Scuffed, Scraped, and Smelly: Our Shoes and the Story They Tell

Filled with holes, caked with clay and worn down to the heels, my pair of Nike's have traveled to some exotic places. If they weren't inadament objects, you could sit around the campfire and listen to them tell stories of where they've been and what they've experienced.

When you get a new pair of shoes, you kind of feel like you have a new baby in the family. They are brand new, haven't experienced much in the world and you can wait to show them what the world has to offer. You think of all the special experiences that you are going to have together. This is how i felt when i got these special Nike's over 8 years ago and now looking back i start to realize just how many places these shoes have taken me.

I began to think about this special pair of shoes as i was beginning to put them on to go mow my lawn. These shoes have been on countless adventures and have experienced the true "sole" of so many countries. With these shoes, I have been able to go so many places. As I pondered about the stories these shoes could tell, once forgotten experiences began to flood into my brain. Here is a little taste of what unfolded as my feet began to slip into these familiar shoes these.

Just to name a few experiences, these shoes have:

1. Played basketball, football, tennis, ultimate Frisbee, golf, and soccer on just about every surface, field, and course that is on this planet.
2. Has hiked mile upon mile of the Swiss alps, the Rocky Mountains, the cobblestone streets of Europe and chunks of the St. James Way.
3. Kicked a hacky sack on the edge of the Grand Canyon, on platforms of various European rail stations, and terminals of countless airports.
4. They have experienced every kind of public restroom from the most luxurious self cleaning thrones to the most rank gas station outhouses known to man.
5. Tromped through foot upon foot of snow and frozen sidewalks in Utah.
6. Strutted the corridors and climbed the stone clad steps of the medieval cathedrals and castles of Europe.
7. Melted the souls walking miles and miles of the Phoenix Arizona valley.
8. Squashed quarter sized fire ants and flattened cockroaches the size of Pez dispensers.
9. Flown through the air of many theme park roller coasters and rides.
10. Dragged me through a number of 5k races.

Shoes can tell alot about people. Where they've been, what they've experienced, and how they got to where they are today. In a way, our shoes can be our personal journal. They can bring back memories and give us a sense of place. 

The next time you open your closet or look in your shoe basket, I challenge you to pick a pair, take a minute as you put them on and realize where these shoes have been and where they have taken you. Pretty soon you will find it hard the next time you have to throw away a pair.

Zion National Park: A Hiker's Paradise

Excitement, Awe, Wonder. Just three simple words that describe what one feels when entering Zion National Park. Having lived in Utah most of my existence, I have been able to experience several times the inspiration that comes from discovering this national park. The park has been called by many the "sandstone alps". Shear red rock cliffs explode from a desert landscape forming several mountains, slot canyons, monoliths, rivers, and arch ways.

Established officially as a National Park in 1909, Zion opened up a world of "Excitement, Awe, and Wonder" to millions who have traveled through the park for over a century.

Upon arriving in the park, one can truly see why it is a national treasure. The majority of the park snakes through the Zion canyon where visitors can take the shuttle loop through the canyon to see various peaks, mountains, and shear cliff faces. Using the shuttle makes it easy to be able to find certain highlights of the park as well as navigate to places that deserve exploration.

Like many national parks, Zion can only be fully appreciated on foot and this national park has plenty of hikes to choose from that can vary from extremely challenging to extremely relaxing. Though most of the hikes in Zion are awe-strikingly beautiful, here are a few suggestions that are some of my favorites:

Emerald Pools - This hike showcases a medium grade trail through one of Zion's many crevasses withing the canyon. The trail is no longer than 2 miles one way and takes you past pristine waterfalls and a glass like set of emerald colored pools.

Weeping Rock - A good family oriented hike of no more than .5 mile round trip. Along the way you can learn from various posted signs about the plant and wildlife along the path and around the park. The trail ends at Weeping Rock, a dripping, drizzling rock face that directs you to a beautiful lookout of the canyon. Perfect for those hot summer days in the park.

The Narrows - The Narrows explores another sub canyon of Zion. The trail starts off with a mile dirt path that leads you to a fordable one and half foot deep river. This is where the trail gets fun. Pull out your river shoes. You then get to follow the river up through precisely cut ravines and slot canyons. Here you are able to get an up close look at the rust colored sandstone that characterizes the park. Make sure to check weather conditions for this hike. It closes at times because of flash floods.

