Travel Far

I’ve got the travel bug and it cannot be cured!

Some people work to get the latest and greatest gadgets and gizmos, I work so I can travel. I absolutely love exploring new and unfamiliar places – learning the history and mystery behind every new discovery.

I’m so fortunate to come from a family that enjoys traveling – we did it often! Whether it was a trip to Hawaii to experience an authentic Polynesian Luau, a tour of Washington D.C. to learn about our nation’s great history, or a family drive to Ohio to visit our extended family – my brothers and I always knew we would leave our Iowa world behind two times a year, to get out and see the rest of the country!

The love of travel has stayed with me and gotten deeper and deeper every year. My first taste of international travel came in high school when I got the chance to go to Europe – more specifically Germany and Denmark. Exploring churches hundreds and hundreds of years old and touring homes of famous historical figures really puts into perspective how young the United State is compared to the rest of the world. Plus, I’ll never forget my first taste of authentic, German bratwurst, or the cultural differences that make Europeans, Europeans!

 

Asakusa Temple Entrance

My next big adventure came when I lived in Japan for a summer in college. For a history lover, this was seriously a dream.come.true. Forget about hundreds of years of history – we’re talking thousands of years here!! The Japanese culture is so mysterious and intriguing, you really have to go there to understand it – or actually, learn that you’ll never understand it. Japanese people have a world all their own. Truly, since I left, there hasn’t been a day that goes by where I haven’t thought about Japan. I literally could go on and on and on…you could say I’m certifiably obsessed! 

 

Redwoods in Muir Woods

While, in my opinion, going abroad is really necessary to learn about different cultures, see how other people live and gain an appreciation for the planet, travel doesn’t necessarily have to be international to be great. Some of the most beautiful and interesting places in the world are right in our backyards here in the US. The redwood forests in California contain some of the oldest, tallest trees on earth. The swamps of the south contain animals that were living when the dinosaurs roamed the earth. And sunsets over the Grand Canyon are rivaled by few others.

 

 

Beautiful Central Park

Honestly, every place I go I consider a “favorite” but my favorites among favorites include Japan, Toronto, New York City, and any place in California (see here!) Destinations on my need to see list include: Greece (thanks Mama Mia for fueling this obsession!), Italy, the South of France, Alaska and India. Watch out Samantha Brown!