Be a Purposeful Traveler

The happiest travelers we see at the resort are the ones who plan their visits well in advance and have some purpose for their stay with us. Develop that purpose by thinking of activities you’d like or need to do, like sightseeing, golfing, water skiing, visiting family and friends, continuing education, or simply resting. Unless you’re planning to make all of your journeys alone, be sure to include activities that can be enjoyed by your travel companions. As you make your list of activities start adding notations beside each one of possible destinations at which you could engage in the activity. Don’t limit yourself in any way. This is the time to dream. It’s the time to figure out ways to expand your life or make more memories with your kids.

Travel Activities to Consider

Camping—some people camp just for the sake of camping. For them it becomes both the type of accommodation and the activity engaged in on the trip.

Rock Collecting—this is a great one for kids. They all like rocks and it’s edu-fun. For those of us in the older set it allows us to enjoy the landscape while playing a big game of seek and find.

Caving—Gary and I spent several years pursuing this activity. The nice thing is that there’s a level of participation for almost anyone, from fully developed touristy caverns to genuine spelunking adventures.

Roller coasters/amusement parks—not everyone’s cup of tea, but one with plenty of options for those without motion sickness.

Fishing—one of the most popular travel activities in the U.S., and a great one to share with kids or the older generation.

Photography--add this activity to any of the others on this list or travel just for the sake of documenting it in photos.

Water sports—ranging from water skiing to surfing to scuba diving. Anywhere there’s a decent sized body of water, you can bet someone will be ready to help you get in it, on it, or under it.

Hiking/climbing—this is one that can take you to all points of the globe.

Zoos, aquariums, museums—don’t’ think that these are all about educating your kids and grandkids. Today’s zoos are a treat for any age.

Wildlife watching/wildflower viewing—what better reason to travel to a new destination than to simply enjoy the beauty of its wildlife?

Motorcycle riding—motorcyclists are some of the happiest travelers I know, and some of the most well-traveled.

A Destination to Match

If you haven’t got a destination in mind for each of the activities you picked out, now is the time to do a little research. Say you want to start touring zoos. Pick several possible destinations, including one close to home, a few that might be car trips, and a few more that would be your “dream zoos” to see. There’s an Internet resource for almost anything these days. To find zoos and aquariums try the Association of Zoos and Aquariums at www.aza.org/findzooaquarium/.  

Become an Internet travel junkie. It is easier than ever before to learn about the destinations you long to visit.  Indulge yourself on rainy Saturday mornings before the kids get up. Research places on your list until they become real in your mind. Travel planning has a way of solidifying your intentions and your goals. There’s a huge difference between just saying you’d like to see the Smithsonian and having a firm idea of how to get there and what you’ll see when you arrive. There’s nothing wrong with spontaneous travel, of course, but a trip well planned is a trip well executed.

When Can You Really Go?

The next step is to sort your entire list into the following categories: “This Year,” “Next Year,” and “Someday.” Now you have to get real. What can you afford this year? How much can you save up for next year’s travel? Everything else goes under “Someday.” Just knowing that you actually have a plan to go scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef makes it more real, even if it falls under the someday heading. If you see it every time you look at your list, someday you will make it happen.