Observation Point - One of the most beautiful overlooks in the park, Observation point is a rigorous 8 mile round trip hike full of switchbacks, minimal level paths, and breathtaking views. The hike takes you to the peak of one of the mountains where you are able to see most of the Park. The hike can be, well, a hike, but it is completely worth the gorgeous view.

Angel's Landing - Truly the landmark hike of Zion, Angel's landing is a 2.4 mile one way hike that leads you through desert landscape to rigid rock face. The hike doesn't start to become strenuous until the last mile where the switchbacks come into play and you gain elevation quickly. The last half mile can be treacherous for some who have a fear of heights. As you are below the summit, the trail gets down to a single file path where you have to dodge people coming down from the summit all while not looking at the shear 1000 foot dropoff jsut to the side of the path. The park has installed "safety chains" to grab onto while navigating this part of the trail. Once at the summit, you are able to get one of the most picturesque 360

views of the park. Standing on this monolith one truly gets a sense of why they call it Angel's Landing.

Zion National Park is bursting with beauty and a plethora of hiking trails that allow you to explore this jewel in the desert. You will be whisked away by excitement, awe, and wonder as you traverse its paths and scale its mountains. Zion is Zion, go and explore it.

The Unexpected Layover: 5 Survival Tips for Evolving the Airport into a Personal Hotel

A sweat of panic slowly drips down my face as I glance at my watch. 8:37 AM. I quickly glance at my boarding pass. "Easy Jet flight 208.  Edinburgh to Geneva Switzerland. Departure: 9:10 AM. Arrival 11:20 AM." Wearily, i check my surroundings and quickly lose hope. Stuck in traffic in my rental car, i realize that my friend and I might not be making our flight back to Switzerland. To the left, all lanes closed due to construction. To the right, two lanes packed with commuters, bicyclists and pedestrians all trying to navigate the narrow cobblestone streets of Edinburgh. 8:43 AM. Finally a break in the traffic and we are on our way to the airport. Dodging traffic left and right, we carelessly throttle our Volkswagen to the rental station at the airport. 8:54 AM. Tripping over our words, we tell the rental check-in station that we are late for our flight. Empathetically they tell us that they will do all the check-in paper work. In a terror, looking like foolish tourists, we sprint with our luggage through the parking lot and into the airport until we arrived at our check-in desk. 9:05 AM. Wiping gobs of sweat from my face, I present my information to get my boarding pass. The worker looks at the computer, then at us, then at the computer again. "I'm sorry, they stopped boarding for this flight 5 minutes ago." Desperation and hopelessness poured over us like a bucket of ice. The next available flight wasn't for 32 more hours. The realization that we had little money left and that we were going to have to spend the night in the airport struck us like a Double-Decker bus.

I know that this happens to people on a daily basis and most of the time its not their fault. So here are five tips that I learned from my unexpected layover in the Edinburgh airport that can help you make your airport stay as comfortable as your hotel:

1) Make a Plan
Once the shock leaves you that you are going to have to overnight it in the airport, sit down, take a breath and make an hour by hour plan of what you are going to do. Plan out time for things like eating, walking around the airport, looking in shops, checking out different areas of the airport, planning out your laptop battery life. This will help to calm you nerves as well.

2) Scout Out Your Sleeping Quarters
I feel this to be one if not the most important. Try at all costs to stay off the floor if you can. Take a few laps around the airport. Try to get to know it inside out and find those hidden nooks where you can have some privacy or even a comfortable couch for the night. Many airports have a chapel or a quiet room that rarely is occupied that you may be able to bed down in. We were fortunate in Edinburgh to find a small more secluded cafe and lounge area. This was a home run because they had a few leather couches that were as comfortable as our hotel beds.

3) Budget Out What Money You Have Left
This is especially important if you are in another country and you only have a little bit of "Monopoly" money left. 9 times out of 10 ATM's in foreign countries will charge you an exchange fee so try not to pull out more money if you don't need it. We rationed our money out so we had just enough for a loaf of bread and a candy bar which saw us through dinner and breakfast. We also sought out free museums and attractions close by or in the airport.

4) Use Your Luggage

Whether you have found a comfortable couch or a secluded spot on the floor, make it more comfortable by using your luggage and its contents. A standard carry-on case works great as a pillow, seat, or foot ottoman. Jacket, towels and dirty t-shirts work great as pillows, blankets and foot rests. Luggage can also be used to stake out your area. We used our luggage like a wall sectioning off our little couch area. 

