Traveling Type

What kind of a traveler are you? That may sound strange, but different people travel in different ways. Some people like to go camping and disappear into nature, or lounge on a beach with a cocktail. Others like to hit all the tourist spots and get tons of pictures. While others like to immerse themselves in local culture and cuisine.

I’ve seen more than a few different kinds of travel bucket lists, like visiting all the state or national parks in the US, going on a monument tour, following old paths or roads, hitting all museums, etc.

I like traveling with different people to get a little taste of all the things. There are some touristy things that I want to experience at least once, such as Bourbon Street in New Orleans or seeing the Eiffel Tower in Paris. However, I also like to learn about a city or country. I want to know what the culture is. Being immersed in another culture is such a gift. You get to experience the way others live, dance, eat, speak, interact, etc. Every city has its own vibe and culture from what I’ve found.

There are other things that I have recently discovered I really enjoy. That’s botanical gardens. Seeing the different flowers, plants, and trees, and usually having some kind of history or information about the place and species of nature is soothing to me. I haven’t had much luck with house plants, though I haven’t really tried very hard. However, I love the beauty of nature.

I like to mix it up a bit between a historical or educational tour, a couple of photo worthy tourist spots (like the Golden Gate Bridge recently), and maybe a show, museum, or some other experience. I try not to eat at places I can get at home, that way I’m experiencing something new. (The food can be a challenge for me with my current dietary choices, but I usually make out pretty well.)

I also try to squeeze in my hobbies that I know I enjoy, along with trying new things that might become a new favorite hobby. I’m always up for an adventure, like ziplining, skydiving, horses, quads, etc. One of my favorite Caribbean experiences was riding a horse on the beach and into the water. Live entertainment, especially something indicative to where we’re at, is always a winner. For example, attending the show at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, listening to a group play on the beach in Haiti, or the intimate patio show by the Glen David Andrews band in New Orleans. 

Sometimes, simply opening your mind to something new that is totally outside of your comfort zone will expand your mind far past anything you ever dreamt of. I’m not necessarily a country music fan, though opening myself to some of these experiences has brought a newfound appreciation for the genre, and I discovered I actually do like a few artists and songs. (Imagine that.)

This world is so big and offers so much, yet we tend to lose sight of that because we take comfort in our little bubbles. A closed mind is the most dangerous thing one can arm themselves with, not only due to what they miss out on, but to everyone around them. We all have so much to learn, and so much we can teach.

One of my favorite parts of driving for rideshare for those few years was meeting people from everywhere and learning about where they were from. I have a sticky notepad full of places to visit and try when I make it to wherever some of my passengers were from.

Stick a little toe out of your comfort zone and see what the world opens up for you! Try something new…talk to someone new of a different age, race, gender, social or economic status. Do something you’ve never even thought of before. Try a new dish. Explore your city like a tourist might. Hang out in a local joint the next time you visit a new city.