I need to make a travel bucket list.

Us in Paris. June, 2016.

See, I didn't grow up traveling. My childhood was wonderful and full of adventure, but our family wasn't one for going far for that adventure. We had an almost yearly visit to Florida, trips to Illinois, Tennessee or Indiana to see family and that was about it. My wife still finds it hard to believe that I've never been to either Disneyworld or Disneyland. We were always busy with school, sports or work and seeing family just took precedence.

There was a trip to Mount Rushmore once. I was young and don't remember the details but can still see those stone mountain heads in my mind. There was a magic quality to those massive busts that enthralled me. That magic feeling is what I'm still chasing when I head out to a new country. A certain wide-eyed wonder that only seeing the world through those kid-like eyes can bring.

Lately, we've been dreaming of taking more exotic trips so we've started making a bucket list to help guide us in our adventures. Kim is a beach lover so we're combing through lists of best beaches and dreaming big. I'm more of an urban or cold weather traveler so basically I've tagged Iceland and the Nordic regions. Needless to say, it's a bit slow going. There's going to be a lot of compromise, a must for any marriage.

Travel Bucket List Resources

One of my new favorite apps is Journi. A simple way to keep track of where you've been, what you're doing while there, and a way to let people know about your adventures. The virtual passport map is probably my favorite part. Each country you visit gives you a stamp to fill up a map of the world. The adventurer in me wants to color the entire thing.

I also like to watch travel videos on Vimeo for inspiration. There's nothing like seeing others experience new places. That visual look into a trip really whets my appetite to pack a bag and go.

You can't forget the classic resources like bucketlist.org, which is invaluable for finding perfect places to achieve those hard to check off items. For now I think I'm going to get more comfortable with going to the beach. There's plenty of beaches I've yet to go to and those passport stamps don't stamp themselves.

What are some of your more exotic bucket list locations?

London is a beautiful city. It's galleries and museums hold countless treasures from the ancient and modern world. But what happens when you try to see all the art in London in one single day? Well, Alex Gorush tried to find out.

In a clever bit of marketing for the National Art Pass, Gorush rushed to visit all the art in London in a single 24 hour period. From the Tate Modern to my personal favorite, the Victoria & Albert Museum, we get a look inside some of the worlds greatest displays of art, just very quickly. Although my favorite piece of art, Kandinsky's "Red-Yellow-Blue", 1925, is housed in Paris' Musée National d’Art Moderne, Centre Georges Pompidou, my favorite glass sculpture is in London's  V&A. The rotunda chandelier by Dale Chihuly is absolutely breathtaking and a must see if you're in London. With something for everyone, London really is an art lovers destination.

A Wing A Day

In 2007 I spent a month in London as part of my first extended stay outside the US. I had made some friends in the city but they all worked during the day so I made a new plan. Each morning I took a new wing of a museum or gallery and thoroughly went through it. From historical treasures in the British Museum to troves of silhouettes in the National Portrait Gallery, I experienced a crash course in art history. It was the opposite of what Gorush did in the video above and it was absolutely amazing.

It seems like so long ago now but I can still feel the creative rush I had when browsing through Soviet propaganda posters at the Tate Modern. The bold lettering, imposing faces and harsh colors still take me back to that day. I also found my personal favorite bathroom on what I think was floor 4. Seriously, check it out.

Art For Inspiration

Whether you see it fast or slow, there's not many things better for a creative kick in the ass than seeing masterworks of art. There's a great run of museums and galleries in Houston that I don't visit often enough, even though most of them are free at least one day a week. So take the time to see the art that's around you. London and Paris are wonderful but if you don't appreciate the art in your own area, you probably won't appreciate it anywhere else.

London. One of the worlds truly great cities. From Piccadilly Circus to Paddington, the Tower of London to Hampstead Heath, there's something for everyone in the United  Kingdom's capital city. So as you prepare to get lost in Camden Market or wander around Soho, here's a few movies to get you acquainted with London.

Love Actually

One of the quintessential British romantic comedies of the 2000's, Richard Curtis' Love, Actually packs pretty much every well-known British film star of the time into a somehow workable plot that is equal parts funny and romantic. Sporting stars like Colin Firth,  Emma Thompson, Bill Nighy and Hugh Grant, the real star is the city itself. With scenes in Heathrow Airport, Selfridges, Trafalgar Square and Grosvenor Chapel, Love, Actually is a fun starting point for any London cinematic journey.

