I just don’t understand people that don’t want to travel.

I personally know people that have never left their county. Most of the people I know haven’t left their state, or at the most, their region.

I don’t understand! Help me!

This world we live on has so many amazing things to see, so many places to go, so many things to do. Why wouldn’t you want to?

I’ll address the number one reason people say they don’t travel – money. The argument is that it just costs too much.

Travel can be expensive…but it doesn’t have to be.

Every state has multitudes of national parks and campgrounds. If you can’t afford even a tent, take enough food and water for a few hours, and explore the parks nearby where you live.

If you have time and money to go somewhere overnight, explore what is within driving distance – I think you’ll be surprised by what you can find.

I loved being an Air Force Brat. It taught me about the big, wide world out there. Travel is great – moving, not so much. So I take advantage of any opportunity to travel.

If you don’t have a lot of money but have a destination you want to go to, then plan and save for it. Mark it on your calendar, and start putting away what you can toward a trip. It may take you a year or more to get there, but it will be worth it. Use the Internet, talk to friends that travel – definitely do your research, so you have the best trip possible.

One of our favorite modes of traveling is on a cruise ship. Sailing from a port less than 6 hours from where we live, we have explored the Mayan ruins in Tulum, we have swam in The Caribbean, we have wandered in Aruba and Curaçao. We have snorkeled in Roatan, and cruised down a jungle river in Belize. Great, affordable trips can be found on cruise lines – again, do your research!

Last year we went to see my bonus son and daughter in love in Germany, where he was stationed. On the way, it gave us a chance to see Paris. I loved it! While I waited for my husband to join me from London where he was working, I explored the city. Leaving our charming boutique hotel, I walked to the Eiffel Tower. I walked along the Seine, people watching and buying local art. Of course we went to the Louvre, but also other museums, and toured the magnificent Notre Dame, and walked from there down the Champs-Elysees. We packed so much fun into the two days we were in Paris.

Onward to Germany, where we explored the Black Forest, and drove on to Switzerland. Even in winter, the magnitude of the beauty of the Alps cannot be explained. It was a life enriching experience – many new places, foods, and historical sites were enjoyed to the fullest.

It was my second trip to Europe- the first was a few years ago, when my husband was working there. On a whirlwind of planned adventures, we explored London, Bath, Stonehenge, Salisbury, and Cardiff, Wales. It was so exciting, meeting new people, and exploring other cultures.

We have trips planned this year, both near and far. Some are back to favorite places, like New Orleans, and some involve new adventures, like Progresso, Mexico.

I encourage you to step outside of your comfort zone, and broaden your horizons. No matter what your budget is, there is some place you can go that is new to you. Explore it. Seize the day!

*and London, Bath, Salisbury, Cardiff, Triberg, Frankfurt, Interlaken, Grindelwald

**and St Maarten, St Martin, Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Belize, Roatan, Jamaica, St John, Grand Turk, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Aruba, Curaçao

***and multitudes of parks, mountains, and seashores in the United States