• Date: February 4, 2013
• Author: The Time-Crunched Traveler
• 5 Comments

We push our physical limits, carry our possessions on our backs, eat strange foods, battle language barriers, stay in cheap hostels, get dirty, get sick, dodge dangerous insects, and seek new adventures.

We travel the world, with no plans to stop.

If you’re reading this, you probably do it, too.

But why?

I know why I keep traveling, and I also know why the way we travel will no doubt change over time.

But what I really want to know is: why do you travel?

What inspires you to pack your bags and what keeps you going?

Here’s what you had to say:

“Fernweh: Farsickness. A longing or aching for a place you have never been. Before losing my travel virginity to New Zealand’s ravishing and gloriously naked landscapes, there was something festering in me deep down inside me for a very long time. I couldn’t explain it, but the more and more I ignored it, the more I grew fiercely negative and increasingly unhappy. You see, there is a legacy with my family; sacrifice your body and soul to a labor job until old age catches you, or the back breaking work takes you. There was nothing over the horizon to look towards. Live to work was what I was raised on, and anything remotely fantastical or different was classified as a young boy’s foolishness.

But once I started humoring myself about a life on the road and exploring the world, a chord was struck. I knew instantly that I was meant for this. The raw desire of adventure, the curiosity of a wayward wanderer, the open-minded nomad searching for knowledge, the backpacker bonds created with strangers. That traveler spirit is what inspires me, the gloves-off-fight-for-it attitude that drives us out of the comfort zones and into the wild. If fate had it’s way I would be in a 9-5 until my last breath, but fate is for those too weak to determine their own destiny, and us travelers are lionhearted.” — Ryan Brown of Just Chuckin’ It

“What inspires me to travel? The feeling of the suitcase on the cobblestone….man!” — Robbie Dunne

“The wise Theodore Bikel once said, “You can’t expect the entire world to come to New York to see you. You have to travel to them.” Looking around at all the pocket neighborhoods in my city…the Dominicans in Inwood, the Chinese in Flushing, the Greeks in Astoria…I feel extremely grateful to be in a place that embraces every culture, cuisine, religion, and language. Having the opportunity to interact with so many different kinds of people on a daily basis has only heightened my desire to head to JFK and take the next plane to anywhere, because what may only be a taste of that culture in New York is an entire seven course meal in the waiting. And why take a single hors d’oeuvre when you can have a feast?” — Jessica Tiare Bowen of UsedYorkCity

“Our travel inspiration comes from a unique source. We don’t travel for the exotic locations, interesting culture, scrumptious food, or even the adrenalin rush of zip lining through a lush jungle. We love all those things! But our true travel inspiration comes from just being together. Luci and I have been traveling together for 15 years. Each year we take turns picking the destination. Thus we bounce back and forth from traveling to Europe to see castles and artwork then the next year we head deep into the amazon and safari in Africa. We love carving out time to spend time together discovering a new adventure. Inspiration comes from the chance to experience something new together.” — Mike Willits of 1000Fights

“I travel to have control of my life; to know that I won’t wake up one day and wonder how I ended up in the life I am living; to know that the pillow (or balled up sweatshirt) I lay my head on at night was the result of a deliberate choice; to know that I’m not just drifting.” — Julie Robe of The Fairy Trails Travel

“I travel because I yearn for the experiences that I can only get from visiting new places and exploring other cultures. I travel because I believe this is the only chance we have, so why not do what we love? I travel because the world is an amazing place, and I am lucky enough to be able to experience it. I also travel because I love taking pictures, and there are only so many I can take of the bits around me.” - Laurence Norah of Finding the Universe

“My endless curiosity wants to explore new places & cultures. To see the all these amazing spots is pure inspiration!” - Anita of Travelita

“I’ve been an avid traveler since I was an exchange student to Japan in high school. Travel engenders learning about other people, cultures, food, history, architecture, art, customs, health and healing. It allows one the opportunity to try new experiences and transform themselves and others through meaningful exchange!” - Camille Hoheb of Wellness Tourism Worldwide

“I’ve been traveling/backpacking for 19 months…it’s become a passion!!! I travel to experience and learn new cultures, learn history, see the beauty of the world, evolve mentally, grow as a person and, to see the world through new eyes everyday.” — Emmie Jae Willis

“Travelling allows you to discover new things, new cultures, new people and it makes you think about who you really are: you look at your country from outside and become more understanding with all type of differences. It also opens your mind and makes you alive.” — Aurélia Bizouard

“Sitting on a deserted beach in Koh Phangan watching the sun rise. Wearing the same clothes I wore yesterday. My nails have no polish on them. My feet are covered in band aids. I haven’t dried my hair in weeks. I threw away my travel bag and several belongings three cities ago. I am blissfully unaware of the unimportant things I left in New York. And yet extremely cognizant of the fact that life is short and at the end of it all you have are your experiences, the things you tried and perhaps failed at, the relationships you’ve built along the way. All the rest - absolute bullshit.” - Koren Cohen of City Gal on the Go

“I travel mostly for a change of scenery. When I’m away, I like to walk, bike, swim, read, watch tv, eat and cook. These are the things I like to do at home too. I just like to do them somewhere else. Different scenery feels like it wakes up my brain. I’m mostly not interested in museums, monuments, or famous historical sites. I also travel to get doses of hot weather and avoid winter.” — 30traveler

“I travel for some of the same reasons that lots of others do — enjoy seeing new and vastly different places and cultures, and experiencing some of the best of what this world has to offer. But my wanderlust has an additional motivation: my World Karaoke Tour. I’m on a perpetual quest to sing karaoke in as many different geographic locations as possible. So far I’ve sung karaoke in 27 countries plus Easter Island. And by the end of May 2013 I’ll be up to 30 countries on the tour! And I do it all while working at a full-time job, so your website is definitely an inspiration to me.” — Harvey of H-Bomb’s Worldwide Karaoke

Thanks to all of you who shared your travel inspiration with us!

 

What inspires you to keep traveling?

Feature image photo credit