I find that with each trip and each adventure that Nick and I take, my idea of travel in general changes bit by bit. As a kid, I saw travel as fun, as a way to spend time with my family and to see different places without any true emotional realizations, after all I was just a kid. Then when I was traveling to Korea for work a lot straight out of college, I saw travel as an exotic adventure, work hard and play harder: spend all day at the office, then head out and experience Seoul at night, exploring the city streets and hip neighborhoods. Then when Nick and I got married and we started traveling more and more, I saw it as a unique adventure between us, a way to see the world together, to take risks, see all we could and experience different places. Now at almost 29 years old, I see travel as a way to expand our knowledge, a way to connect with places in our world on an emotional level, a way to find spots on this globe that feel entirely right, places that move us, that bring emotions out of us that not every place can, to feel and be inspired and learn. A way to find those places on this planet that speak to us, that give us that feeling you can’t quite explain but almost literally takes your breath away.
I feel more and more in the travel blogging community that it’s just post after post about where to go, what to do and what to eat and while I do much of that too, I also hope to inspire you to go beyond just seeing as much as possible. Travel is about feeling something too. When you stop and ask yourself why you travel, I hope the reason isn’t just to see as many places as you can, to mark it off a list, to see every site in the guidebooks. Because I’m realizing more and more as I see more of the world that what makes travel so magical for me, what makes it inspire me and push me forward, are the emotional connections: experiencing more than just seeing. We all can just see, we all can follow a guidebook and mark off the list of landmarks it tells us to see, but when there is an emotional connection, when you find those places in the world that literally take your breath away, those places that change you, those places that you might only see a tiny part of or that you decide to just wander instead of seeing the tourist attractions…those are the travel memories that I find mean the most. It’s about finding those significant places in the world that truly change you; for me it’s the Udaipur’s of the world, Paris, Sevilla, Iceland, Rhode Island… you’ll find your own magic in the places you see, but when you find the ones that leave a true mark on your soul, that’s what travel is really about.
Travel after all is about learning, it’s about doing more than just seeing, it’s about feeling too, about believing, about inspiring us. So I urge you, the next trip you take, the next place you go…it might not need to be about seeing all the landmarks or tourist attractions, take some time to just wander, to breath in the place, to really experience it instead of just seeing it and I guarantee you’ll find those places that leave something within you that is more incredible than any tourist spot on the planet.
Lani says
I think you’ve hit upon why so many have become addicted to traveling, and even why there are so many travel blogs. It is magic, about learning and feeling that something, whatever that might be for you. Nice post, xxoo
Casey says
Totally. There is such a magic in the act of travel that you’re right, that’s why so many fall so deeply in love with it!
dani says
I love how priorities in travel change over time – from touristy sightseeing, to finding hidden gems, to “blending” in with the locals, to eating my way from place to place… it’s so fun to evolve over time, because we get to experience so much more!
Casey says
Oh yes, they change so much! And I feel like as we get older and change within ourselves, travel changes even more.
Daisy @ Simplicity Relished says
Wow, I really couldn’t agree more with your post. We’ve always been “slow” travelers– savoring good moments, relaxing, taking a bit longer at each place… and I really admire that approach to travel blogging too. We’re in Southern Utah right now, a beautiful spot where most people only spend 48 hours. We’re here for a week, and I’ve already felt the difference in not feeling rushed and being able to savor all the different times of day and levels of sunlight. It’s amazing!
Casey says
Totally. And while we’re not necessarily “slow” travelers, we actually go through places pretty quickly sometimes, but sometimes it’s all about using the moments you do have there to really take it in and not worry about seeing everything. PS… Southern Utah is high on my list to make it to hopefully next year!
Daisy @ Simplicity Relished says
That’s awesome, Southern Utah is amazing. I’ve been posting this week about it so let me know if you want any travel tips 🙂
Casey says
I’ll take a look!
Jamie | Gunters Abroad | Fit F says
Agree 100%…I wish I could put my experiences into words like you do 🙂
Casey says
Ahhh thank you!
Adelaide says
I completely agree! Going to Paris for example, isn’t about just seeing the Eiffel Tower or the Arc de Triomphe, it’s about getting lost in it’s streets and learning about the people, the culture, tasting the food etc
100% love this post! https://aworldlyaddiction.wordpress.com/
Casey says
Totally! There are places in the world that I feel hold more wonder just by wandering, taking it all in and experiencing it.
Kristin says
I love this! This is the kind of idea that resonated when you started talking about your resolution to “travel deeper” this year. Travel changes us – it SHOULD change us – because we experience different levels of connection each time, and I think that’s the best thing we share when we share travel stories. We’re sharing the different ways we have connected with a new city and new culture, and the new understandings it has given us – but by sharing places to eat and things to do, inviting new people to stop in and try something totally new to them, we’re inviting them to come on in, gain a new understanding, and be changed in turn.
Casey says
I totally agree… going deeper, finding more meaning in travel is the way we truly allow travel to change us. I think also as you travel more, we have to keep going deeper because it can get a little monotonous sometimes when you do it a lot. Finding those special places, those moments, that’s what pushes me to keep seeing more.
Kristin says
You’re not kidding! It would be so easy to get off the plane, go sleep in a hotel, go to meetings, repeat, and never experience a place! But what’s the point of that? Might as well just phone it in.
Kay R. says
I love this. This is why I love travel so much!
Casey says
Exactly! 🙂
Adelaide says
Love this piece!!! I completely agree with the notion that experiences are far superior to just ‘seeing’ things. I’d rather have a real and genuine experience in a city than see all of the touristy sites!
http://aworldlyaddiction.com/
Casey says
Totally… what’s the point in traveling if you don’t get anything out of it?