is to delve into South America, discovering lesser-known towns and communities outside the larger cities that celebrate music, dance, and togetherness as integral to daily life. I want to witness the charm of leisurely, vibrant cultures in unfamiliar places.”
—Colleen Courtney, Supervising Producer, Brand Partnerships
“This year has been a whirlwind, and it’s difficult to envision what 2025 might hold. I am eager to revisit one of my cherished spots to unplug and reconnect—Colombia. This will mark my third trip, and I’m excited about uncovering new locations, lounging on the beach in Santa Marta with a refreshing jugo de maracuyá, and reuniting with old friends in Bogotá, which, in my view, boasts one of the finest culinary scenes in South America.”
—Evan Bonham, Senior Manager, Integrated Marketing