So Many Sights On Our 2023 Travel Year Review
Looking back on our 2023 travel year review we were delighted with all the things we saw and did in a very exciting travel year.
We started the year on a trip of a lifetime with a cruise to Antarctica that included some travel around South America. The year finished with another wish list trip with a luxury Caribbean cruise on the Ritz-Carlton Yacht. Our big trip of the year took us to Sicily and Malta for 8 weeks.
At home we headed out on road trips. We went north to Muskoka before our Antarctica cruise for some cold weather preparation. A long weekend took us back to Kingston in Ontario. We visited the most southern point in Canada on a road trip and explored the area around Pt Pelee. In the summer we headed north of Toronto and discovered the waterfalls in Bracebridge and the great sights around Huntsville. Visits with family took us back to British Columbia a few times during the year.
Our 2023 travels provided us with amazing outdoor experiences. Stunning architecture and beautiful churches were everywhere on our city visits. We learned about the history of places we visited. And delighted at the colour and art we found. Luxury stays ensured we were pampered as we travelled. And we enjoyed so much tasty food and drink. Our 2023 travel year review brought back such great memories!
2023 By The Numbers
In 2023 we were back to travelling as often as we could. In total, we travelled about 43,170 miles (69,485 km) and went by car, airplane, train, boat, helicopter and cruise ship.
| Miles (KM) | |
| Flying | 33,630 ( 54,125) |
| Driving | 4,250 (6,850) |
| Cruising | 4,950 ( 7,960) |
| Train | 340 ( 550 ) |
| Total | 43,170 ( 69,485) |
Road trips from home in Toronto took us to great local destinations around Toronto. We went south into the U.S. exploring Upstate New York and Vermont. On our travels around Sicily, we rented a car so we could do day trips to local gems. Ferries were always great fun our road trips.
We started our year with a luxury cruise to Antarctica on the SilverSea Cruises Endeavour and then finished with a Caribbean cruise from San Juan to Fort Lauderdale on the new Ritz-Carlton Yacht Evrima. Both of these cruises were on smaller cruise ships. But we also enjoyed a small boat tour in Sicily along the shore by Taormina and then another boat tour to the 3 islands in Malta. When we rented our own small boat, we explored around the island of Panarea in the Aeolian Islands in Sicily.
We used many different types of accommodations on our travels. In total, we were away for 159 nights in 2023 with stays in hotels, Airbnbs and on cruise ships. Our long trip to Sicily provided many hotel night stays. But with few Marriott Bonvoy group hotels, this trip added only a little to our elite status. It was a good thing that our Ritz-Carlton Yacht cruise counted for Marriott Bonvoy elite status nights and we re-qualified again for Marriott Ambassador Status.
| Nights | |
| Hotels ( Marriott 77 / IHG 3 / Other 30 ) | 110 |
| AirBnb | 22 |
| Cruising ( SilverSea 20 / Ritz-Carlton Yacht 7 ) | 27 |
| Total | 159 |
Looking at our 2023 travel year review showed us just how much travel we planned and successfully executed.
Outdoor Adventures Dominated 2023 For Us
Our cruise to Antarctica was an amazing outdoor adventure. We spent 16 days in the Deep South and 6 days below the Antarctic Circle. Virtually every day we headed off the ship for an active expedition – zodiac tours, kayaking, hiking or visiting historical sites. The vistas were stunning. We saw massive icebergs in all shapes and sizes. And every day we got up-close wildlife experiences. This Antarctica expedition took us to our 7th continent and set the bar very high early in the year.
When we headed for our cruise to Antarctica, we extended our trip and visited new spots in Chile. From Chile we headed to Argentina and explored another iconic site. Before our stay in Buenos Aires, we were spellbound visiting the Iguazu Falls from both the Brazil and Argentina sides. Our adventures gave us a view of the falls from all perspectives – hiking on both shores, at water level, at viewpoints over the falls and we even got a helicopter view from above.
When we headed to Italy and then explored Sicily, we were delighted to experience volcanic sites over and over again. In Naples our hotel looked out at Mt Vesuvius. When we stayed on the Aeolian Island of Panarea, we looked out at Stromboli and got to see it active at night. In Sicily we had views of the mighty Mt Etna for two weeks. And that sight of the mighty volcano took us up to explore Mt Etna on both the North and South sides.
In Sicily we saw the landscapes left behind by volcanoes. The deep gorge at Alcantara was a perfect spot to wander early in the day before the crowds arrived. Beaches were covered with large lava rock or black volcanic sand. Mountains covered the island. And cliffs dropped down to the sea.