5) Plan a Fake Itinerary
Act as though you had an extra few days in the city that you are stuck in. Most airports have a tourist    
information office where you can go gather information and talk to travel workers. This is advantageous in that you might find something to see or do that is close to the airport. While stuck in Edinburgh airport, we visited the travel office and found out that for the cost of a few pounds, we could head back into downtown Edinburgh on the bus and visit several free museums. Even if it sounds like a waste of time, at least it will eat up some of your layover time.

Unexpected delays and layovers happen at airports and train stations all over the world on a daily basis. The key to survival is finding creative ways to spend your time and also to find a good location to bed down for the night. Whether you spend the night in the airport lounge or make hundreds of laps walking around the airport, keep calm and keep occupied.

San Francisco on Foot: 10 Must-Do's For A First Timer

In the world of travel blogs, writing about San Francisco has been beat to death. Why do people keep returning to this town and writing about their experiences? What is this city all about?

Because of all the hype, I decided to travel there to see what all the fuss is about since never in all my years have i been there. Needless to say, the town and surrounding area lived up to its hype. There are so many unique stories and experiences out there about this great city, I figure I would ad my adventure to the list.

San Francisco is a city full of exciting new adventures. Its unique architecture, history, people, and natural surroundings tend to stimulate the senses and keep people coming back to catch the vibe that is found along its shore lines, narrow streets, and iconic bridges.

This town is also one of the most pricey towns in the U.S. Being part of California, where everything is pricey, San Francisco can have you dirt poor within hours if you are not careful. One of the worse things about the city is finding parking. Once you find parking, get ready to shell out $50-$100 for a few hours parking time. There are alot of small parking lots that are charging $45 for the first hour and then $5 for every twenty minutes after that. So one of my most important suggestions is to park once and then do as much on foot as you can.

Experiencing the city by foot is key to having a true San Fran experience. Below is a list of 10 things that I think every first timer to the city should experience and most are done on foot. Many people have their own opinions about what is best to see and do there in this great town. These 10 of my favorites:

1) Fisherman's Wharf. As a first timer, its crucial that you experience the wharf. Located on the north piers of San Fran, the wharf is the gate way to bay area tour ships and transfer boats to Alcatraz. It showcases tons of tourist trap type shops selling all sorts of San Fran clothing and swag. I was there at the beginning of May and I couldn't have asked for better weather while walking the boardwalk along the wharf. The Wharf is also home to lots of street performers, restaurants, and Pier 39.

2) Pier 39. Yet another touristy must see. This pier in particular has plenty of unique shops and stalls including a magic shop, a left handed store, and a "7D" theater experience. My favorite part of Pier 39 is all the delicious seafood restaurants that surround Pier 39 as well as Fisherman's Wharf. Smells of fresh deep fried fish, crab, and lobster waft for miles down the wharf magnetically drawing people towards the Piers. Next to Pier 39 you can also watch the local sea lions sunbathing on the docks which is something they've been doing for decades.

3) Musee Mechanique. This is not your average museum. It actually houses hundreds of turn of the century coin operated machines. The "museum" has collected these from fairs, carnivals, and amusement parks from across the country. Test how strong you are with a mechanical arm wrestle or check out some 1920's "peep" shows. The museum also houses a few more recent arcade style games. The place is worth spending some time in.

4) Golden Gate Bridge. Golden Gate, the great icon of San Fran. You really can't leave this city without seeing it or going over it at least once. If you are feeling adventurous, you can walk across, drive across, or rent a Segway to cross the bridge on. For great photos, I suggest finding the road that takes you to the old civil war fort underneath the south side of the bridge to get a good view. Its just as picturesque when it is fogged over.

5) Alcatraz. This is another must-do while visiting the bay area. Take the ferry ($30) across the bay to experience the rock. The trip across the bay is just as awesome as the tour of Alcatraz itself. The rock's decaying cell blocks, rusted fences, and crumbling building tell a story of their own as you take a self guided tour through the old penitentiary.

6) Ride a Cable Car. What better way to see the city, especially the historical district, than by cable car. The cable cars have been operating the same way for over a century. It is quite the experience to stand on the edge of the car as you race up and down the steep streets while people hop on and off the car at different locations. The car will take you from Pier 39 to Market street with stops along the way at Lombard Street and Chinatown.

