I love travel. It’s one of my main spending priorities.
When I think of my preferred lifestyle, travel is something that needs to be involved. I’d rather travel than spend my money on almost anything else.
As my annual Spring Break road trip with my son approaches, I’ve been thinking about the reasons I love to travel — and I hope that they transfer to my son.
1. It’s Fun
There are few things as fun as travel. You get to do something out of your ordinary schedule. Everything is different, and you get to try new things. The break from normal provides novelty, and that can be a lot of fun just because you’re doing something unusual. Travel provides you with the chance to just have fun, often without worrying about whether or not you should be doing something else.
2. You See New Things
I love to see and experience new things. My son really enjoyed a hike last year that led to us seeing some Native American pictographs. There are a number of ways to see the world in a new way, but travel is one of the best ways to do this. From seeing different scenery, to seeing different people, travel provides you with the chance to get out of your comfort zone and broaden your horizons.
3. Meet New People
It can be fun to meet new people — or even to meet up with old friends in new surroundings. We often spend part of our Spring Break road trip with my sister and her family. That’s a fun way to see people we know in an unusual setting. When everyone’s (mostly) relaxed and on vacation, you see a different side to them.
And, of course, with travel you have the opportunity to make news friends. I still keep in contact with many of the people I met on a foreign exchange to Austria 15 years ago. These are great people who I would never have met without traveling.
4. Interaction with the World Around You
Sometimes, it’s great to interact with the world around you. Getting out there and being in the world can energize you, as well as give you the chance to expand your own ideas. Interaction with the world around you can also foster curiosity and lifelong learning.
One of the things I try to do when my son travels with me is to encourage him to put the gadgets away for part of the trip and really look at what’s happening around him. We talk about the geology of the area we’re passing through, or we talk about its history. There’s usually plenty to see, and do, when you are willing to look around you.
5. I Can Really Let Go
In my “real life” at home, there are certain expectations for me, and roles to fulfill. Going on a trip allows me to just let go, and not worry about all of those obligations. While I might still have to get some work done, and while I’m still a mother (especially when I travel with my son) and wife, you can let down your guard a little when you travel.
Try activities and foods that are new. Remember that life can be fun. Traveling allows me to do these things.
I love traveling for the history too Shelley. I never would have thought I would enjoy Roman history, until I visited Rome. I fell in love with it. I think travel can open us up to a whole new outlook on life.
I get interested in the history and the customs of places we visit, something that probably wouldn’t interest me as much had I not been. Travel is our biggest expenditure and we make sacrifices in other areas in order to fund it.