While the volcanic sites of Sicily excited us, the turquoise waters called to us. Everywhere we went we found beaches – even if not all of them were soft sand. The water was great when we rented a boat and explored. Or when we took a boat tour and went snorkelling. Even if we did have a nasty experience with a jelly fish.
The islands of Malta offered great outdoor views. We made sure to get out on the water for a boat tour of the 3 islands. When we escaped the crowds, the cliffs and caves were a stunning sight.
As water lovers, we could not miss a chance to finish the year on the sea for our first Ritz-Carlton Yacht Caribbean experience. Our cruise from San Juan to Fort Lauderdale provided us with some great port stops. And a chance to experience the luxurious yacht.
We were enthralled with all that Mother Nature offered when we looked back on our 2023 travel year review.
Trips Around Canada Showed Us New Outdoor Sights
We explored great outdoor sights closer to home as well. When we did our road trip to Leamington we enjoyed the outdoor sites around Pelee Island. And then wandered around Pt Pelee National Park. It was interesting to visit the furthest southern point in Canada on this trip.
For a fun day trip one day, we booked a Segway tour around the Port Dalhousie area. It was our first Segway adventure but we were quick learners. The sights along the lake provided a great break from the city.
In the summer we headed north of Toronto. We spent a few days in Gravenhurst and explored the waterfalls around Bracebridge. From Gravenhurst we went further north and enjoyed the outdoor fun around Huntsville. It was our first but not last visit to Arrowhead Provincial Park.
At the end of the summer we squeezed in one more road trip. We headed back to Upstate New York and then spent a week in Vermont. As we travelled around the U.S. we explored the lakes, waterfalls, gorges and ski resorts in off-season. We even visited the famed Ben and Jerry’s ice cream factory.
Every year we visited British Columbia several times and enjoyed time with family. On each trip we headed outdoors and discovered new spots in this great province.
On our 2023 travel year review we recalled all the great outdoor sights in our home country.
Stunning Architecture Sights Filled Our 2023 Travel Year Review
On our stay in Santiago in Chile, we explored the old town area. Until a local thief decided we were his targets. We were a bit cautious when we then headed for a stay in Buenos Aires in Argentina. But a private guided tour in Buenos Aires was the perfect way to see the great sights around the city.
A stop for a week in Rome let us explore some of the iconic sights in the city. The fountains were everywhere we looked in the city. We saw embassies, the ancient gates of the city and Quirinale Palace when the President was in residence. Our first visit across the Tiber River to the Trastavere area gave us a charming spot to wander.
Our visit to Sicily was an architecture lovers dream. Exploring in Palermo and then our stay in Catania provided the wealth of architectural sites we expected in larger cities.
But even the smaller seaside towns like Trapani and Sciacca had much to discover. When we explored the Baroque hill towns of Modica and Noto we found treasures in everywhere we looked.
Visiting Malta in the Fall, we knew we were in for some architectural treats. On day trips to Valletta and the Three Cities across the bay, we enjoyed the sights by day, as the sun set and after dark.
But when we explored the small town of Mdina we were delighted in the city that was largely re-built after the earthquakes in Sicily devastated parts of Malta too.
Stunning architecture sights filled our 2023 travel year review.
Each Stop Provided Yet More Amazing Churches
On our stay in Santiago we only saw the Cathedral from the outside. But in Buenos Aires, our guided tour took us inside the Metropolitan Cathedral. Not only was the church interesting but the church also contained the Mausoleum of General San Martín. And we were delighted when we saw the changing of the guard there.
On our stay in Rome we wandered the city. While the iconic sites in Rome included some major church sites, every street had yet one more church. And on a visit to the Trastavere area, we even saw the charming Basilica Maria de Trastavere which was was probably the first official place of Christian worship in Rome.
As we travelled around Sicily, each stop provided us with yet one more amazing church to visit. While we are not religious, the interior design and art drew us in. We saw cathedrals and local churches. And on our stay in Trapani we were intrigued when we visited the Purgatorio Church and saw the huge statues that were carried around town for the Easter parades.
Many of the churches provided access to narrow and steep staircases that took us high above the sights. It was always worth the climb for another panoramic view.
By the time we visited Malta, we were sure we could really not find a church site that matched those we visited in Sicily. But when we researched the St John’s Co-Cathedral we thought we might be wrong. We were so glad we paid the admission fee and saw the amazing cathedral filled with about 400 tombs. Each wing of the cathedral competed with the others with opulent design. And we even found a room filled with the art of Caravaggio.
