2025 was quite the year. There definitely were some bad things, but instead of focusing on those, reflecting on the best parts of my year is definitely more exciting. Everyone has different opinions on their year’s best things, but here are mine.

Best Vacation

My family and I love a good vacation. This year, my favorite was my vacation to Spain, during August. When in Spain, I went to multiple different places. When I was much younger, I went to Barcelona, so this year, I went to Madrid and San Sebastian, and had different day trips to places like Toledo and Biarritz, France. My favorite place I went to was San Sebastian, because I am a MAJOR beach person, and going on a trip to a beach town in Spain was such an out of body experience. The food there was incredible too – tapas every night and going to new restaurants and seeing all the different cultures. I spent all day in the sand or shopping; two of my favorite things. The stores were incredible and the clothing and jewelry was so unique. I didn’t get to it unfortunately, but there was surfing and swimming as well! I went into the beautiful vibrant ocean very often. The beaches are super crowded, but when you get a spot, it is 100% worth it. Madrid was also a super fascinating and cultural place. The food was unique and delicious, the city streets were interesting and architecture was beautiful. The plants surrounding the cities were enchanting and so calming. I went to many museums, and as someone who cannot stand them, it’s safe to say I really enjoyed seeing the art and architecture. One of my favorites was the museum Reina Sofia.

Best Skiing

In 2025, I went skiing quite a few times. My family loves skiing around the world, so I’ve experienced some great mountains. In 2025, the best mountain I skied was 100% Jackson Hole. I skied in some of the most beautiful places, like Zermatt and the Dolomites, But Jackson Hole, Wyoming, definitely takes the cake. The skiing, the views, the food, and the community. As someone who has been skiing since a very young age, and has a lot of experience, Jackson Hole is a powdery and fresh mountain, great for tree skiing and adventurers. There are so many places to go and so many things to do. The mountain is in a small somewhat isolated town, making getting to the mountain very easy if you are staying nearby. Every place in town is close to each other, and easy to access. There are different resorts nearby, my favorite being Grand Targhee. This mountain is in the same area, so I count them as one. Both locations are super fun, and there is never a dull moment skiing there. If you are experienced, a ski lover, enjoy a good tree run, and powder days get you hype, this is definitely a place to look into.

Best Album (Made in 2025)

Throughout last year, I went through so many different music phases. One that constantly stayed was my love for SZA. In 2025, SZA didn’t make an entirely new album, but she released the second part of the deluxe version of her hit album SOS: LANA. The first part of the album SOS came out in December of 2022, the first deluxe part

came out in December of 2024, and the second part came out in February of 2025. The last portion came with 4 new songs. Even though the album’s entirety is not new, the album itself has always been very important to me. SZA seems to get things across so clearly. Even for songs I don’t necessarily relate to, I still am able to enjoy those songs. Her music truly is for everyone, and I’d be super surprised to hear if someone hated it. My favorite that came out in the new release was Open Arms (solo version). The song was originally sung with Travis Scott, but SZA’s solo version feels so much more personal and connectable. This album is super good, and I’d definitely recommend.

Best Concert

2025 was definitely my best year of concerts. I saw so many talented artists, and enjoyed each of their concerts. Out of the few I saw, It’s going to have to be a tie between The Weeknd and Tate McRae. The Weeknd was one of my favorites because of the energy and Abe’s incredible vocals . The energy in the room was truly incredible because even if some people didn’t know all the lyrics, there was jumping, cheering and laughter. Everyone was so happy to be there. Some artists have the problem of sounding incredibly different in person vs. their recorded songs. Abel didn’t have this issue. His vocals are genuinely incredible and his ability to excite and impress the crowd was truly amazing. Playboi Carti opened for him, and everyone had a similar reaction. He was so high energy and the vibes in the room were immaculate. I also really enjoyed the experience as a whole. My mom decided to take my sisters and I down to Philly last minute because we missed him when he was in New York. I had so much fun with my sisters and it was such a fun bonding experience.

I also really enjoyed Tate’s concert, because of her stage presence and her talent. Her lyrics and songs are so relatable and screaming them with her in person was so exciting. I went with 2 of my friends, and honestly I’ve never had so much fun. Everyone was in sequins, jerseys, and glitter. Everyone there was so sweet to each other and bonded over their love of her music. She is an extremely talented dancer and singer. She grew up with a major dance background, and it was very clear how talented she was. Her music is incredible too. I knew some of her old songs, but went to the concert with less knowledge on the recent album. But due to her immaculate performance, the second I walked out of MSG, all I would listen to was Tate McRae. She quickly grew to being my top artist on Spotify last year, and I love her so much. Her opener, Zara Larsson, is also super talented and I used to always listen to her music. I love her y2k vibe and her songs from 2016, that bring back so much nostalgia for me. Both these concerts and all of these artists are super incredible.

Best Movie/Series (Came Out in 2025)

This year, I watched a lot of old movies. I only watched a few made in 2025, but one of my favorites of  definitely Hamnet, based off of Shakespeare’s son, and his play “Hamlet“. Without spoiling, the movie is about Shakespeare and his wife, and their journey into love and parenthood. The movie has some eeriness, and sometimes is hard to understand, but it the end it is super emotional and definitely a great movie. The actors and actresses did an amazing job taking in the roles and portraying them in a way that we can really feel what’s going on. The movie is super detailed, and really captures in what life would look like back then. I will say, that I wouldn’t watch this movie if you dislike old writing. They speak old English, and sometimes understanding what they’re saying can get confusing. But if that does not matter, and you have the patience, the movie is great and very enjoyable. Hope you bring your tissues!!

And thats a wrap on my 2025! Definitely great year on new releases.