7) China Town. When visiting this area, I expected there to be alot more tourists than there was, but no it was alot like being in China. Packed within a few block radius, Chinatown houses several unique shops and delicious authentic Chinese restaurants. Passing a few markets, one can hear salesman shouting out specials in Chinese, the hustle and bustle of the market, and several different dialects being spoken. It is a true Chinese type experience.

8) Muir Woods State Park.  If you are looking for an escape from the busy city life in down town San Fran, you can escape to a forested sanctuary just a few miles north across the Golden Gate Bridge. Muir Woods is home to thousands of giant redwoods and sequoia trees that date back centuries. Juxtaposed to the busyness of San Fran, this grove of giants brings peace of mind and a break from running around the big city or sitting in the California traffic.

9) De Young: Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco. Located half a mile from the Golden Gate Bridge, this museum houses hundreds of works of art from well known arts from the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries. One of its best features is its contemporary exterior neo-classical architecture.

10) San Francisco Giants Game. AT&T Park is one of the most unique ballparks in the U.S. We were fortunate enough to get some $9 nosebleed seats but i really don't think there is a bad seat in that stadium. From our perch on the very last row, we were able to experience the San Francisco skyline, the Bay Bridge, and the bay itself. The park sits on the edge of bay. People in Kayaks sit out in the bay waiting to snag home run balls. It is a great experience for friends and family alike.

These are my top ten things to see. If i were to give an opinion of things to miss or just drive by i would say Coit Tower, Lombard Street (its cool to drive down), the Painted Ladies (the "full house" houses), Ghiradelli Square (Good place to visit for an ice cream),and the downtown area.

As you explore this down by foot, you will open yourself up to new sights, smells, sounds, tastes, and even textures. You will begin to experience what everyone else is talking about. I know I did and I plan on making several more trips to explore more of what this great city has to offer.

I, like many out there, need to start planning my next visit to this area. What are some of your favorite places to visit in San Francisco? What are some of your favorite restaurants as well as things to do?

Discovering the Royal Mile: Edinburgh, Scotland

Sometimes, one must experience the tourist traps. While experiencing Edinburgh, Scotland, I had to indulge myself by following the path of countless Scottish Royalty, and tourists for that matter, and cruise Edinburgh's famed Royal Mile. Paved in cobblestone and surrounded by centuries old building, the mile begins at Holyrood Palace and finds its end at Edinburgh Castle. Located in the center of Edinburgh, the mile entertains travelers and locals alike with various tourist shops, restaurants, and unique street performers. Attempting to dodge gobs of tourist junk vendors trying desperately to sell cheap Scottish kilts and toy bagpipes, i made my way to my first stop on the mile, Mary King's Close.

Around the beginning of the 1800's, over 100,00 people packed themselves into a 3 square mile in the center of Edinburgh along the Royal Mile. Most of this population lived in 7 to 12 story buildings called "closes" which lined the Royal Mile. In these closes would live the impoverished community, packed 10-12 people in a 15x10 foot room, battling diseases, robbers, poverty and the plague. Mary King was a prominent member of Edinburgh society and therefor had her own close. Around the turn of the 20th century, Edinburgh decided to build afresh their city so they paved a concrete street over the first 2-3 stories of the closes along the mile in order to kick out some of these impoverished folks living there and give there town a fresh look. Today you can pay some money and take a tour of Mary King's close. The guide takes you down under ground to the exquisitely preserved close. The buildings, tunnels and caverns all are still intact and one can get a true sense of what it was like to live there. This close in particular housed plague victims and was the scene of several gruesome murders and kidnappings. Many different paranormal groups claim that it is haunted because of its vile history. The tour guide will even shut the lights off and tell you some ghost stories and paranormal experiences many people have had in the close. I found this experience fascinating. But there is even more to the mile.

Next, we discovered the 500 year old St. Giles Cathedral. It is an iconic Edinburgh landmark with its crown shaped roof and high Gothic architecture. While there, the local choir was practicing for the weekend's mass. It was an enlightening experience to sit in the pews and admire the stain class and architecture while listening to beautiful hymns sung by the choir.

Continuing up the mile, we were able to explore some more shops and pubs. The pub culture, like most of the UK, is front and center in Scottish culture. They truly pride themselves on their delicately aged Scotch Whiskey and different home brewed beers and are always eager to help tourist try some select vintages.