If the St John’s Co-Cathedral was stunning in design, we could not pass on another quite unique church in Malta. The Rotunda of Mosta was famous for its massive domed ceiling. And even more famous because a bomb dropped through this ceiling during WW II and never exploded.
On our 2023 travel year review we saw so many amazing churches. But we kept exploring more on each stop.
As We Travelled In 2023 We Went Back In Time
We started our year on a cruise to Antarctica. Each day we had excursions and explored the waters and land of Antarctica. We visited a wide variety of bases that were used by early explorers and adventurers. The harsh living conditions were evident. And we even saw signs of hasty abandonment of bases when these locations were no longer feasible.
When we toured Buenos Aires we were immersed in the history of this vibrant city in Argentina. We saw war memorials that commemorated the Revolución de Mayo (May Revolution). And visiting the Recoleta Cemetery provided an introduction to the cities elite past. While we did not visit the grave of Eva Peron (Evita) we did see a statue to her. When we attended the Rojo Tango Show in Buenos Aires, we learned all about the history of tango through the music and dance.
On our stay in Rome, we continued to marvel at the ruins we found inside the city. The Colosseum, the Forum and the ruins below the Palatine Hill showed the might history of this city.
When we visited Sicily for 5 weeks, we were amazed when we saw the vast Greek ruins at the Valley of the Temples. On a stay in Catania, we were delighted to find remains of the Roman Amphitheater. And the vast Greek-Roman Theater sat with buildings all around it.
We were taken back in time on our 2023 travel year review.
Colour And Art We Found In 2023
We started our year with the sculptures of Mother Nature. As we explored Antarctica, we were mesmerized by the massive ice forms we found. Colour and texture delighted us.
Local road trips north of Toronto took us to Huntsville for a long weekend. We were reminded of the great Canadiana art that came from this northern region in Ontario.
On our stay in Santiago in Chile, we wandered the city and were amazed at the variety in the statues we found everywhere we looked.
But touring in Buenos Aires blew us away with colour and art. The Floralis Generica animated statue was stunning. Art and statuary in the Recoleta Cemetery intrigued us. And the colour and street art of La Boca area were a delight.
Colour and art was found all through our 2023 travel year review.
Our 2023 Travel Year Review Reminded Us Of Our Luxury Stays
On our cruise to Antarctica, we travelled for the first time with SilverSeas Cruises on the new expedition ship Silver Endeavour. While the ship was fully outfitted for expedition cruising, it was one of the most luxurious expedition ships at sea.
Our South American stays in Santiago, Chile and in Buenos Aires, Argentina were luxury experiences enhanced by our Marriott Elite status. And when we did a short visit to Iguazu Falls, our Melia hotel with a view of the falls was stunning.
When we travelled around Italy and Malta in the Fall, we had some amazing stays at Marriott-brand hotels that set a very high bar for quality. And the local hotels we stayed at in other locations added charm and proximity to great sights. And some stunning scenery too!
Our year finished up with a Caribbean cruise on the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Evrima. The yacht was elegant and brought the excellence in service delivery from the Ritz-Carlton hotels to the sea. A wonderful first experience on the Ritz-Carlton Yacht.
Luxury stays provided great memories of being pampered on our 2023 travel year review.
We Ate And Drank Well Through The Year
We ate and drank well through the year on our travels. At every opportunity, we enjoyed local treats. On our stay in Santiago, Chile we had a full chef’s dinner with local food and drink. Touring in Buenos Aires, this caramel addict was delighted to try the dulce de leche and the Alfajores filled with this sweet treat.
Visiting Sicily for 5 weeks, we enjoyed fresh local seafood almost every day. And learned to eat the arancini (rice balls) upside down like an ice cream cone. We tried almost every flavour of granita (flavoured ice) until we found our favourites.
We always loved to slow down and indulge in Afternoon Tea on our travels. So we savoured the great Afternoon Tea ritual we found at the St Regis Rome. And could not pass on trying this treat when we cruised on the Ritz-Carlton Yacht.
It was great to go wine tasting in different regions around the world. When we visited the most southern point in Canada on Pelee Island, we had to try the local Pelee Island wine. The wine growing environment on the volcanic slopes of Mt Etna was very different from this marshy water area we found on Pelee Island.
But we also did not miss out on some bubbly experiences on our 2023 travel year review. On a zodiac excursion inAntarctica, we were surprised when we got champagne delivered to the boat. The champagne sabrage (sabering) tradition at the St Regis Rome and at the St Regis Bahia Beach in San Juan was a delight to watch before we sipped the bubbly. Cruising on the Ritz-Carlton Yacht, the Moet champagne was called “Ritz water”.
