A couple weeks ago when Nick and I were enjoying a morning walk in our neighborhood, we were talking about our trip to Charleston and Savannah, which we just got home from.  I was saying how excited I was for this trip as it was the first new spot we’d traveled to in a while.  And as we got to thinking about it, we had done all repeat destinations or places we’ve been to a lot for the past six months of our travels.  Our last “new” location was Provence last July, but even then, we’ve been to France a lot and were somewhat comfortable there.  The more I thought about it, there is an excitement different than any other when you’re looking forward to exploring a new destination and traveling someplace new.

I’ll be honest with you, this last year I’ve been seriously lacking in inspiration.  And for a number of reasons, what I used to gain in inspiration from travel has somewhat died down, mostly due to the fact that our schedule has been crazy and our time in new places pretty slim as of late.  And while I loved all the places we traveled to last year, there is just something different and inspiring about a new place that you fall deep in love with.

I do like to be a proponent for going back to places you love when traveling and I’ve written about that in the past, but there is just something really inspiring about traveling someplace new.  While visiting old favorites is great and I think as travelers we need to promote that more, instead of just checking places off of a list, the true intoxication of a new place to a traveler is truly a feeling that you can’t compete with.

This past week exploring Charleston and Savannah, two places that I’ve been wanting to get to for a really long time and places that I feel hard for, the highs of seeing new things, new buildings, new restaurants, new streets, new cultures, new people… that is what travel is about for me.  It’s about feeling uncomfortable but taking advantage of it, it’s about taking in all the new things and adding those memories to your story, it’s about trying new things and getting a little bit lost and finding inspiration in the newness around you.  The sensation of seeing a place for the first time is a powerful thing and is what propels many of us to keep traveling, to keep seeing new places and meeting new people because it keeps us alive and ignites that fire inside of us to see this beautiful world we call home and take home a little bit of inspiration from every new place we see.

So the next time you book a trip, maybe don’t go to that place you always go – branch out a little, find someplace new, get out of your comfort zone and explore more of this planet. Be inspired, push your boundaries and get out of your normal routines in spots you visit often.  And while sometimes, going back to old favorites is well worth our time and efforts for the feelings of comfort, the excitement of seeing some place new will always leave you feeling as if you have discovered the world’s greatest treasure, plus you’ll bring back a sense of fulfillment that will inspire you even further.