I fell in love with travel as a teenager during a National Lampoon-esque European vacation with my family. It was the first time the largeness, the uniqueness, the wonder of the world occurred to me in a real way. Life was no longer just a series of events to get through, but an adventure available to anyone willing to journey past the known. The sunny yellow of the lemon tarts in the Paris patisseries, the strange bleating of police cars driven on the opposite side of the road in London, the overwhelming beauty of the tiny purple flowers at the base of the Swiss Alps and the chilling snow above…all of these things forced me to take notice of the world instead of merely living in it. I love to travel because it makes me aware of the wonders that surround us every minute, if only we paused long enough to notice. For me, travel allows that pause.

As the Travel & Vacations Channel Leader for Tree.com, I asked some of the first month’s contributors to share why they travel as a way to introduce what will be the essence of this channel.

“I travel to feel that special connection - to people, to an experience, or to a place. I love to find that feeling of belonging...Travel not only allows me to discover other places, people and cultures, but it acts as the catalyst for discovering myself along the way.”
- Robin Locker Lacey, My Melange

“I travel because I have an insatiable need to learn and explore…I want to give my children the best education and opportunities that I can, and thus far I have found nothing that has come close to traveling in fulfilling those needs.”
- Sharlene Earnshaw, Trekaroo Blog

“I travel to connect with new people, and also for the unique experiences and the education. On all of my travels I've learned something new or experienced something odd, whether it's a culinary curiosity, such as Malaysia's bird's nest soup, or a cultural etiquette issue, such as wearing the proper shoes when in a bathroom in a Japanese ryokan.”
- Jeanine Barone, J The Travel Authority

“I plan trips designed to help me to reconnect with both my husband and the world; I love the rush of experiencing different cultures and landscapes, and weaving exciting, frustrating, hilarious, challenging, relaxing, and romantic adventures into our shared life story.”
- Melanie Waldman, Travels With Two

“I travel because it's fun…Spending quality time with one another when we're vacationing together -- no carpools, no after-school commitments, no housework -- is treasured time.”
- Kara Williams, The Vacation Gals

“Travel is much more than touring world heritage sights or checking cathedrals off a list of must-see attractions. Traveling is entirely about the experiences that a person has while exploring the world around them. My most memorable encounters on the road have been some of the most simple…Traveling should be a humbling experience.”
- Matthew Long, Landlopers

Photo: DuBoix, Creative Commons 3.0


Why do you travel? Please share your thoughts in the comments below!