Great food and drink was always something we remembered when we looked back on our travels.
Amazing Memories On Our 2023 Travel Year Review
We got so many amazing memories from our 2023 travel year review. Great outdoor experiences took us through the year. Architecture, history and colourful art delighted us on our trips. Throughout the year we splurged on luxury stays. And indulged in some tasty food and drink.
With our 2023 travel memories fresh in our mind, we started planning our 2024 travel adventures. Stay tuned for details about our return visit to Africa!
Did you find any travel inspiration on our 2023 travel year review? What was your favourite of our travels this year?
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Oh my goodness! What a year of travel you have had!! Your cruise to Antarctica looks absolutely life-changing! And the Ritz Carlton yacht? What a treat!! An amazing year of travel is in the books for you guys!!
We did indeed have an amazing travel year in 2023. So many great spots to remember.
A luxury cruise to Antarctica sounds fabulous! And I loved that photo of you with the champagne amid the icebergs 😉
It was amazing to start our 2023 travel year with a luxury trip to Antarctica. It sure set a high bar for adventure.
You guys are really living the dream! I would love to visit all of these places, especially Antarctica and Argentina. Sicily I know very well and really enjoyed seeing your photos. I have never done a cruise so I was impressed by how many you did. Your 2023 was very impressive.
It is always interesting to look back on a travel year. And I realized we did much more travel than I thought. Great to go back and relive some of the great memories.
Wow, you guys spent almost half a year in foreign beds – go figure! I’m still mostly impressed by your Antarctica tour since that’s very high on my bucket list, too – albeit, I do feel bad about the environment. Your pix from South America look just amazing. Was it your second time to the Iguazu Falls? Also, the chance to include Buenos Aires, one of my favorite cities in the world, on this trip is a big, big plus. So – where to next? Do you already have plans for the upcoming year? I cannot wait to read about it!
We loved the vast variety in the travel we did in 2023. This was our first visit to Iguazu Falls and we were so glad we managed to put it on the Argentina plan. We have one big trip scheduled for 2024 so far. But have a few other personal things to sort out before we fill the year with travel!
what an incredible year of travel! Hope to be living that life in retirement! thanks for sharing!
We are certainly trying to travel as much as we can again. So many great destinations to visit. And we sure added some great spots to our 2023 travel year.
What an amazing year! Your travels to Sicily and Malta looks stunning, I’m so inspired to visit now!
Sicily and Malta have been on our travel list for a long time. So it was great to finally visit this year.
What an amazing year – you’ve done so much. Your photos of Antartica are stunning!
Antarctica was a stunning spot to start our 2023 travels. We had the most amazing trip with so many great sights.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I hope my husband and I are able to travel and enjoy life in retirement as you two do.
We were glad we started our retirement early and had travel as a priority for saving all of our working life. Every time we travel we keep adding more places to our travel wish list.
You two turned your retirement into a profession with all your 2023 travel. Congrats. I enjoyed every moment traveling virtually with you. Where will you travel in 2024?
We were sure glad to get back to travelling as much as we could in 2023. We visited some of the spot that had been on our list for some time. In 2024 we have plans to return to Africa. And then who knows what we will add!
What an incredible year of travel – I’d love to explore Antarctica! Look forward to seeing what you get up to next year.
It was amazing to start our 2023 travel year in Antarctica. And then add so many great spots. We have Africa on the plan already for 2024. But we won’t stop there.
The Ritz-Carlton yacht sounds amazing. You definitely got some cruising under your belt this year!
It was great to start and end our travel year 2023 with cruising.
WOW! Your recap is awesome and your travels are awe-inspiring. 2023 was a year to remember, for sure!
We definitely had a great travel year in 2023. So many spots that had been on our list for some time.
Eyyy we also started the year off with a bang in Antarctica! I wish we would’ve had more time to also explore South America though, but alas. You’ve had a wild year of travel for sure haha. Cheers to many more!!
Our trip to Antarctica sure did kick off our travel year in 2023. We were glad we had time to add some South America travel while we were there. And then we just kept travelling!
What an incredible year! We visit Malta often and I’m hoping to add Sicily to our next trip. Thanks for a great article.
Sicily had been on my list for a long time. So we were happy we could plan an extended trip to Sicily and see so much. Posts will be coming in the new year to keep teasing you!
What an amazing year. Inspired by your trip to Antarctica; and reminded of our own wonderful trip to Sicily this Fall.
Glad to provide inspirations for travel spots. Our memories of Sicily were great too.
I love all the church pics, Europe has such stunning art in their churches. Great sight and inspiration.