Match Point

Known more for films in New York City, Woody Allen's thrilling tale of love, intrigue and betrayal in London might just be some of his best work of the era. Match Point stars Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Emily Mortimer romping around Chelsea, Covent Garden, Belgravia and the Tate Modern. Much more of a thrilling affair, Match Point will keep you guessing until the very end.

Breaking And Entering

Keeping with the same thematics as Match Point, Anthony Minghella's Breaking And Entering features Jude Law, Juliette Binoche and Rafi Gavron living and working in the Kings Cross area of London. A story of immigrants from Sarajevo who've settled into a part of London caught in the throes of gentrification, the Rowley Way building Gavron's character lives in may be a bit familiar to fans of 2014's Kingsman: The Secret Service.

An Education

The first of the two period films on the list, Lone Scherfig's An Education features Carey Mulligan as young woman in the 1960's that is seduced by an older man. With scenes set in Soho, Ealing and Twickenham, the Guardian named it one of their "10 Best Films Set In London." A moving coming-of-age film, An Education looks at the suburban side of London and typical 60's family life. A must see.

Shaun Of The Dead

Also set in the suburbs of London, Shaun of the Dead kicks off director Edgar Wright's so-called Cornetto trilogy with all the blood, gore and laughter you can handle. Starring Simon Pegg and Nick Frost in a soon to be post apocalyptic zombie wasteland, Shaun of the Dead manages to look at the hum drum life of average London suburbanites content with spending all their time at home or in the pub. But, you know, with zombies and stuff. It's really good.

About Time

Another one from Richard Curtis, About Time mixes romance with time travel and family drama. Shot at locations along South Bank and in the Royal Courts of Justice, the film casually floats its sci-fi realm amidst the hustle and bustle of London. Featuring a great soundtrack, and the song that my wife and I first danced to at our wedding, About Time is a must see, especially if your planning to travel outside of London as well.

A Royal Night Out

For the history buff, 2015's A Royal Night Out looks at Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret as they join the country's celebration of V.E. Day in 1945. Rounding out the period films on the list, A Royal Night Out manages to show off World War II era London in all its splendor. Belvoir Castle in Leicestershire and Chatsworth House in Derbyshire serve as the interior of Buckingham Palace, but since they don't normally do tours, you'd probably never know the difference.

About A Boy

Adapted from Nick Hornby's coming-of-age tale, boy and man, About A Boy takes place in Islington in the book but for the film Clerkenwell does a fine stand in. Hugh Grant, Toni Collette and a young Nicholas Hoult are pitch perfect in this semi-dark comedy from the directors of American Pie (yes, that American Pie.)

With so many great options to choose from, I'm bound to have missed some great ones. Let me know which London movie is your favorite in the comments below.

It was June 29, 2007 and I was right in the middle of a one-month vacation in London. This was my first time in the United Kingdom and after 4 weeks in Birmingham I was ready to get out and experience all that the capital had to offer. I spent the evening listening to punk bands at a club called Barfly, then decided to walk back towards Trafalgar Square to catch a night bus out to Bethnal Green to my hostel. My path led me right into the Haymarket District where I had eaten a very gourmet version of Fish & Chips earlier in the evening. After a long bus ride I was finally sitting in my tiny room when I decided to check some e-mails.

That's when everything changed.

The Night Is Dark And Full of Terror

The newshound in me went straight to CNN where the top headline read "Bomb Found in London". I couldn't believe what I was reading. Just 15 minutes after I walked through the Haymarket District a car bomb was found and defused outside of the Tiger Tiger nightclub. A Google map search showed that I had walked right past where the car full of petrol and nails was found. The alley where it was parked was still fresh in my mind.

My body went numb. I read reports of how many people would have died if it had detonated. I was in one of the worlds largest cities, by myself and scared.

My hostel was in Hackney, East London. I watched TV for a while before I decided it was time to venture back out into the city. I hopped the tube and within minutes emerged at Oxford Circus. A typical London fog had taken over the day with a steady mist of rain falling. It was Pride weekend in London and there were lots of people dressed brightly, slowly filling the streets. I had never seen the city so quiet, especially right before a big parade day.

A City Asleep

People just shuffled along with shocked looks on their faces, staying close to friends and huddled under umbrellas. A haze of sadness and sorrow hung in the air. No bomb had gone off. No lives were lost during the incident, but it seemed the people of London had once again lost their innocence. Anguish was painted on their faces as clear as the rainbow flags on every street corner.

