~ Carmen
It’s time to ring in the new year. Â Everywhere I look (travel blog wise), I’m seeing young 20-somethings posting goals about climbing mountains, visiting 3rd world countries to eat exotic cuisine and delicacies, and learning 2 new languages. Â Joe’s climbed or skied mountains, I’ve been on mission trips (never ate bad food on them), and I already know two languages–English and Southern!
Joe and I will be turning 50 this year, so we need some realistic travel goals that fit this stage of our life. Â The good news is that if a couple of months go by and we don’t like them, we have no problem with throwing them out the window and starting over. Â That’s an advantage of growing wiser. Â It’s easier to admit when you’ve made a mistake, and you really don’t care what other people think.

We still hike, just smaller mountains!
Realistic Travel Goals for Empty Nesters

Must try again!
Travel Goal 1
Put down the Candy Crush/Netflix and get outside.
Awww, that irresistible urge to defeat that Candy Crush level (even though you’ve been at it the last two hours). ~Not to brag or anything but I’m up to level 1670~. There’s also the temptation to binge watch one more episode of “Law & Order” which you’ve already watched 5 times, but it’s your comfort show and you have the whole weekend ahead of you.  The possibility of finishing all 20 seasons in one sitting is a challenge that must be met!
This year I have a goal of hiking or riding my bike at least once a week. Â I should have more time if I’m not binging on technology. Â I’ll feel better and will be conditioned for the challenges of traveling and camping.

Ate at 27 different barbecue restaurants last year!
Travel Goal 2
Try at least two new restaurants a month.
Going to a different location of the same restaurant does not count!  Joe and I tend to steer towards comfort or familiarity, especially when it come to cuisine. We could follow in the foot steps of Anthony Bourdain of “Parts Unknown” or Andrew Zimmer of “Bizarre Foods”, but we won’t rush ourselves to that level.
We don’t go out to eat very often when we’re not on the road, so when we do, I don’t want to waste any money on bad cuisine.  We did pretty well last year.  We stuck to barbecue for review purposes (read Texas Barbecue Road Trip and The Ultimate Memphis Barbecue Guide), and that gave us more incentive to try different places.  We are in the process of reviewing Memphis fried chicken places.  After that, we want to review Memphis hamburger places and catfish joints.  Yum!
Travel Goal 3
Go camping at least once a month.
Last spring we bought a travel trailer to celebrate our 5 year anniversary. Â We earned our stripes as tent campers, but as we grew older, the ability to rebound after sleeping in a tent was getting more difficult. Â We no longer have that excuse. Â Camping more often is mainly a matter of scheduling the campsites. Â We have the time. Â With no kids living at home, we’re no longer wrapped up in marching band or competitive dance commitments. Â We’re FREE! Â It’s time to take advantage of that freedom.

Our anniversary present to each other
Travel Goal 4
Align trips to visit friends and family along the way.
As we have focused our efforts raising our kids, the circle of friends and family may have been tightened due to distance, schedules and priorities. Â Now that we have more time for ourselves, it is time to rekindle our bonds with the friends and family we may not have seen as much or not at all.
Joe has been with the Army 10 years and since his mother’s passing last year he has missed out on visiting relatives from his father’s or mother’s side who are in Washington, Philippines and Hawaii. Â Joe also has friends he kept in touch with through his Army days throughout the world. Â This year we will definitely travel to Washington to visit family and Brazil to visit friends.

It’s been 30 years since I’ve been to Brazil to see my exchange student “sister”. Going back this spring!
Travel has been a part of our yearly goals (short and longterm) every year of our 5 year marriage. Â We travel because we love seeing, doing, and eating new things. Â Hopefully, these 4 goals will lead us closer to our longterm travel ambitions. Â I definitely believe that you have to plan or life will slip you by. Â Or as all of the motivation posters teach us: Â If you fail to plan, you plan to fail…If you don’t have a dream, you don’t have a dream come true…Setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into the visible!
