5 Things: Places You Should Go Before You Die
Life is unpredictable. So, start planning now!
This is not one of those lists where I tell you about the amazing places I think you should travel to. I could give you a list of my favorite places I have visited and the things I have experienced on my travels, and I have been privileged to be able to go on some AMAZING adventures, but the important thing is not to travel to places that I love and think you should too or to the hottest places on some yearly list a travel writer at Conde Nast Traveler or Travel + Leisure created based on who knows what algorithm. What is paramount is that you go and explore, near and far, familiar and dreamed about, soon and sooner!
Travel is many things to many people. I used to think that travel was the key to opening minds and creating more accepting, educated, cultured people. However, I have changed my mind. It can do those things. Or it can simply be a way to unwind, relax, and let loose. This is vacationing really, and there is nothing wrong with that, but travel, to me, is different. Travel is getting a taste of the food, the history, the culture, the land, really exploring and mingling with the people who live in the places you are visiting. I live to travel, but I am also a huge fan of staying at home. These two things would seem to be at odds, and they are, but the part of me that yearns to travel and see the world, wins out over the me that greatly dislikes flying and enjoys staying at home.
So, here is my list of 5 places you should travel before you die. And when I say this, I mean life is completely unknowable and unpredictable which means you need to start planning and picking dates now. Do not wait! Yes, travel is expensive. It is, and unfortunately, these days, prices just keep going up, and there are still ways to save, but you will never regret going on a trip! So, here you go:
A place you have been dreaming of forever…or maybe you just found your dream destination. For some, that could be the Grand Canyon or the Florida Keys or Detroit and for others it could be Japan or Canada or Croatia or a trillion other places. THERE ARE NO WRONG ANSWERS HERE! Wherever the place is that you have been wanting to go, start planning your trip. Make a budget, research, figure how much time you need, find ways to save and splurge. And then…pick dates, and do it!
A Place that brings you peace. You’re going to see a trend in this list. There are no right or wrong answers on what you choose in this list! This is about you! For me, I could choose Naniboujou Lodge waaaay up on the North Shore of Minnesota, which is a day’s drive from my home, or I could choose County Antrim in Northern Ireland or Rum Point on Grand Cayman Island…one is closer and much cheaper than the other two, but do you see a theme here….I did not even plan it out this way, I just typed what popped into my mind. Clearly, coastlines bring me peace! There is nothing wrong with this place being somewhere you have been many time or someplace that is quite near to your home. It’s about the surroundings that bring you peace!
A Place Near Your Home that You Have Been Meaning to Explore and Never Have. I love exploring my home cities! Yes, I have Twin Cities and a whole metroplex, but believe me, I can find fun, funky, fascinating places anywhere on the map! So, there is no excuse whether you live in a tiny village, out in the country, in a “boring” suburban city, or whether you’ve lived there for eons. There are always things to find, explore, experience, and learn about. This is an awesome way to learn about your own community and the people who live there now, who founded it, and who originally lived on the land that you inhabit. It’s a wonderful way to support local businesses and local and state attractions too. So, get out there and begin scouting out your next adventure….which brings me to my next point.
An Adventure! So, what is an adventure? Well, for me, it would involve doing something I have not done before, pushing my boundaries a bit. I love nature, but I have not always loved being outdoors. Over the year, I pushed my boundaries to hike, kayak, snorkel, ride a horse down a cliff, and go up to the top of tall buildings and mountains. However, I’d say an adventure is anything you want it to be, but I think there should be some degree of excitement to it, don’t you?
A Place You’ve Been Before and Loved and Wanted to Go Back. Oh, this is always the debate for our family. Go back to a place we all loved or explore new places? When your travel is on a budget, this gets asked numerous times. We have traveled back to some places when we can swing it, but generally we go to a new place. However, there is something so warm and lovely about going to a place you’ve been once before or dozens of times. There is a comfort in knowing how the faucet is a little tricky or that the mattress is soft and knowing where the best place for a meal is or where to buy groceries for the best price or to the best place to snorkel from the shores or what the weather is like in the evening or the best place for a sunset or what the sky looks like in the pitch black of night. I would like us to start doing more of this, and cherish the memories of places like this.
Questions about the economy and job stability will always be there, the regular monthly bills will keep on coming, yes, we all have to put money back for retirement and kids’ college funds, and rainy day savings balances, but there is also the here and the now, and I have never regretted our travels…ever! We did not always have much money for travel, and I’m not sure we do now, but my husband and I went into debt in order to have a honeymoon in Aspen, CO, the week before Christmas and New Year’s Day, following our day after Christmas weeding, arguably the most expensive time to get married and honeymoon in the mountains. Oh, we were poor college/law school students and we stayed in the cheapest place I could find, and then ate, skied, window shopped, and dog sledded like we were royalty. After almost 26 years of marriage, I can say it was totally worth it, and we have never been sorry we did it!
So, make wise choices, but figure out ways to go on even small trips and adventures. Spend less on clothes and furnishings, mow your own lawn, do your own minor handywork around the house, drive your cars for many years, these are the ways we do it. You can also look for ways to cut costs on your trip like traveling during shoulder months, staying in budget friendly lodgings, not going to the trendiest places on travel lists, making your own list, away from the madding crowds seeking the coolest locales on this planet. Do go to local eateries, little hole in the wall places, buy food at grocery stores and make picnics or charcuterie meals, pick a couple of splurges and then go cheap or free on other things. It can be done. The most important part is that you start planning!
Over and out…
Anna
I love this list! It is especially meaningful because it doesn't tell me where to go but helps me think about where I want to travel and reminisce about the places I have been.