Here’s my truth.
I love getting behind the wheel and dream of the open road.
There’s something about being in the outdoors that simply satisfies me in a way little else can.
For some strange reason, although I’ve never lived there, the West Coast of the U.S. always feels like home.
I like people—truly I do–but only in small doses.
I enjoy artistic, cosmopolitan cities but I also adore the charm of small towns.
I feel this insane sense of pride in our U.S. National Park System and it’s my goal to see all of the major parks in my lifetime.
Physical challenges empower me.
I rarely travel to meet old friends, only to make new ones.
Every once in a while, I need to stay in one place but sometimes, I just need to go.
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Yesterday, I booked my flights for travel this summer and for the first time in over a year, I am excited.
Stomach-quivering excited.
Won’t-stop-thinking-about-it excited.
Can’t-wait excited.
It’s been a while since I last felt this way and it feels so good to have my travel mojo back.
I’m not ready to talk about where my travel plans will take me just yet as my big trip this year is still a few months away and, as I’ve learned from experience, anything can happen between now and then. It doesn’t help I’m also the kind of person who likes to keep things close to the vest, but I’m cherishing these first moments of awakening, nursing fresh ideas, letting the seeds of inspiration fall where they may, and watching them take root.
Ultimately, my travel plans this year aren’t really about where I’m going; it’s about the how. And here’s how I’m traveling this year: true to myself and to what I believe. True to what I want to get from life and what I want to give to it. And isn’t that largely what solo travel is all about?
During the past year, I let the pressure of blogging about travel get to me. I thought that in order to produce compelling content for readers, I’d have to leave the country. So I did. Twice. But here’s another truth: what people find compelling is passion and right now, I’m passionate about traveling right here at home in the good ol’ U.S. of A.
So this year, I’m traveling my own truth. You’ve gotten some other clues about where the road will take me this year and I can’t wait until I can share all of the details with you. But until then, what I wanted most to say is that as you’re planning your own travel for this year, studying travel trends and finding out which destinations are hot might provide some inspiration, but at the end of the day, travel should be about what’s true to you.
What do you think? Agree? Disagree? Want to share some of your own travel truths? Share your thoughts below.
Your post has just perfectly stated what I have been feeling for quite awhile. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the USA and have grandiose plans of traveling to all fifty states and all the national parks in my lifetime. I have been thinking about going on a solo trip for quite awhile now and just have been too wimpy to do it and not sure where to go. I am inspired by you and other women who do solo travel. I love to road trip and the open road calls to me. I know that my first solo trip will be a road trip and I would love to hit a National Park. Traveling for me is about seeing the beauty that is in this world and being a photographer I always try to capture it. Travel is also about finding myself, the artistic, creative me, not the mom me or the wife me, both of which I love, but that small part of me that I can’t always show in my “regular” life. Thank you for being such an inspiration!
Sere–I can’t tell you how much your comment means to me. I’m so, so glad that this post resonated with you in a fundamental way and inspired you to get in touch with your heart. Hope you go on that first solo trip soon. Rock on. 🙂
I am thinking I might hit Gettysburg PA and Lancaster County for my first trip. I am a history buff and Civil War history in particular always interests me. It’s about a 15 hour drive for me so it’s not close. But once I decide to do something I am more of a plunger then a dip my feet in haha. Also I have not been to PA yet so I can add that to my fifty state list! Can’t wait to read about your travels!
Absolutely! Wherever you go, you bring yourself. And if you’re not present in the moment, getting whatever it is that’s important to you out of the experience, you lose authenticity and joy. Let’s face it, even if you traveled 24/7 for the next 50 years, you can still still be surprised without ever leaving one small pocket of the US. So there’s no point stressing about whether or not you get to different points on the map. Enjoy the journey!
I wholeheartedly agree with your post Marsha. Travel and indeed travel blogging by extension is and should be about you and exploring your horizons with the intent of going beyond them. That means going beyond the everyday routine of our normal lives which includes living up to other people’s expectations of us whether they be our friends, family or society in general.
