These are intended to be indicative of our desires, but please know that we are also practicing spontaneity (which is a big stretch for Lota, who is clearly the planner in the family)!
Here are some of the festivals, events and places we'd like to visit sometime in the next two years....
January
Mardi Gras, New Orleans, Louisiana - January 6 thru Fat Tuesday
Winter Carnival, St. Paul, Minnesota - late January thru early February
Sundance Film Festival, Park City, Utah - late January
February
South Padre Island's Kite Fest, South Padre Island, Texas - early February
Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, Houston, Texas - late February thru mid-March
March
Humana Festival of New American Plays, Louisville, Kentucky - March
Mal's St. Paddy's Parade (with Sweet Potato Queens), Jackson, Mississippi - Saturday after March 17
South by Southwest Music Festival, Austin, Texas - mid-March
April
Spamarama, Austin, Texas - 1st Saturday in April
Patriots Day, Boston, Lexington, Concord, Massachusetts - 3rd Monday in April
Vermont Maple Festival, St. Albans, Vermont - last weekend in April
Tulip Time Festival, Holland, Michigan - late April thru May
Eeyore's Birthday Party, Austin, Texas - last Saturday in April
May
Kentucky Derby, Louisville, Kentucky - 1st Saturday in May
Preakness Week, Baltimore, Maryland - 2nd week in May
Miles City Bucking Horse Sale, Miles City, Montana - 3rd weekend in May
Caramoor Music Festival, Katonah, New York - May thru October
Indianapolis 500, Indianapolis, Indiana - Memorial Day
Kerrville Folk Festival, Kerville, Texas - late May thru mid-June
June
Sandcastle Competition, Galveston, Texas - 1st Saturday in June
Naval Academy Graduation, JuneWeek, Annapolis, Maryland - June
Bill Monroe's Bluegrass Festival, Bean Blossom, Indiana - week leading up to Father's Day
U.S. Open, Torrey Pines, California - week leading up to Father's Day
Bluegrass Festival, Telluride, Colorado - mid-June
Tanglewood, Lenox, Massachusetts - late June thru September
Ravinia Festival, Highland Park, Illinois - June thru August
July
Boston Harborfest, Boston, Massachusetts - early July
Vermont Brewers Festival, Burlington, Vermont - July
National Baseball Hall of Fame Game & Induction Ceremonies - Cooperstown, New York - 3rd week in July
Pony Round-up and Swim, Chicoteague, Virginia - last Wed-Thurs in July
Maine Lobster Festival, Rockland, Maine - late July
Fingerlakes Wine Festival, Watkins Glen, New York - late July
Pro Football Hall of Fame, Canton, Ohio - late July thru early August
Oregon Brewers Festival - last full weekend in July
August
Virginia Highlands Festival, Abingdon, Virginia - early August
JVC Jazz Festival, Newport, Rhode Island - mid-August
Montana Cowboy Poetry Gathering, Lewistown, Montana - mid-August
Monarch Butterfly Migration, Tilghman Island, Eastern Shore, Maryland - August
Burning Man, Black Rock City, Nevada - late August thru early September
September
Harwich Cranberry Festival, Harwich, Massachusetts - September
Napa Valley & Sonoma County Harvest, California - September thru November
World Chicken Festival, London, Kentucky - late September
Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration, Shelbyville, TN - late August to early September
Sante Fe Wine & Chile Fiesta, Sante Fe, New Mexico - late September
October
Waterford Fair, Waterford, Virginia - 1st weekend in October
A Return to the Albuqueque International Balloon Fiesta, Albuquerque, New Mexico - early October
National Storytelling Festival, Jonesborough, Tennessee - early October
Arkansas Blues & Heritage Festival, Helena, Arkansas - early October
Bridge Day Festival, Fayetteville, West Virginia - 3rd Saturday in October
Food & Wine Festival, The American Club, Kohler, Wisconsin - October
November
December
The Army-Navy Football Game - early December
Throughout Year
Visit the Lighthouses of the Great Lakes
Mackinac Island, Michigan
Dinner at the Inn at Little Washington, Washington, Virginia
Dinner at the French Laundry, Yountville, California
Attend performance at the Mountain Stage, Charleston, West Virginia
Visit Branson, Missouri
Tour Missouri Wine Country, Hermann, Missouri
Attend performance at the Grande Old Opry, Nashville, Tennessee
Play golf at Pebble Beach, Torrey Pines, The Broadmoor, The American Club, the Robert Trent Jones Trail, Pinehurst, Harbourtown, Palm Springs, Bandon Dunes and many many more...
Attend performance of Austin City Limits, Austin, Texas (spring and fall)
See the wondrous natural parks/sites, like Big Bend National Park, Glacier National Park, Yosemite National Park, Big Basin Redwoods State Park, Redwood National Parks, Crater Lake National Park, Great Smoky Mountains National Park,