Did you make any goals this year? Â Were any of them travel related? Â Please share by commenting below! Â
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Leslie Soto
January 3, 2017 7:15 amThese travel goals are so great! I love that you are taking traveling and putting a new spin on it by just enjoying where you’re at or going on low key camping trips. I’m sure 2017 will be such a fun travel year for you!
Pack Your Baguios
January 3, 2017 10:41 amThanks! We’re not ready to give up our day jobs, so weekend travel and during the summer (I’m a teacher) is enough for us right now.
Midori
January 3, 2017 7:15 amTotally agree with goal number 1, I need to stop stulking Netflix! xxx
Pack Your Baguios
January 3, 2017 10:42 amDefinitely! I have a love/hate relationship with Netflix!
Abby
January 3, 2017 8:17 amI love the idea of aligning trips to visit family or friends. I’ve been trying to do that too. It is a great way to catch up with people you know and see new places. You can also get an instant tour guide as a bonus!
Abby of Life in the Fash Lane
Pack Your Baguios
January 3, 2017 10:43 amOur 9 day trip to Rio will have the added bonus of staying with friends. And locals know the best places to go!
The Travel Realist
January 3, 2017 9:43 amSome lovely ideas here – especially the ones that are more do-able, like getting outside or trying a new restaurant. Visiting friends and family is always great too (hello, free accommodation!)
Pack Your Baguios
January 3, 2017 10:45 amExactly! We love staying with friends and family when we travel. Nothing better than a local to show you around!
Diana - MVMT Blog
January 3, 2017 1:20 pmI love this perspective! It does seem that most travelers out there (or just the most vocal ones) are 20-somethings but it’s so encouraging to know that there is another stage in life (AFTER you have kids and they grow up) to again travel the world. Thanks for sharing this perspective! Hope it inspires more people your age to travel! 🙂
Pack Your Baguios
January 3, 2017 1:52 pmI’m glad you liked our “older” point of view. Empty nesters have the freedom and $$ to travel. Before we know it, we’ll be retired and will have even more time to travel!
Sara - I do what I want to
January 4, 2017 8:24 amWe are on our 30’s but as you, we are aware that we can change along the way and not behind ashamed of it! I have to say I looove your Goal 2 most of all hehehe
Pack Your Baguios
January 4, 2017 4:20 pmYes, indeed! We love our food!
Sandra
January 4, 2017 8:32 amTravel goal 1 is soooooo haaaaaard now that I just discovered new cool shows on Netflix! Travel goal 2 is super easy 😀
Pack Your Baguios
January 4, 2017 4:21 pmYup! I happen to have on Netflix right now. Not off to a good start…
Maria
January 4, 2017 1:51 pmLoved your post Carmen!
I’m a 50 (something) girl and except for the RV I’m totally in harmony with you. Hope you have a great 2017 and I’ll keep following your posts.
Pack Your Baguios
January 4, 2017 4:25 pmYay! We’re not the only middle-aged travel bloggers out there! We hope you have a wonderful 2017 as well!
Claire Summers
January 5, 2017 4:28 pmBrilliant post. I’m going to share this with my Mum! Pretty sure she would love following these ideas.
Pack Your Baguios
January 6, 2017 4:16 pmI hope she like what she reads. Thanks for sharing!
Megan Johnson
January 6, 2017 7:12 amLove this!! Even for me with no kids these are good ideas to include in while traveling!!
Pack Your Baguios
January 6, 2017 4:16 pmI’m glad you found the information useful! Thanks for stopping by the blog!
Stephanie Frias
January 6, 2017 7:25 amAs someone in the middle of both age groups, this was really interesting to see where we fall. I am 33 and my husband 45, we live and travel in Ecuador right now. Our kids are 2 and 4. Our biggest goals this year: to get a camp-able vehicle for all of us and to start getting our kids to off-the-beaten path locations. I hope to see the Amazon Rainforest this year, the little ones want to see an active volcano, my husband says he just wants to see the world through our eyes. He is interested to see and learn about what the rest of us are passionate about.
Pack Your Baguios
January 6, 2017 4:18 pmWe just bought a new truck to pull our camper. We can’t wait to try it out. It sounds like you guys are going to have an awesome year!