Our adventure up the mile was capped off by several street performances including the musical stylings of a group of bagpipers. Yeah I know its
touristy but its something you need to experience
while discovering Edinburgh.

The Royal Mile is steeped in history, centuries old architecture, entertaining street performers, and the occasional paranormal experience. When traveling to Edinburgh, the Royal Mile is a must experience and in the end, it will lead you to Edinburgh Castle which is an experience in and of itself. Cheers.

Learning to "Grok : Take 5 Steps

Robert A. Heinlein wrote in his 1961 novel "Stranger in a Strange Land",  "We must grok in fullness". What does it mean to grok in fullness, or rather what does grok even mean? The dictionary defines grok as to understand something intuitively or through empathy, or becoming one with someone/something through empathy. Well how do we gain empathy then? The answer is simple, we put ourselves in the shoes of others.

This is one of the most fundamental principles of travel. We travel to see new places, experience new things, and put ourselves in the shoes of people who presently live in those destinations or situations as well as the people who have lived in years past in those destinations and situations. Through their eyes, we began to become empathetic and truly understand cultures, history, and day-to-day life of people around the world. Thus we truly can "grok" destinations and truly experience what it means to travel.

To be more specific, I would like you to consider taking these 5 simple steps in order that you may learn to "grok" your next travel experience. The prescription is simple. It involves conscientiously using your five senses on a daily basis while you travel. Ready, set, grok:

   1. Look to See: This is a given, every day try to see something new that you have never seen before.  
       Try to look for things other than what you thought you came to that place to see.

   2. Listen to Hear: Every day,take  
       a few minutes, find a relaxing  
       place while at your destination,
       close your eyes, and listen to the
       sounds around you. Strive to
       listen for things you wouldn't
       normally pick up on. For me, i
       loved to do this in Europe. I
       loved to hear the conversations
       in an outdoor cafe, listen to the
       symphony of cowbells in a
       Swiss pasture, and listening to
       water gushing through mountain
       streams.

   3. Touch to Feel:  Every day,
       touch something new that you never have before whether its the wet nose of St. Bernard, wooden
       texture of a 500 year old bridge, or the precisely crafted stone work of a centuries old cathedral.

  4. Sniff to Smell: Every day, strive to smell something new. These smells will stamp this experience
      in your memory so that if that scent comes wafting past your nose again in your life, you will be
      transported back to the time and place where you first smelled that scent.

   5. Lick to Taste: This is my favorite, search out something to taste/eat that you never have before.
       Not only will this help stamp out your hunger, but it will help you to experience and appreciate the
       culture of the destination that you are visiting.

Learning to "Grok" is an essential practice while traveling. While it is true that we travel for some much needed R&R, we must strive to "grok" the experience so that we can cement memories with those with whom we travel and be a able to gain a better appreciation and knowledge of the world in which we live.

Yvoire : Medieval Rose of France

Nestled along the shores of Lake Geneva are several gems. One can discover adventure on both the Swiss and French side of the lake. One of the most popular tourist stops along the lake is found in the heart of the french side of the lake called Evian. Why is it a tourist trap? Because of Evian water. That cool alp spring water that is bottled there and sold at your local grocery store for an exuberant price. What many people fail to miss as they scurry to the spring of tourism that is Evian, is the quaint town of Yvoire.

Located 30 Kilometers or so west of Evian on the shore of Lake Geneva, Yvoire is a medieval town steeped in history. A town, predominantly owned by the Savoys back in the day, that has seen it share of battles and history through the centuries. Today, the village of Yvoire is recognized as one of the International Laureates of Floral Decorations and is a member of the Association of the Most Beautiful Villages of France. Why is it considered one of the most beautiful villages in France? Well I'll tell you.

The journey to get there itself is relaxing and picturesque. To get there you can drive or do what i did and take one of Lake Geneva's steamships across the Lake from the Swiss side. Riding the ship is a good way to see the area. You will find yourself on the lake surrounded by the alps, sailboats, and the occasional kayak or paddle boat.

Once in the village, spending some time relaxing around the towns medieval ruins helps you to take in the experience. The village is filled with different craft and souvenir shops as well as your pick of gelato and crepe stands. Ducks and Swans lounge by the lake side and are always up for a snack from visitors.

