I strongly believe everyone should have a bucket list. Why? Because life is short and precious, and if we don't set goals for ourselves and give ourselves dreams to achieve, we may end up regretting how we've lived our lives. It's one of the reasons I travel when I can now, not later (though I'll probably be traveling later, too). I like thinking of the things I want to accomplish and working toward them, and it's okay if I don't get to all of them. Some is better than none.

So, with that said, I clearly have a bucket list, and being the travel addict that I am, much of my bucket list is travel-related (surprised?). In fact my travel bucket list items far exceed my non-travel bucket list items. Sorry but I'm just not sorry.

Because sharing is caring, I'm revealing the top six places on my travel bucket list. I don't normally talk about where I want to go (not really sure why that is), rather I tend to focus on where I've been. But this time I'm looking ahead at where I want to go and sharing my current status toward ticking these items off my list.

Torres del Paine, Chile

I'm not sure when I became aware of Torres del Paine National Park in Chile, but at some point in the last few years, I noticed it and became obsessed with it. I would think anyone who sees this image:

Photo credit: Michael George, National Geographic

Would likely have this reaction:

Am I right? So, I think it's safe to say that this place is numero uno on my list, though the rest of the places here are in random order.

Status: I'm going to Chile next month! Ahhhhh! Though I won't be in Torres del Paine nearly long enough, I will be going in October for a few days! 😍 This will be just a taste. I KNOW I will have to return, preferably to stay in one of the area's stunning properties.

Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia

Another bucket list place of mine in South America is Salar de Uyuni, which is the world's largest salt flat in southwest Bolivia. The landscape looks incredible, and in full disclosure, everyone's photos from here look amazing! This is definitely a place I would love to one day see.

Status: Though I'll be in South America next month, I will not be passing by Bolivia, unfortunately, but perhaps in the next two years I'll make it here.

Big Sur, California

I can't believe I've yet to see Big Sur in California. I've been to Southern California, northern California and even central California, but no Big Sur. Yet. One of these days I plan to drive – actually, I plan to get someone else to drive – along Highway 1 after it reopens post unfortunate landslide and take in the beauty of the California coast.

Status: I don't have any dates on the calendar yet, but I'm really hoping to get here in 2018. I've put it out into the universe; now I just have to make it happen!

Zion National Park, Utah

I am starting to see a theme with the items on my travel bucket list. I clearly love naturally stunning and unique places, the latest being Zion National Park. Yes, I want to see the Grand Canyon one day and I would LOVE to see Horseshoe Bend, but it's Zion National Park that has captured my attention (read: obsession). One day, Zion, one day...

Photo credit: Joe Braun, ZionNationalPark.com

Status: Again, no dates on the calendar yet, but I feel like this is another doable one in the next year or so. Hold me to this!

The Serengeti

So, I don't want to be super close to the Great Migration for obvious reasons, but I desperately would love to witness it from afar one day. And though I know it's actually pretty sad in that so many of the wildebeest die during their migration journey, it also seems like it's a privilege to witness this natural phenomenon take place.

Status: I have no idea when this will happen, but hopefully in the next few years.

Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia

Last but not least on my top six list is Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia. I would actually love to see all of Croatia, as I've heard amazing things about the country, but it's Plitvice Lakes National Park in particular that I would really like to see.

Photo credit: EuropeanBestDestinations.com

Status: I somehow end up in Europe every year, so this feels like something I could definitely manage in the next year or two, assuming I'm in a good place work-wise and financially.

There are sooo many other places on my travel bucket list, like Petra and the Wadi Rum desert in Jordan, Copenhagen in Denmark, the fjords of Norway, Iceland's raw and natural beauty (and its ponies), the gorillas in Uganda and basically all of New Zealand, to name a few. I'll just have to get started on figuring out how I'm getting everywhere I want to go!

What's on your travel bucket list?