Tracy
January 6, 2017 10:39 amI also turn 50 this year – our goal is to move to Australia! We just want to do more, see more and just generally travel more while we can! It is going to be a busy one – love yours goals (I think i am going to try the restaurant one – and possibly for the first time ever some camping! Have a great year!
Pack Your Baguios
January 6, 2017 4:20 pmWe love our little camper. It’s nice enough to include a small bathroom with a standup shower. The kitchenette had a refrigerator, stove, and microwave. But it’s small enough to be able to take it almost anywhere.
Garth
January 7, 2017 8:33 amGreat post! very inspiring ideas. I’m pleased to say we conquered one of your suggestions, the TV! we don’t watch it now, and instead get out and explore places local to us on weekends. I now like to binge watch films and TV on long haul flights like we did recently going to Vietnam. Thanks for sharing your ideas 🙂
Pack Your Baguios
January 7, 2017 8:36 amGreat job on conquering the TV watching. Hopefully, I be there in a couple of months, too!
Jenn | By Land and Sea
January 7, 2017 4:17 pmLooks like you have many great goals! We are also going to try eating at new restaurants this year too! And, we are cutting cable!
Pack Your Baguios
January 8, 2017 8:11 amWow! Cutting cable is a big step! We ate at our first new restaurant last night. It was really, really good.
ThriftyTrails
January 7, 2017 5:43 pmThis is a great list that I think can apply to travelers of all ages. “With no kids living at home, we’re no longer wrapped up in marching band or competitive dance commitments. We’re FREE! It’s time to take advantage of that freedom.” I love your enthusiasm and positive way of embracing being empty nesters! Thanks for sharing and inspiring other reader.
Pack Your Baguios
January 8, 2017 8:13 amYou’re welcome! I miss having our kids at home. We two of the 6 kids spend the holidays with us, and now the house seems so quiet. BUT, it is so much easier to plan our little excursions when we don’t have to worry about others’ schedules.
Angie (FeetDoTravel)
January 8, 2017 5:23 amCarmen, you are definitely in the right group with FeetDoTravel as there are quite a few bloggers around your age so you should feel right at home (plus they are really lovely people as well which is always a bonus!). I love your travel goals, it’s always nice to have something to look forward to and you have got it sorted, especially when it comes to visiting friends and family, that is always nice 😀 Here’s to achieving your goals in 2017! #feetdotravel
Pack Your Baguios
January 8, 2017 8:16 amThanks! Joe is excited about seeing some old friends when we do a road trip to St. Louis next weekend. Staying in touch with friends and family has never been my strong suit, but Joe is helping me learn to slow down and make that time a priority.
Lisa
January 8, 2017 11:01 amLove your zest for life and travel! My goals are never solid they ebb and weave depending on what’s going on . Enjoy your new year with lots of new experiences.
Pack Your Baguios
January 11, 2017 8:31 pmThanks! Hope your 2017 is filled with joy and adventure!
Paul and Carole
January 9, 2017 2:43 pmGreat goals, like you we love camping too and enjoy the outside living, hope you get away often as that is our plan too. It is so true we are in our 50’s now and don’t worry what others think too much and change plans as it suits us not anyone else. Older and wiser! Made me smile too when you mentioned Candy Crush, I am a self confessed addict, love it when Paul is watching the football and I must say not as good as you but am proud of being on level 1240!
Pack Your Baguios
January 11, 2017 8:40 pmHa! Level 1240 is pretty up there, too!
Barry
January 10, 2017 7:37 amNew years is a great time for goals. I believe in telling the world about them because you’re more likely to achieve what you preach. Most of the traveller bloggers that I follow are 30+ but then again I’m 36…
Pack Your Baguios
January 11, 2017 8:46 pmMake every day count–right?
Travel Lexx
January 10, 2017 4:25 pmLove your goals and it really doesn’t matter how old you are – travel is for everyone! Love the idea of camping every month – I don’t think that would ever work in the UK with our weather! You should definitely put down Candy Crush – as a real gamer I don’t acknowledge its existence!