By far one of the main reasons that it is recognized as one of France's treasures is that it is bursting with a variety flowers and shrubbery. Walking down the narrow medieval streets and corridors one notices that the stone walls, quaint homes, and shop entrances are bathed in green vines and bursting with colorful flowers of all kinds. I suggest going in the spring months when everything is in bloom. People spend hours wandering the streets of the village, indulging themselves in mountains of gelato and relaxing on the pier next to the castle taking in the floral beauty and historical architecture that remains from centuries of history. This is by far one of my favorite little gems in Europe.

Yvoire is a historical time capsule that is as much a must see as Evian minus the crowds. Its medieval city walls and stone clad castle ruins give the village a sense of Romanticism and intrigue. Blooming flowers and vibrant vines will help you to relax and enjoy a small piece of the beauty that Europe has to offer.

Becoming a Culinary Explorer

As a lover of sweet pastries, savory meats, and spicy entrees, I would like to express my thanks to every immigrant that has ever picked up there lives and moved to another country. It is because of these people that I get to enjoy such a delicious variety of cuisine almost on a daily basis. Throughout history, people have taken their cultures and brought them with them wherever they have dwelt. When these people arrived in their new destination, they cooked the only thing they new how, which lucky for us, were their cultural culinary staples. Over time people began to integrate these recipes into our every day culture and now days we can become culinary explorers.

A few years back, I was living in Arizona trying to survive the heat. Arizona is home to a vast Hispanic population and it is reflected in their cuisine and urban areas. Throughout the Phoenix valley, the landscape seems to be dotted with Mexican restaurants, taco stands, and bicycle vendors. During my first week living there I was invited by a wonderful Mexican family to celebrate a birthday of one of the family members. When it came time to eat, the tables were piled high with all the Mexican staples, beef tongue (lengua), beef cheek (cabeza), all kinds of pork, tamales, carne asada, and mountains of rice and beans. Being my first week there and having never tried these things, i strapped on my culinary exploring napkin and went to work. Low and behold, lengua and cabeza were amazing. I couldn't get enough of it. After living in AZ for a few years, i became so accustomed to spicy Mexican food, that it was hard to eat anything else. Thanks to people like this wonderful family, gringos like myself can enjoy this type of food just about wherever i go.

If one looks around our country and the world, you can truly see how the food is reflected in the culture. Centuries ago, people did the best with what they had and the food keeps evolving to become more and more delicious. By traveling around, one can best learn of a county's culture by trying the food. One of the main reasons for traveling, especially outside the country, is to learn and experience another culture. While traveling do me a favor, be brave and try the food. Trust me you will be surprised how awesome the food and culture really are. Please don't go to a McDonald's unless it is the last option. Being a culinary explorer will help to enhance your view of the world and help you to fall in love with a culture and its food.

Why Travel?

Greetings, my name is Erik and I like to travel. Why do I like to travel? Traveling unveils new worlds, cultures, experiences, foods, languages, and people to me that i can't get from sitting in the office all day or from thumbing through channels on my living room couch. Travel thrusts me out of my comfort zone and into a zone where exploration and learning is  encouraged. I am an artist and graphic designer and one of the only fountains of inspiration i can receive is through travel. Travel truly helps you to appreciate your own life and gives introspection on the past. Robert Louis Stevenson said, "For my part, I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake. The great affair is to move."

Why do people travel?  I have met several people throughout my travel experience who travel for different reasons. Some are like me who want to learn about different cultures and discover the picturesque grandeur found in nature. Others are wanting a vacation from their day to day lives. Others seek to find themselves.

Several months ago I had the opportunity to hike to the St. Bernard's Monastery and stay a few nights
in this centuries old hospice. Nestled at the tops of the alps on the boarder of Italy and Switzerland, this monastery has been helping pilgrims, travelers, and tourists navigate their path through the alps as well as their pathway through life. While spending time there, I was able to truly "meditate" on life and where my path was leading me. Several other travelers were also seeking signs to their own pathway in life. Travel frequently allows you to discover different parts of the world as well as give you a chance to reflect inward on life's great journey.

Travel can be such a gift to so many. Sometimes we don't seem to take advantage of it enough. To me personally, travel is a gift. Eight years ago I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's Disease. I've spend thousands of hours bedridden and under the surgeons scalpel. The experience has truly taught me what a blessing it is to get out and experience the world as much as possible because life can slow you down without warning. I think that is another reason why travel is so inspirational to me.

Inspiring travel has helped so many and continues to uplift us. What does traveling mean to you?