What inspires your travel?

Thanks for the link! Very cool.... I honestly don't know what inspires my travel. I have always wanted to travel, ever since I was a little girl. I was "born in a trunk" and we moved cross-country frequently, same towns but always a different house in a different neighborhood, and I just got the movement bug, I think. Well, books might have had something to do with it, too. And seeing plays - Shakespeare set his plays in cool, atmospheric travelogue destinations like Verona and Rome and Denmark and the wild northern moors - so that probably had a lot to do with it, too. But basically, I just have itchy feet! Even at home - my husband and I once moved 9 times in 11 years. Crazy.

First of all, Pamela, what you wrote about returning to Berlin was very insightful. I think I travel because I always want to know what's over the next hill, around that next bend in the road, and especially what's over the ocean. I prefer international travel, but even just crossing the state line can be interesting. I also feel the most like my true self when I'm traveling; I feel truly alive in a way I don't at home.

Hi Pam, What a great question. I have always loved stories and part of the fun of travel for me is knowing the history of the place and the stories of those who lived there.

Inspiration can be anything that grabs your interest. The centers of great religions, the longest rivers, a book or movie of beautiful scenery or people, pictures of a city, ruins of a long ago civilization or highest mountain. At different times, something just "grabs" your attention. In May, I went to Barcelona, Nice, Milan, Innsbruck and Munich because they're all on a main train route and I like trains. So, inspiration can be anything.

I have always loved to travel, even as a child. My inspiration varies from history, nature, books I read and just the need to escape from the pressures of work. I cover my walls and desk space at work of pictures and postcards of all my trips and my friends trips, so I can take that mental trip anytime I need. I think your post is great and can't wait to read more responses.

Great question. I just asked my husband what inspired him to travel, thinking he would help me articulate an answer. His answer was one word: "You!" Okay, with that inspiration (just kidding)............. A few years ago my spouse noticed that I was planning trips, like working a checklist, and he noticed "calm urgency" in my working the checklist. There are places I want to see in this lifetime, places I had always dreamed of seeing. After a serious medical scare (which all turned out fine), I realized I was not the immortal 30-year old I used to be. We each only have so much time, and I really wanted to see these places while I was still relatively young enough to keep our pace and go with great gusto. In the past 10 years, I've checked off the Tier 1 list, and now beginning the Tier 2 bucket list. Should I someday be sitting in an assisted living facility, and if I still have my memory, what wonderful travel memories will carry me through. Now back to my spouse: The look on his face when we are at destinations, coupled with hearing him say, "I'd read about this," smiling as though he has stepped into the pages of the National Geographic magazines that he used to read so intently as a young boy.....that makes my heart smile. I have my go-to list, and he would say I pick all the trips; but I only plan places I think we will both enjoy. For example, Pompeii was one of his bucket list destinations, so when I received the Christmas gift of "select a trip," I chose one that included Pompeii. But, seriously, after "selling my soul" to the corporate world during the first half of my adult life, while proud of the career success, I am most proud of "finally getting a life" and some special trips are part of that new life. To young people reading, don't wait like I did.

For me, travel is often about the history of a place. I want to see where history was made. Of course, I have favorite time periods, eras and people that interest me the most. When I was younger, I wanted to be an archeologist, but for some reason, never pursued it. Egypt has always been at the top of my list, but haven't made it there yet. Israel would probably be in 2nd place, and then places like Pompei, Mykonos, and of course Rome. Standing in the Forum just made my day. From there, I move onto Frankfurt & German history, with Charlemagne being one of my favorites. So, I like going places where he went and spent time. The architecture, especially of churches and how it changed fascinates me, moving from Carolingan, to Staufen & Romanesque, then on to Gothic and the great cathedrals. The Baroque stuff, though very pretty, just doesn't attract me as much. How fachwerk houses are built is another favorite theme. The Jewish history of Germany from the 800's on up to WW2, is another major occupier of my time. It is so much more than what happened after 1933, though I devote a lot of time to studying this horrifying aspect of history too. The important sites of WW2, mainly the battles, what happened and why, are important to me. Visiting the Beaches of Normandy filled me with awe. A bit rambly here, but all of these things inspire me to travel.

