A lot has been written recently about why now - more than ever - is the time to travel. I couldn’t agree more. In my opinion, it is always time to travel.
Travel is one of the most essential elements of my life. Hardly a day goes by that I am not planning - or dreaming - about an upcoming adventure. My wish list of travel destinations is about a mile long, and I'm constantly adding more. I can't stop. But it's not the luxury hotels, hot new restaurant or the days spent relaxing by the pool that I'm obsessing over. Sure, they may slip into the itinerary and I'll enjoy every minute of that along the way. But what I truly crave is the opportunity to experience something unknown - the feeling you get when you are in a different place, maybe you don't know the language or have gotten lost trying to find the restaurant you set out to find for dinner. Slightly unnerving and completely exhilarating. It's the excitement of finding myself in a completely new place and challenging myself to figure it out. To get the best out of each place - the food, the people, the culture, the hikes, the beaches... For me, my most accomplished feeling is enjoying a destination to it's fullest. And I don't mean necessarily seeing every "must visit" tourist destination, but rather exploring at my pace, chatting with locals to discover hidden gems not in the guidebooks - and really uncovering the essence of a place.
Travel helps me appreciate all I am fortunate to have at home, while simultaneously opening my eyes to the great wide world out there. Travel reminds me of how vulnerable I am and pushes me out of my comfort zone. Travel challenges me to be patient, adaptable and go with the flow. Travel makes me compassionate. Travel teaches these lessons, while also making the world a smaller and more connected place. And trying new-to-me (preferably spicy!) foods, discovering inspiration in foreign cultures and adventuring in gorgeous new landscapes are the icing on top of the cake.
Travel has taught me that I am an explorer at heart. I’m looking forward to sharing my discoveries and recommendations here, hopefully inspiring you to take that trip, go somewhere new, and learn something about yourself. Come wander with me!
