by Andrew Browers

Created on: March 29, 2007   Last Updated: October 31, 2008

There was time when people never left a twenty-mile radius of their birthplace. Thankfully, those days are long gone, and the world is full of wanderlust. So why should you consider traveling, too? There are plenty of great reasons to hop on a plane, train, or automobile. Here are a few.

1) Even HDTV cannot do justice to the beauty of the world. You have to see it for yourself to smell the spray of waterfalls, to feel your stomach drop a little as you peek over the edge of the Grand Canyon, to look up to see the sky occupied by soaring mountains. People like to look at nice things, and there are few things that are nicer than the things nature has to offer.

2) It's fun to meet new people. And while you can meet a new neighbor or co-worker from the comfort of your home, you will certainly not meet a Japanese sushi chef, a Scottish fisherman, or an African farmer unless you hit the road (or the air or seas, of course). Go make some interesting new friends!

3) Travel teaches us about ourselves. When we are removed from our everyday routines, our character is really allowed to shine through. We can learn things from other cultures we encounter (even if only from another State), and reflect upon our own culture-how they're different, how they're the same, and how they could benefit from each other.

4) Travel makes you a more interesting person. You just know that if you go on a trek through Borneo on the back of a donkey, you're going to come back with at least one amazing story.

5) The world is changing. New Orleans may never be the same. Mountains are losing their snow caps. Humans are spreading in places they hadn't been. So take this opportunity to see the things are still there. Sometimes, it really is 'now or never.'

Happy travels!

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