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June 28, 2010

The Value of Travel

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In listening to most travelers, and maybe a few travel writers, one would think that the best adventures are those found and sought out in distant lands. One would also believe that the best stories, the best pictures, or the most bragging rights come from these exotic, far-reached trips.

Though I love and dream of travel to far, exotic places just as much as the next person, I still hope to send the message that it’s really not where you travel or how far you go, but rather what you get from any experience you take on whether it be around the corner, or in distant lands, with your kids or not. And though I do think it is important to travel outside of your safety zone and beyond the borders of what is your norm, I also think that if we only give value to those trips, we risk taking for granted the things we could learn from that which is right in front of our faces.

More often than not we get caught up in the pretty pictures on glossy travel magazines and then, when looking at the reality of our lives (and our budgets), it is so incredibly easy to come to the conclusion that maybe these things are something outside of our reach. This than leads to us proclaiming that travel is just “not something we can do right now” because of the kids, because of our budget, because of our jobs, or all of the aforementioned.

As someone who went from traveling often to not traveling at all to rediscovering travel that fits my life, I have to agree with the famous quote (which apparently is despised by many of my peers, though I am not really sure why) “it’s the journey, not the destination”.

The point is that no matter how lackluster a destination may seem superficially, when one searches deeper one can find that there is always the possibility the experience can lead to something worthwhile and positively unforgettable.

I have often been given advice to not go to certain places because “there is nothing to do there”, but I have to wonder: is there really nothing to do there, or has the person just failed to discover it? I have also spoken to seasoned travelers who have gone to what I believe to be amazing places, yet they have walked away without ever seeing why it is so.

My 3-year-old felt inspired by the one destination that has lead to his most memorable adventures: home. All on his own and without instruction, he was able to recreate these memories through play. Represented here are a few of his favorite sites and destinations: zoo, farm, skyscrapers, heliport, airport, and more. From where I stand, this is invaluable and the measure of successful travel.

Create your own adventure, set forth on your own journey. Don’t let others dictate its worth. Open your mind and let your curiosity guide you. And finally remember, no adventure lacks in value, no matter how near or far.

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Carol Cain

Brooklyn native Carol is happiest when on an adventure, whether close to home or farther away. She is a small business owner and travel writer. In addition to creating Girl Gone Travel, she is the Founder and Principal of Brave World Media, a social media marketing, communications, and branding agency. She's mom to three wonderful sons and wife to a handsome Irish/Scot. She lives, works, and plays in the beautiful Finger Lakes region of NY.

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1 Comment
  • Travis
    June 28, 2010

    I love that he built that city…and not just for the sole intent of knocking it down either! He took his time and made it beautiful.

    Reply

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About me

Hi! I'm Carol! I am an award-winning travel blogger, a keynote speaker, and the Principal and owner of Brave World Media, a social media marketing, communications, and branding agency. I a wife to a handsome Irish/Scot and a mom to 3 sons. Welcome to my blog where I share stories of my travels and professional public relations insights and advice. Thank you for reading and for your support!

Carol Cain

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Follow @girlgonetravel

A message about yesterday’s event: Happy Monday A message about yesterday’s event:

Happy Monday, y’all. Woke up in time to enjoy the soft glow of sunlight that shines its way around our house in the morning, and sipped on a cafecito without being rushed for anything. So already today is a win. 

Yesterday we worked our longest day yet for our little coffee cart that could (7 hours!!!) at the Heritage Fiesta in Ithaca, NY. 

Though we were ready for a crowd, the reception was also unexpected because there was a popular coffee shop just steps away. 

But we had Cómodo Fam stop by, family (who also fed us 🙏🏾), and soooo many members of the Latinx and BIPOC community who were just excited to see a small business like ours representing. 

I want to share that we were ALL worried about potential harassment and assault by 🧊and fliers were handed out to prepare us. And you would think that it would’ve intimidated the community enough to not come out…BUT WE DID. In numbers. 

And for hours that little parking lot next to Press Bay Alley was packed with all sorts of Latinx and non-Latinx community members, eating, laughing, dancing, singing, and drinking all the cafecitos and refreshers we had to offer. Literally. We went home cleaned out!

All this to say that we are all aware of the threats but we also understand the power and importance of coming together as a community and a people. By no means are we all the same, and Lord knows a lot of Latinos have a lot of self-reflecting to do based on the choices they made, but yesterday was a testament to the best of us, and I thank @yenospina and @lcatompkins for putting together such a wonderful event, for inviting @cafecomodony to be a part of it, and to all the friends, old and new, who came out to support us and la cultura. 

#fingerlakes #newyork #cafecomodo #coffeelover
Finally taking a break to enjoy one of my favorite Finally taking a break to enjoy one of my favorite lazy day pastimes of the season: market shopping for fall goodies - which in the Finger Lakes is especially bountiful. 

📍Joseph’s Wayside Markey, Naples, NY

#fingerlakes #newyork #octobermood #fallday
Our neighbors are harvesting the grapes. The proce Our neighbors are harvesting the grapes. The process is busy and noisy but also exciting and fun to watch. 

This cloudy morning seems to have calmed things down a bit, but not for long I am sure. These families work hard!

Bonus: they set up roadside stands so we can purchase and taste them 🍇 I highly recommend picking some up if you see some in your drive. 

#fingerlakes #lifeinthecountry #newyork
The rain has been so good. More, please. ❤️ The rain has been so good. More, please. ❤️
I want to take moment to send out love to my fello I want to take moment to send out love to my fellow Latinx and immigrant community. 

To send strength to my community of glorious misfits who are out in the world making good trouble and emboldening us to not give up hope on our dreams, our livelihoods, our future, our country, our people. 

The country our parents worked so hard to get to so that we could fly. A country they helped build and bring to prosper. A country our communities help to feed and house and care for. 

I am my immigrant parents dream come true, and my children are a continuation of that dream. 

I just want to remind all of us who represent the targeted, of our worth. Of the value of our contributions. In our languages, our culture, our insights, our work ethic and skills and knowledge. Of the things we bring to the table.

I don’t know what will happen tomorrow, or to us. But, as someone whose family lived through a dictatorship, I have an idea of how this story will end. And all I can advise is that we remain on the right side of it, our convictions unaltered, our core values untethered. Our spirits unbroken. In these stories, the monsters might scare us, and even harm some of us, but they never, ever win in the end. 

I am living proof of that. ❤️ And every time you succeed and feel joy, you are too. Pa’lante, mi gente.
Signs of autumn 🍂 in the Finger Lakes. Signs of autumn 🍂 in the Finger Lakes.

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