From the time I was a young girl my family always traveled during the summer, and Dad always planned a summer vacation for us all to enjoy. I can only imagine the hours he must have spent researching the perfect place for our little family to explore, and travel to.

Many summers we would go camping into the forest of the great Pacific North West. My sister and I would explore the forest, listening to the birds that lived in the big redwood trees. There would always be a lake involved, and several days of fishing. Dad tried to show us how magnificent our country was, and how to respect nature.

We started out camping with a tent, and slowly progressed to a small sixteen foot Shasta trailer. Mother loved the trailer because it involved a mattress. That made life a lot easier for her. We kids didn’t really care, we were still limber back then.

One time while still using a tent, Dad told us not to take food to bed with us because bears could smell the food, and try to get it. Being the perfect child I was, I complied. However, I couldn’t say as much for my little sister. My sister was afraid of starving to death, so she stashed cookies, crackers, and who knows what else in her sleeping bag. After all it was going to be a long night in a sleeping bag, in a tent, in the middle of a forest, in a camp ground!

Sometime in the middle of the night, I was awakened by a noise outside the tent. I thought I could see an indentation on the side, and noise just the other side. In my mind, I could see a big black grizzly bear getting ready to rip open the side, and take all the food my sister stuck away to keep her alive. Just so you’ll know, that never happened. But the terror was still there all because one fat kid was afraid to starve.

Everything was an adventure to us, and I’m sure Dad looked at it the same way. Mother on the other hand was busy cleaning up after us and cooking. I can only imagine how much Mom looked forward to our vacations where she slaved away feeding the gang. I never thought it was much of a vacation for her, and for that reason I dreaded the thoughts of doing the same thing when I had a family. But eventually, I did the same thing because that’s what you do when you have a young family!

Those years traveling all over the United States shaped my lust for adventure. I still crave going on trips, just not as long or maybe as grand.

I always found it fun to see the reaction of my kids as they explored, and discovered new things on our trips.

One time I sold everything, house, furniture, toys, and we moved lock, stock, and barrel to Alaska. It was a great adventure! My oldest son really loved being able to experience the vast forests of redwoods as we ventured North, the misty meadows in Canada, and the dirt roads on the AlCan Highway. Back in those days traveling to Alaska was much different than it is now. We would actually call those the Olden Days due to the dirt roads, and primitive traders cabins we would explore along the way.

It was through all these adventures that I developed my love of traveling. I still love experiencing the sounds of nature, the music of whatever region I’m in. I love the foods of new places, and the colors that people paint their houses, and the clothes they wear.

As I was thinking about all the places I’ve traveled, I realized that many of us haven’t traveled very much throughout our lives. Maybe we never get to travel as much as we would like. Or maybe some of us never had a desire to explore, and experience different cultures.

I’m curious as to where are some of the places you have traveled? Would you go back again, and would you do anything different this time around?

Can you still travel, because for me, it is becoming more difficult as time goes on. Certainly it is helpful to have travel companions. Someone to carry luggage, or figure out where to go next.

Airports can be tricky, or even more so, train stations. I really like traveling by train because the people are so interesting, and the experience more enriching. Also moving around a little while on a train is helpful. I always find interesting people to talk to, and share experiences with regardless of how I get there.

Sure flying is faster, but it’s so confining, and many times cramped.

When my husband and myself have traveled by train, we have met the nicest people at dinner, and shared many stories with new found friends. I never know what interesting stories we will hear, or where our conversations will take us. These things feed my soul.

Where are some of the fun places you’ve traveled to, some of the stories you have been told. Stories feed our imagination, and I think our imaginations are most precious.

Do you have any plans to take another trip? Even if it’s a short day trip, it’s a trip that can feed your imagination, and enrich your life.

We don’t have any plans, however as I get older, I rather like making little impromptu trips that are unexpected. I call them surprise trips that give me something special to plan, and think about.

Let me know what your thoughts are. Where you would like to travel to if given the chance. How you love to travel, who you travel with etc. I want to know it all!

Thank you for taking time to read my blog, as always, together we stand!

Karen