My husband and I are headed to a new-to-us part of the world Friday. It has me thinking how incredibly blessed I am. As a kid, the farthest I had traveled was Niagara Falls and touching Mexico. I always dreamed about seeing more of the world I had read about, but didn’t think I’d ever have the opportunity to do so.
Immediately after graduating from college, I spent two and a half weeks, predominately in Budapest and Aix-en-Provence. I touched Vienna, Zurich, and Geneva. It was an amazing time navigating a continent by myself while staying with families on both ends. It truly was an incredible and growing experience.
Enter my jobs.
Early in my career I traveled to Camloops, Canada, to teach a weekend workshop. My husband joined me, and while I was teaching, he arranged for us to take the Canadian Rocky Mountaineer train from Camloops to Banff. It was an amazing day on the train, followed by a day or two in Banff. For a girl who loves mountains, it was a truly incredible trip.
For our tenth anniversary Eric planned a five day trip to London. It was wonderful, but not nearly long enough.
Then with Purdue, as a family we’ve spent two months in Hanover, Germany, with many weekend excursions to Frankfort, Berlin, Regensburg, and more. We had a month in Siena, Italy, with trips to Rome and Florence. Last summer I had two and a half weeks in Florence with a day trip to Venice. That doesn’t touch on the trips to Nottingham and York, England, for conferences with quick stays in Glasgow and Edinburgh. I also traveled as a student (in the MBA program) to Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Each of these has been a mind-expanding experience.
Traveling is a great way to get ideas for novels. It’s a fantastic way to push me out of my comfort zone. I grow and change with the experiences. But the reality is my list of places to go never shrinks. Today I’m giving away a copy of Shadowed by Grace, a trip to Italy in a book. Good luck!
Where would you like to travel next?
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Mezza says
I would love to travel to Israel!
It would be wonderful to visit Jesus’ hometown, and all the famous historical sites there. I feel it would a life-changing journey
Cara Putman says
I would love to go there, too!
Marti says
I would love to go to Rome. To the Vatican .
Cara Putman says
The Vatican was amazing!
Vivian Furbay says
I would like to travel to Savannah, GA and Charleston, SC.
Cara Putman says
I would love to go there as well!
MJSH says
Would love a tour through Europe.
Sherri G says
I recently finished reading “There You’ll Find Me” by Jenny B. Jones. (I loved that book!). It reawakened my desire to see the beauty of Ireland. I know I’ll never go but I’ve always wanted to.
Melanie Backus says
We are actually driving to Alaska in June. I think it will be a great adventure.
Shirley Chapel says
Our traveling days are over. I always wanted to see England to visit relatives and cousins that live there but it just didn’t happen. We have traveled to different places in the US and Canada and had some lovely vacations.
Kay Garrett says
If money was no problem and now that we are retired, I would love to see all the beautiful sights in the great USA like the giant redwood trees, Bryce Canyon and Mount Rushmore to give a few examples. I have never had a desire to travel to a foreign country and with so much beauty and uniqueness in our own country I see no need to go elsewhere.
Bonnie says
I would love to see England and Ireland! But I will be content to read about them through the eyes of others!
Elizabeth Litton says
I would love to travel to Ireland. Places that are a part of my heritage always intrigue me!
Kris M says
I really want to go to China – and Australia! I’ve been fortunate that through my husband’s work and now my daughter’s work I’ve been able to see most of Europe but, like you Cara, my list of places I want to go doesn’t seem to be getting smaller because there are so many places to go!
Linda McFarland says
My needs are very simple. I enjoy visiting my mom who lives several states away. Making memories with her is one of my favorite things to do.
Bev Knudsen says
I would love to visit London.
Betty Strohecker says
I would like to take a river cruise along the Danube through Europe.
Suzanne Sellner says
While I live in the United States and have been to Canada, Mexico, and Honduras, I’ve mostly traveled abroad to England and western Europe (England, The Netherlands, France, Germany, Italy, and Belgium). Last summer I went to The Czech Republic and will return again this summer. I still want to visit Scotland, Ireland, and Wales. I now have friends in India and China, so perhaps I’ll someday visit those countries. The amazing part is that people from most countries have come to the United States, and I can get to know them here.
Darlene Allen says
Hi Cara,
I love mountains too! I am blessed to live in beautiful BC,Canada with a view of the mountains.
