Five Things I Love About Traveling

Out of the many things I've loved doing with my husband these last few years, one of my very favorites has been traveling all over the place on lots of budget friendly trips. From our sixteen day adventure to Europe with backpacks to our Spring Break Road Trips and fully point-paid trips, travel has been a huge (and incredibly fun) part of our marriage. If you follow along on Instagram, you got a few glimpses of the four days we spent in Vegas this week, and I'll be sharing more of them next week when I share some of the sides of Vegas that you may not know about. After reflecting on our trip, and taking a moment to send up a little hallelujah for the short week of school this week, I'm giving traveling a little shout out today on the blog, along with a collection of some of my best travel tips. Here are five things I truly love about traveling (and why I think you'd love it too!)

1. The Chance to See the World

It's crazy to think about how many people haven't even been out of their state, much less seen the rest of the United States. I was blessed as a child to grow up going on lots of vacations to places like Washington DC, DisneyWorld, and the ocean, but I know that's not always the norm. I love the opportunity that travel brings to explore and to realize that there is so much out there that is different than all I've known. I hadn't been out of the country until our Honeymoon to Cancun, and now I have a major travel bug with lots of foreign countries still on my list. Excited to knock Greece off the list this summer!

2. The Perfect (Much-Needed) Getaway

I love my job, my home, and the vast majority of my life right now...but let's be real: everyone needs a little escape sometimes. Traveling is the perfect way to put down the papers, turn off the computer, and simply take some time to unwind, read a book, lay by a beach, or just step away from the reality of everyday life. I mean seriously, how beautiful is this place where we rung in 2015?

3. The Element of Adventure

While I definitely do my share of planning before our trips, there is something so fun about the spontaneity and adventure that trips bring. Some of my very favorite travel moments have been ones that weren't planned, or necessary even desired- but they quickly become wonderful memories full of laughter and fun. From hacking into Hulu to watch the Bachelorette finale overseas, to finding a DSLR camera on the side of the road during a bathroom pitstop, our vacations have never been boring!

4. The Life-long Memories

I've said it before and I'll say it again: I would rather have a lifetime full of travel memories and seeing the world than a big house full of lots of stuff. I would much rather spend money on travel than pretty much anything else, and I truly treasure all of the memories that we've had thus far. To us, travel is something worth budgeting for and investing in....with a lot of travel points thrown in the mix to make things nice and cheap!

What better way to track your travels across the nation than with a travel photo map? Here's how to make your own! 

5. The Chance to Appreciate What I Take for Granted

One of the very first posts I wrote after returning home from Europe was this post on Five Things I Took for Granted. Traveling helps me to remember just how great things really are at home, and how blessed I am to have running free water and a car that I can hop in and drive whenever I want. Oh, and free parking and bathrooms are great too, am I right? I loved seeing the culture in all of the different countries that  we visited, and I honestly feel like I'm a better, more understanding and appreciative person because of our journeys.

I'm slightly obsessed with travel research and planning, especially when it comes to doing so with points and a limited budget. If you'd like some help or travel advice, let me know. I'd love to help!

Currently,
Kelsie

Here are some other posts on travel (and how we make it cheap) that you may like:

How to Fly to Europe for (Almost) Free

The Hyatt Credit Card: Stay for Free

The IHG Rewards Credit Card: Stay for Free

Southwest Rapid Rewards Card: Fly Free

How to Plan (and Survive) an Overseas Trip

Preparing for an Adventure: Packing Cubes

I'm linking up with A. Liz Adventures,  The Diary of a Real Housewife, Uniquely Unfolded, Grace and Love Blog,  Running for Cupcakes, and Life in Leggings.