After a couple of hours of walking I finally pieced together the courage to head back towards Haymarket to see if I could find where the car was. Sure enough, I had walked directly past it. I can't really explain the feeling that came over me when I realized that if something had actually happened the night before, I very much could have been right in the midst of it. Mortality is not something I think about much, but that day it was the only thing in my head. I wanted to call my parents and tell them I loved them. Suddenly my choices over the past year felt stupid and trivial.

The rest of the day was pretty surreal and sedate. I shopped a little bit and then headed back and watched Big Brother with some of the other students at the hostel. Still, I couldn't shake this feeling that the city had changed somehow, suddenly and overnight.

Then the morning came.

Pride Changes Everything

The next morning I made my way up by the Houses of Parliament. Large crowds had formed for the Pride London parade. Just as suddenly as the city had slipped into its gloom, it shed it's coat for a sunny summer day of optimism and hope. There was no trace of the sorrow and angst from the day before. It's as if London was saying "You can't hurt me, you can't bring me down."

I left some of my innocence in Haymarket that day, but found hope amid a group of smiling revelers in the streets on a beautiful day after. London moves on.

It was the second time that I'd ventured to the United Kingdom so I decided to take a different route than normal. The plan was simple. Meet up with my group in Birmingham, spend a month there and then go solo to London. I booked a cheap flight on Air Canada from Houston to Heathrow through Toronto, in hopes of watching the USA take on England at Wembley, which didn't happen. Instead, I took a quick coach ride up to Brum. I'd never flown Air Canada before so I didn't really have any expectations. As long as I could take my pills and fall asleep fast, everything was gonna be alright. That was not the case.

The Beginning

When I boarded I made my way to what was the very last seat in the back of the airplane, you know, the one where you can sit and chat with the stewards and stewardess' the whole flight. I would say I wasn't thrilled but for the price that I got the ticket I should have expected something like this. Determined to make the best, I quickly introduced myself to Paul the Steward and asked if I could have an early bag of peanuts before the plane took off.

As I was munching on my five unsalted peanuts a young girl came and sat down in the window seat next to me. She was about 5' 9" and had gorgeous blond hair down the back of her neck. Suddenly the trip began to look more bearable. She introduced herself as Ivana, a twenty-something that had been studying in Toronto and was on her way back to her native Czech Republic. Her English was a bit hard to understand, but at least she was pleasant.

As we took off I slid my headphones over my ears and waited for my Dramamine to kick in. After a short time of sleeping I felt a gentle touch on my arm and awoke to find Ivana staring at me. She had pulled a book out of her bag and was eager to show me some different pictures and facts about the Czech Republic.

The Middle (Where I'm Usually Asleep)

I feel I should tell you my routine before long flights. Basically, I deprive myself of sleep for at least 24-30 hours, sit down in my assigned seat and crash into slumber until I arrive. Theoretically, this approach should work perfectly but has only been executed to perfection once. So when I step onto an airplane I'm usually completely exhausted and excited.

So as Ivana opened her book and began to show me some of the beautiful sights from Prague and the surrounding countryside, I was less than amused. I could barely understand what she was saying to begin with. Even though the pictures were intriguing, I just wasn't in the mood for story time.  After paying attention for way too long, our food came and was a welcome distraction. The next couple hours passed smoothly with little interruption but just as I began to doze off again I could hear Ivana's voice calling my name. I tried desperately to ignore it but I'm just not that rude of a person. As I looked over toward her I could tell she was staring intently out the little window. I leaned over to see just what she was so interested in.

Glaciers. Ice. Frozen Beauty.

I had always flown the southerly route from Newark to the UK and had never seen the vast expanse of ice and glaciers in the Northern Atlantic. I imagine what I was looking at was part of the edge of Greenland and, eventually, the area around Iceland. It was truly astounding and I couldn't stop looking out the little piece of glass that we were stuck behind.

The End

The rest of the trip went rather quickly with just a handful of words spoken between Ivana and I but I can't help but think of what I would have missed if I would have kept pretending to sleep.

Once we got to Heathrow, I walked with Ivana into the main terminal where we talked for a little bit until she had to catch her connecting flight. We shared a quick hug and I wished her good luck and safety as she flew on. She smiled and strolled off quickly with her little picture book in hand.

I wish I had that kind of enthusiasm for where I'm from. She was so proud of the Czech Republic that she kept a piece of it with her in her carry-on, a little reminder of who she was.

I hope she remembers sitting next to some punk American kid and staring out a little window at ice as much as I remember her telling me stories about her homeland. Turns out that Ivana means "God is gracious" and that's exactly what I remember when I think about flying from Toronto to London.