Pack Your Baguios
January 11, 2017 8:48 pmCandy Crush is a real game! I am a Candy Crush master!!! One reason we bought our little camper is so we could camp even in the winter. It’s been great!
James Smith
January 11, 2017 5:59 amYes, definitely cut out the candy crush, I didn’t even know you could play that on the desktop. Netflix is OK though! Good luck with your other goals, camping and eating in 2 new restaurants per month. For me, I’m happy eating cheeseburgers! I wish there were Five Guys everywhere!
Pack Your Baguios
January 11, 2017 8:51 pmWe love 5 Guys! Right now we are reviewing fried chicken places, but then it’s on to cheeseburgers!
Trippin' Turpins (Kelly)
January 12, 2017 5:50 pmI love your goals for 2017. Good luck with them…. and remember to try everything (food)… if you don’t like it, at least you tried it. That is what I did with the BBQ rat in Cambodia. I said to myself “I have to try it, if I don’t like it I don’t have to eat it” … well I devoured it! It was delicious LOL
Pack Your Baguios
January 12, 2017 6:48 pmOh my goodness! BBQ rat? I’d have to really talk myself into it, but I think I’d give it a go!
Rob+Ann @TravelLatte(.net)
January 12, 2017 8:53 pmThese are awesome goals! Especially once ya get past #1 there. (Harder than it looks!) *Some* of us at TravelLatte are post 50 already (and deep in denial). Funny thing is, we have a lot of the same goals as the 20somethings, 30somethings, WhateverSomethings. Go here, do that, eat everything! I think we’re just not so manic about it. Although, I bet we have more goals that involve wine than “them kids” do. Another great thing that comes with age. 😉 Loved the post!! #FeetDoTravel
Pack Your Baguios
January 17, 2017 11:46 amWe love to try new things, but as you said, we’re not maniac about it. Glad you enjoyed the post!
Sara Broers
January 14, 2017 6:01 pmWelcome to the 50 club, it’s a fun one to be in. I love working with all age groups of people, as we all become stronger when we work together. It’s so interesting, as we all bring something unique to the table, literally! Enjoy 2017 and embrace 50- it’s a good space to be in!
Raymond Carroll
January 15, 2017 2:53 pmAlways good to make goals going into a new year. I’m going to Barcelona in April and Nepal in October. Got the Barcelona tickets booked and working on the money for Nepal. I’ve set a few other goals too, some in regards to my blog and writing projects, and some in regards to health and fitness. I’m not a young thing either – 47 this year, and need to look out for the old ticker. Nice post.
Pack Your Baguios
January 17, 2017 1:23 pmDefinitely protect the ticker! One of our goals is to stay in fit enough shape to still be able to travel when were a little old gray-haired couple. I’d love to go to Barcelona!!!!
DA Adesanya
January 18, 2017 5:00 amI think goal 1 is something I can share though being in my 20s
Pack Your Baguios
January 22, 2017 9:55 pmIt’s so good to start young!
Steph
April 13, 2017 2:27 pmTravel Goal #1 – Get Outside – I’m trying to do this at the moment and you’re right, it’s much harder than you think, but it makes such a difference to my day! Mind you, I failed today… whoops.
I’ve also acquired a bike and hope to get the tent out. I mean, ideally I’d take it across Europe via lots of vineyards, but to the next village would also do! Have you heard of Microadventures, or is it a UK thing?
Pack Your Baguios
April 15, 2017 7:18 amI haven’t heard of Microadventures. I’ll have to look that up!
Danielle Hambuckers
April 14, 2017 4:16 pmHahaha I am only 22, turning 23 before my next long-term trip and sometimes I alreadt feel like I am way behind when I see all the young people out there in the world. I really do like that you don’t let an age number define your dream and the ability to make those dreams come true.
Pack Your Baguios
April 15, 2017 7:30 amDon’t compare yourself to others or you’ll always feel behind. Joe and I both went through terrible divorces and felt like we “lost” a lot of years. We’ve had to accept that those rough patches are what make our current situations that much greater.