Several years ago I attended a wedding in France. During the course of the preparation I came across a site for www.vaughantown.com. When I returned from the wedding I investigated the site and the program. Since that time I have traveled to Spain apprximately 6 times, and participated in the program. I am now planning to return for a longer period (90 days) in the spring of 2012 You may ask, what in the attraction, the inspiration It is simple. The people I meet from Spain and from around the globe on each trip. I stay in contact with many of them, and see them there in Madrid on my return trips. Yes, the scenery is wonderful, the locations outstanding, but the people are the main attraction. Through their eyes I have been exposed to a wonderful experience. I enjoy the travel in the various areas of the country, the history and the excitement. But, the people are the force that pulls me back each time!

The thing that inspried hubby to plan our first trip was the movie "Sound of Music"- we both love the movie (and I love the book) - even used it as the theme for our wedding. So that first trip to Austria was very special. I also love history, music, art, and geography. And because I taught US History, Western Civilization, etc (as well as other subjects), I LOVE seeing the places I once taught about. In fact, the first time we went to London, I was doing a lesson about Sir W Raleigh the day before we left. When we toured the Tower of London and walked into the rooms where he was imprisioned, a book on one of the tables was open. The illustration in the book was pictured in my textbook!!!! Boy did I have a story for my students when I got back.

As a child I tended to read a lot and I remember reading fairy tales from foreign lands.... they were from exotic places like Czech and Russia...I was always intrigued with far-away places. So, I guess that has led me to the travel style that I pursue...I enjoy history, but I prefer to mix the reality with my own fantasy...and being a photographer I am able to do that. I also remember an Ideals book that I had when I was a child about the various celebrations of Christmas Around the World...so now I am going to the Christmas markets in a few weeks and attribute my desire to do that from the hours I poured over that book.

Cool question! I don't remember what first inspired my travel; I first studied abroad as a sophomore in college, but I can't remember why I wanted to go. It was probably a desire to really get away from home. But, that semester just fueled the fire. Now, I travel to see the beauty of the world. I find the photography of John Scanlan particularly inspiring: check scanlan.com. I think one of the most important parts of this life is having experiences, so that also contributes to my desire for travel: it's not so much about seeing the sights and checking off a list, but enjoying the ride. It's about tasting good, local food, seeing how other people live, and seeing how beautiful other cities are. We spend a lot of time walking and sitting and just enjoying. I sure wish it was closer so I could do it more often!

For me it's several things. I've always enjoyed exploring as a kid and love seeing new things and new places (apparently I liked to wander off even as a toddler). Plus I love history and seeing where history happened is amazing to me. And seeing architecture since that is my passion. Plus meeting different people and trying new foods. And to Pamela regarding her trip to Berlin, I had the same experience having visited just after the wall came down and then a couple years ago. I basically didn't like Berlin or Germany back then, and was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it recently. Both because of physcial changes but also personal growth.

I've always been interested in new places as far back as I can remember. As a child, I was fascinated to meet people who came from such "far away" places as Arizona and California. Becoming an art history major really fueled the fire for me - I still have a long list of places with art and architecture that I'd love to see. But now I think my travel desire is branching out into an interest about my family. My maternal grandmother was born in Paris during her family's stopover there from Romania. They came to the U.S. in 1911 but we know they had relatives in Paris as late as 1938. If I go back to Paris, I'd like to try to do some research in the archives to find out more about my grandmother's immediate family. And I want to find out what happened to those relatives in Paris, if they got out before the Nazis came or if they didn't. My other grandparents came from Lodz in Poland, Kiev, and Iassi (sp.?) in Romania, so I'd like to visit those places to see where my family came from.

Jo said it; travel is about the history of a place for me also. My first exposure was reading National Geographic magazine as a child. I was amazed that all this stuff was out there somewhere, and resolved that some day I would go and see most of it. Today, what inspires me to keep on traveling are the many wonderful shows on PBS (in Nashville a.k.a. NPT). Rick Steves' most excellent show is tops, followed by Burt Wolf Travels. Also, the show "Nature" has me wanting to go to Africa, Australia, and New Zealand, just to name a few. Every time I watch a Rick Steves show, it inspires me to dream about a new location for my next trip!

