Staff Favorites: Travel Bucket List

Switzerland. Australia. Antarctica. Maine. Believe it or not, all of those places have something in common: they’re all locations that Pine Cove staffers dream of visiting! And whether those staffers would be there to run ultramarathons, hang glide, or try some unique gas station snacks, they’re all planning to do cool things when (or if!) they actually get to go there. Take a look at their picks, and be sure to ask more about these bucket list travel locations the next time you see them!

“It’s been a longtime dream of mine to go to Switzerland and explore! Hang gliding in Interlaken is at the top of my bucket list!” — Annelise “Smilin’” Morrison, Senior Director of Camping and Strategic Outreach

“I am sooooo interested in planning a trip to Tokyo as soon as possible. As a huge fan of Pokémon, Japanese technology, and ramen, it has always been a dream destination of mine. I would also love the opportunity to visit Mt. Fuji.” — Dexter “Pikapoo!” Carter, Outback Camp Director

“My husband Rob and I hope to do the rim-to-rim hike at the Grand Canyon at some point as the big bucket list item. We also have a goal to hike every trail in every state park in Texas. Not sure that we’ll get to them all, but we’re sure gonna try!” — Erin Harris, Development Specialist

“Going to Maine or really any northern town in the fall is definitely on my bucket list. I’d love to see the fall colors!” — Ethan “Runny” Hebert, IT Operations Support Technician

“I would LOVE to experience the Tulip Festival in Amsterdam! Not only would I get to take in the breathtaking beauty of God’s creation, but I’d also have the opportunity to immerse myself in the local culture, enjoy the food, and meet family members I’ve never had the chance to meet before!” — Breanne “Girl on Fire” Jacobs, Director of Development

“A funny one on my bucket list is to travel to Antarctica! I don’t really know what I’d do there, but it would just be awesome to say I had been there. Only a little over a million people have ever been there in history. I’m sure there are awesome penguins and some sort of coffee shop there.” — Colin “Sneaky Pete” Post, Ridge Associate Director

“I desperately want to go to Italy! That’s where my family heritage is from, and I’ve never gone before. I want to learn how to cook traditional Italian cuisine, explore historical ruins and museums, and see some of the most beautiful art, including paintings, statues, and some city landscapes. The idea of a laid-back, slow day where life is enjoyed sounds marvelous to me! I’ve been trying to learn Italian, hoping that one day I’ll get to make it over there and see the two cities my great-grandparents were from.” — Alyssa “Flee-on-huh?” Andreone, HR & Benefits Generalist

“I’d love to visit some place in California where you can go to the beach and mountains in the same day!” — JD “Rambus” Moore, Ranch Camp Director

“It would be incredible to travel to Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada! Panoramic views, mountains, hot springs, snow skiing and the resort on Lake Louise all sound so dreamy. (Not to be confused with the also dreamy Lake Louise at the Pine Cove Springs camp in Georgia!)” — Amy “Encore” Drake, Executive Assistant – HQ

“For me, it’s Queenstown, New Zealand. There’s a 35-mile ultramarathon there that follows the same path Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli took in “The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers” movie. I’m currently working on planning a trip there for this spring and I’m so excited.” — Ruston “2nd Amendment” Collins, Director of Facilities – ETX

“Japan has recently found its way to the top of my travel bucketlist! One of our staffers just went on a mission trip there and told us all about it! Hearing her talk about how unique their culture is and how many Gospel-sharing opportunities she had was super encouraging. Plus, they have awesome and unique gas station snacks that have been going viral on Instagram recently and I am dying to try those!” — Bright “Baker Slayfield” Qiu, Towers Women’s Director

“Australia! There is something about the laid-back culture, the exotic wildlife (yes, even though many of them are poisonous), the beautiful coastlines and coral reefs, and obviously the Australian accents! Plus it is a quick jaunt over to New Zealand, so it’s kind of a two-for-one.” — Eli “Peter Porker” Creasy, Media and Communications Manager

“My dream trip right now is the Azores! It’s an archipelago off the coast of Portugal. I want to see the black sand beaches, go whale watching, and hike to hot springs and thermal pools! It looks dreamy!” — Kate “Jiggy” Burns, Springs Women’s Director

“Ever since an episode of “Somebody Feed Phil” on Netflix, my wife and I have Copenhagen, Denmark on our bucket list! The water is so clean and clear, there’s tons of great food options, and the country around the city is gorgeous.” — Jesse “Schmoe” Garner, Senior Director of Brand Engagement

“The great white whale for me has got to be Japan! I’d feel out of my element, but I need to experience a Tokyo 7-Eleven!” — Landon “Rhymes” Fink, Towers Camp Director