Switzerland would be my choice for a place to visit because of the mountains and scenery.
Perrianne Askew says
I want to go on the Canadian Rocky Mountaineeer Train also. Alaska is also on my bucket list. I would also like to see more of the US. Maybe some fall foliage in West Virginia or something like that. Thank you formthe giveaway opportunity.
Jen says
Like you we have done quite a lot of travel in our marriage. Our honeymoon was 2 and a half months wandering around Europe. I was teaching and had summer break and my husband was in Law school so we avoided rent payments.😀
We have visited Niger, India and in the last 10 years Peru with mission experiences. In many of these places we got to worship with believers and experience a little of singing with that cloud of witnesses the Bible talks about.
If our health improves I would love to visit Spain and Morocco.
jcp says
Canada
Betti says
We are hoping to do a river cruise in Europe next year for our 30th anniversary. That will encompass the Netherlands, Germany, Austria and Hungary I believe. Other than that, I would love to travel down under to New Zealand and Australia.
Janet Estridge says
I would like to travel on the train, especially the “Orient Express”.
It would be nice to have someone wait on me for a change, instead of the other way around.
Beverly Duell-Moore says
I would travel to Armenia! That is where my grandfather was born. There’s a long story to this but, he saw his family massacred.About fifty years later he found out his brother survived. For many years I’ve been trying to find his brother’s family.
My brother found the family last May. I want to go meet my cousins and get to know them. We do keep in touch on FB and Skype. I want to walk the places that my grandfather walked and see his country of birth.
Paula Shreckhise says
I’d like to travel to Scotland, Ireland and England. The farthest I’ve traveled was to Guam in the early 70’s when hubby was stationed there in the Navy. Spent four years there.
Megan L. says
I’d like to travel to Ireland and Scotland. It would be cool to see the various cities, countryside and especially the castles.
Autumn Saunders says
Honestly, I would love to go to Italy or England for sure. My family and I were doing research through ancestry.com and found out that we have some Italian in our blood and never knew it. We also found out that we have a ton of English heritage as well. I love history and would find it awesome to go to either of these countries to learn more.(:
Winnie Thomas says
I would like to go to New England. I’d also like to go back to Switzerland and Scotland and explore them further.
marlene says
Loved Banff when I lived there for 7 years. Been to Europe once and saw some of it. Would love to go back to Europe and explore it more.
Una Ireland says
I would love to go back to England where my husband is from. He has taken me there three time. I would like to find out more about his ancestors while there and maybe also go to Ireland.
Susan Heim says
I would love to travel to Australia, although I would be willing to travel almost anywhere! Outside the United States, I’ve only been to Japan, Canada, London, Paris and Jamaica so far. There are still plenty of places to see!
Nicole Santana says
I would love to go to Israel, and I’ve always dreamed of seeing Ireland and Italy.
Have fun on your vacation!
Patti Hansen says
I want to go to England, Bavaria, and the Mediterranean.
Ola Norman says
I’d love to visit all the national parks
Cheryl H. says
My favorite places I’ve traveled are Italy and Ireland, and I’d love to go back.
Linda Horin says
There are so many places I want to go it’s hard to choose! Israel, Italy, Ireland (that’s a lot of “I” places), England, Alaska, and I could go on! I also want to travel around the U.S. and just stop and see whatever strikes my interest. There’s just so much to see…
Iola says
I’ve visited 20+ countries, 20+ US states, and have lived in London and New Zealand. My dream trip would be to Nashville, to attend the ACFW conference, because that’s two things I’ve never done.
Lucy Reynolds says
I would love to visit The a Holy Land, England, Belize, or anywhere as I’ve never gotten to travel.
Mary Hart says
We would love to go to Hawaii! My husband was stationed there for a while when he was in the service & has always wanted to go back!
Mallori says
My parents and I will be traveling to Hawaii next month. That is one state I have always wanted to visit. I would love to travel to England someday.
Terri says
France for the WWI battlefields and Germany to all the hometowns of my ancestors.
Kelly says
Hello, I enjoyed your post but have one typo for you. Kamloops is the correct spelling of the city in British Columbia.
Dianna says
I’d love to take my mom back to Okinawa.
Caryl Kane says
In May, I’m traveling to Israel! 🙂