The architecture in Europe is so stunning and the churches so beautiful. So many to see on our travels in 2023.
Your pictures are absolutely amazing and your latest cruise looks great!
2023 was a great travel year. Fun to finish up with our Ritz-Carlton Yacht Caribbean cruise.
I hope your 2024 travels are as good to you as 2023. Keep on traveling.
We have only one trip booked so far for 2024. But we will definitely keep travelling.
A very good travel year! Starting and finishing with a cruise sounds like a good idea.
It was fun to bookend our travel year in 2023 with cruising. Balanced the big road trips we did.
What a year of adventure you had! Going to Antarctica has always been a dream for me, and I’m planning to do it in 2026! Saving your article for that near future!
You are going to love Antarctica. A great way for us to start an amazing travel year in 2023.
You had an amazing travel year, with the highlight being, of course, the trip to Antarctica. That is at the top of my travel bucket list. I followed your trips to Ontario as I’m heading there again next year, with plenty of time to explore around. I went to Malta as well in the past year. Even if it was my second time on this tiny island, I still didn’t have time to explore everything, so another trip will be needed in the future.
We were happy to visit a lot of places that were on our travel wish list in 2023. We often leave a place wanting more. Good reason to go back!
What a wonderful 2023! I want to travel like you, in style and with a partner who enjoys being outdoors. I love your pictures, especially the Antarctica ones, the clarity and composition are breathtaking. I have high hopes from 2024, seeing your travel miles and nights out! Chile, Malta, Sicily, Rome, Argentina, that’s almost half the world on your 2023 tours.
2023 was indeed an amazing travel year for us. We were glad we found so many great outdoor spots to explore.
You had a fantastic travel year with a lot of dream destinations. You were able to see the vulcanic landscapes in Sicily, the street art in Buenos Aires and the penguins in Antarctica. I am always fascinated that you are so dedicated with your bonus memberships in hotels and with airlines. I have so many member cards but for some reason I am never able to collect enough points for anything….
We loved all our travels in 2023. And we surely did get some great benefits from our loyalty status. A great way to save some money so we could splurge on other things.
Your travels throughout 2023 sound truly remarkable and are inspiring. Your Antarctic adventure is a bucket list for me so I enjoy seeing your photos and reading about your wildlife encounters. I travel New England extensively but often forget upstate New York is a beautiful place, so enjoyed reading about your time there. You really got around the globe this year and had such a wonderful array of experiences. I hope 2024 brings you such joyous travels again, warm wishes for the new year.
We sure did get around the world in 2023. We are not yet sure where 2024 will take us. But we know it will be lots of fun!
You two are goals for retirement life! I think you spent half the time planning and the other half executing said plans. What a great 2023 that was , I echo what the others say about Antartica, what a bucket list that must have been to tick off. I love your wonderful travel photos as well. I actually can’t wait to see what you will be up to this year.
We are glad we made travelling a priority for our retirement years. So many great spots around the world to explore.
Wow! You definitely had an amazing 2023 and you continuously inspire us.
That’s definitely a lot of time outside and exploring the world. 159 nights is huge. Thank you for sharing all your travels with us. We look forward to reading more about your adventures in 2024.
It was great to look back at our travel in 2023.
WOW! Your 2023 travel year was a whirlwind of diverse adventures, from an awe-inspiring Antarctic cruise to an extensive exploration of Sicily and Malta. Luxurious stays aboard SilverSea Endeavour and the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Evrima added indulgence to your journeys. Whether savoring local delicacies in Santiago and Buenos Aires or wandering through historic sites like the Valley of the Temples, your culinary and cultural experiences were rich. From exploring the southernmost point in Canada to embracing vibrant art in La Boca, Buenos Aires, your travels showcased a perfect blend of outdoor wonders, historical immersion, and culinary delights.
We did indeed see so many amazing sights on our 2023 travels. It was a year to remember and inspiration to keep planning our great travels.
It feels like it was a month ago when I read your preparation for the Antarctica Cruise! I remember most of your 2023 travels, and I like how you got to see Iguazu Falls from different sites. You sure got to travel to amazing places last year. Can’t wait to see where 2024 will bring you guys!
Antarctica and South America sure was a great way to start our 2023 travels.
I love the amount of variety you had this past year! History, exploration, quaint towns, art, food, culture – you did it all. I also love that you went to Vermont for a week. It’s been SO long since I’ve been to New England, and one of my goals is to get back there this year. I’m virtually cheers-ing you with a pretend glass of Ritz Water – here’s to a happy 2024.
We sure loved finishing our year with “Ritz water”. A great way to top off an amazing travel year in 2023.