My inspiration now is to see everything, do everything, and know everything. Ambitious? Yes, and I readily admit I can't accomplish it in my lifetime. I'm still driven, however, by the desire to see new places and understand the culture, history, and language of the people I meet there. My wife always talks about places she wants to go back to. My answer is we'll go back as soon as we've seen everything once. :)

What an interesting question, and responses. I, too, am not sure what inspired my initial travels, either within the U.S. or in Europe. We travelled a lot as a family, long car and camper trips across the U.S., so that was always a part of my life. As an adult, my first trips were with my now-husband, and I'm not sure exactly how we chose some of those first destinations. Italy came after a brief dip into the country during a trip to the Italian part of Switzerland; now, it's one of our favorite countries, along with France. More recently, choices of destinations have started with a specific interest - a certain type of wine or food, wanting to see more castles, interest in a certain era of history. The castles interest, partly, led to a trip to Central Europe, which led me to learn all I could about the post-WWII history of the area. Even 1989 and the years thereafter, which I lived through. But reading about it brought me a different perspective, and visiting brought a different, and fuller perspective. I've become increasingly interested in art, which led to our last two trips to Amsterdam (the Riksmuseum) and Spain (the Prado). But once planned, my interests grew from there, especially the Spain trip, reading all I could about the Moorish centuries and the Franco years. And to see the Moorish and mudejar art and architecture was a thrill. We still have a long list of places to go and see, and many years left to do it. I have several envisioned itineraries that we'll get to eventually.

Hello Pamela. I desired to go to specific places at Europe and Britain after reading about those places in travel guide books. When I read about places, in any travel guide book written by Rick Steves, on a country in Europe, I desire to go to those places ! I go to places that I read about in various travel guide books, including books from Lonely Planet, Rough Guides, Cadogan's Guides, and Frommers. And I went to a few places that I learned about by reading replies at this Traveler's Helpline. Yesterday, I returned to my home in Missouri, from a trip to England. In that trip I visited famous places in England, that I have known about for years : Windsor Castle, Canterbury cathedral, Kew Gardens, Hampton Court Palace .... And sometimes I go to a place that was recommended to me by a person who was a resident in that country. An example : in June of 2003 I was at a departure Gate in an airport in the United States of America, waiting for my flight to the Gatwick Airport in England. There I talked with a woman who had been a resident in England most of her life. She recommended that I go to the old British Navy sailing ship the H.M.S. Victory (it was at the battle of Tralfager in the year 1805), dry docked at the Old Navy harbor at Portsmouth Harbour. I decided to go there. I modified my trip itinerary, I walked through that old sailing ship. I am glad I did that. I think the ship H.M.S. Victory is more interesting than the old sailing ship Cutty Sark (a Clipper ship), dry docked at Greenwich. That English woman also said she likes the Isle of Wight. So, after visiting the H.M.S. Victory, I walked to the nearby dock for a ferry boat, went on a 15 minute ferry boat ride to the Isle of Wight. I am glad I did that.

I travel to see stuff.

For a while I didn't think anyone was going to respond to this question and then everyone did! As I read the responses I hear that what inspires travel includes: An itch to travel Literary works: Books, plays, poetry The urge to explore: what's around the bend? Self-discovery: what can I learn about myself? Friends and lovers History: did Henry the VIII really walk here? Architecture, art, the beauty of the place People's stories: what did Charlemagne do here? Beauty: Can I capture this spot with my camera? Something new, a place, an idea, a person. Family history, great grandfather really lived here. Magazine stories, Wow, this is the spot of the National Geographic story! TV Shows. Yes, this is where Monarch of the Glen was filmed! Wine and food. Ah, now I understand Cote de Rhone. Art. Wow, Van Gogh's blues are un-fricking believable A referral. The Victory, Fort George, the Sound of Music Tour are incredible I'm so glad that someone said I should go there
Movies. No one mentioned these, but oh my they inspired me to go to places. Z, Moon Spinners and This Rough Magic all sent me to Greece. Thanks everyone for sharing your inspiration for travel. Pam