I had a general idea of the things I wanted to do and see in Scotland but it had honestly never occurred to me exactly how much there was to choose from. I wound up searching for things and landed on the Atlas Obscura page and that particular rabbit hole gave me over 700 choices.

I think rather than try to nail down every single thing I want to accomplish, I will choose the broadest possible categories and narrow down my must-sees to things along our road trip itinerary. My preferences include natural features, old architecture, and art of all types, and it would seem that Scotland is jammed full of this kind of thing.

I imagine rugged landscapes that stretch from vibrant green prairie land before falling dramatically to the sea on jagged cliffs. The images in my mind are cobbled from what I remember about the countryside in Ireland when I took a bus ride across the island. Time will tell if it is an apt comparison but my gut tells me it’s gonna be pretty spot on. I’ll just get to see a hell of a lot more of that kind of thing this time and with the incredible bonus of spending the whole time with my muse.

The many attractions around Scotland have been visited by countless folks before us and many of them have shared the pictures they took. I know from lived experience that these photos will help me make decisions but that the real thing will make the photos seem like a sick joke. The reality is always so much more intense in the moment that I will reserve my judgment until I’m standing there.

Spoiled for choice certainly applies here and we won’t get to see it all to be sure, but we may have a ready-made excuse to come back in the future.