My travels have taken me to magical kingdoms, wizarding worlds, majestic mountains, beautiful beaches, and everywhere in between. As a travel advisor travel is part of my job, but it's also one of the things I'm most thankful for in life. Let me share my top 3 reasons why!
I grew up vacationing here at Cherry Grove Beach in South Carolina.
1: We weren't always able to travel.
Although I grew up traveling regularly with my parents, when my husband and I were first starting our life together money was tight. Many years we went without a vacation because we had to prioritize necessities over travel, particularly once children came along. But when our son was 4 he saw a Disney World commercial on television and started begging us to take him to the parks. We used our Christmas money that year to buy tickets and took our kids on their first Disney vacation. That trip was nothing short of magical and to date it's my favorite Disney vacation we've ever taken as a family. There was nothing fancy about it: we didn't stay onsite, we didn't do any character meals or fireworks parties or after-hours events. But we made unforgettable memories. I vividly remember standing in line to meet Belle in the France pavilion at Epcot. With music playing all around us and our children jumping up and down holding their little autograph books, my husband looked over at me and said, "We have to find a way to do this again." When we planned that trip, we were convinced that it was going to be a one-and-done for us as we didn't know if we'd ever have the funds available to make it happen again. But as we stood there in the middle of Disney magic, we were determined that we were going to find a way to bring our kids back. Fast forward several years, several leaps of faith, and a LOT of hard work later and my love of family vacations has grown into a full-fledged career. Not only have I gotten to take my kids to Disney and beyond, but I also get to help other families plan their vacations to destinations all around the world. Whether my clients travel every year or are planning that once-in-a-lifetime vacation they've saved up for years to afford, I can relate to them all. Because I've been there.
This pic from our first family Disney trip is one of my favorites. The look of wonder on my daughter's face is priceless!
2: Quality time is my love language.
Nothing makes me feel more loved than when someone gives me the gift of time well spent. Some of my favorite childhood memories are of family vacations, not necessarily because of the amazing places we went, but because of the time we spent together. Leaving the distractions of work, school, and extracurriculars at home allows you to be much more intentional about how you spend the time you have with the people who matter most. Now that I have kids of my own (who are growing up way too fast!) I see even more clearly how important it is to travel together regularly, even if it's just for a weekend. I also believe in the importance of going away together as a couple. It's been such a wonderful thing for our marriage and, not surprisingly, research supports that traveling together strengthens relationships!
On our way to an adults-only trip to Orlando in this pic! Love traveling with my husband!
3: Travel broadens my horizons.
St. Augustine said that "the world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page." Whether it's domestic or international travel, leaving one's familiar surroundings opens us up to new experiences. As someone with a background in education, I firmly believe that there is great educational value in travel as well. It reminds us of how big and beautiful the world is and that it's our responsibility to try to leave it better than we found it. Travel is an education and a gift and we are better for the time and resources we invest in it.
Vacations, like this one to Biltmore Estate in North Carolina, can be both fun and educational!
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