Travel has at its roots a personal journey for all us and I believe that travel blogging is really about recording that journey for posterity as a way of leaving our mark on the world. I can’t speak for other people but what I like most about you blog and when I think about it, all other travel blogs that I subscribe to is when you are the most real with yourself when you are out there on your travels. Everybody for example can climb the Eiffel Tower. It’s really easy to do. But I want to know your experience of climbing the Eiffel Tower and your interpretation of it and I enjoy reading about your experiences whether good or bad because I can empathize with all of them.
All of that said, it doesn’t really matter to me whether your content is US based or international, so long as it’s authentic, it’s you and it comes from the heart. I believe whilst you keep doing that, you really can’t go wrong.
Wise words, yet again. Seriously, Matt, you’re just awesome. 🙂
I think you are very right. Sometimes I feel that people travel just for travel sake and do not go where they really want too. Sometimes I feel that travel bloggers do this unfortunately but I hope I am wrong. I am very pleased to see that you are travelling for you and not to entertain the likes of me. 🙂
I am excited and very curious about where you are off to in the summer and through out the year.
For me, one of my travel truths is that I don’t like to be hassled in travel. I really like comfort but don’t care about style. So, on a train I prefer first class not because of the amenities or status but because it is comfortable and the staff generally leave you alone. With accomodations, I do enjoy hostels but am not willing to just stay anywhere to save a few dollars. I HATE grandoise hotels though (unless I am there for high tea) as I find them a waste of my cash but I do like to feel comfortable and for me that is a soft bed, European style feel and a clean bathroom. If a hostel provides this, I am there! Shockingly though, when I travel food is not a big deal for me. I will eat what I can. I am not about tasting local customs or exactly what that country is famous for.
Another travel truth for me is that I LOVE travelling alone because I like people but man, I get irritated way too often. I need my space at least once a day. Also, when I travel I am not a huge fan of staying out late and partying. After about 2 days of this, no more! My last travel truth is I prefer to pay extra to fly on a better airline. IE, I would rather fly Lufthansa than Ai transat. To me, the extra $300 is SO worth it.
Seems like you and I have similar travel tastes. I have no love for swanky hotels, either–they’re nice for people who are willing to spend their money on them. Looks like you have a very good idea about what makes you happy and comfortable when you travel. Good for you, Rhona! Looking forward to hearing all about your adventures this year. 🙂
Brilliant, Marsha. I can absolutely relate to the pressures of travel blogging making you feel like you have to do things that aren’t really “you”. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to explore the US–it’s huge, it’s diverse, it has amazing natural wonders in it, and it’s worth talking about. Most importantly, at the end of the day, we all want to be happy, so we have to do what makes us happy. I personally think that when a destination excites us, it shows in our writing. If we’re there because we felt like it was expected of us, then it feels more like work than play, and that’s going to show in our writing too.
And it’s not even that I mind traveling abroad…my heart is just *here* right now. I try to visit the West Coast at least once a year and I missed out last year and something just feels missing. So I’m going to head out there this year…and it just feels so right. Thanks for the support! 🙂
From what I can gather it looks like you’ve got a big road trip planned out, visiting some U.S National parks. And I think your right, if your passionate about where your going your readers will be engaged.
Your post pretty much sums up why I want to take a solo trip to New Orleans this year (I still don’t have the how part worked out yet). But I’ve had a lot of friends offer me chances to travel to other places, and I’ve turned them down. I know this trip is one I want to take by myself. If I choose to go somewhere else with a friend, because it’s “easier” I’ll be letting myself down.
Your guess is a very good one, Alouise, and it’s true–there will be a road trip and some Nat’l Parks involved. I’m just waiting to get some more of the details hammered out before I share all. Stay tuned! As for your trip to New Orleans–congrats! You’ve been wanting to go for at least a year (or as long as I’ve known you) so I hope this is the year you can make it happen…laissez les bontemps rouler!