I can barely hold in the excitement over the fact that it is finally my favorite month of the year! Not only is it my birthday month, but the scenery is beautiful with the changing colors, the weather is perfect and you can get just about anything pumpkin-flavored.

So, that means I’ve been alive almost 20 years. I know I’ve got a lot more to learn in my time here on earth, but if there’s one lesson I’ve learned so far, it’s this: Travel.

To me, traveling is so important. Every trip you take, you learn something. What you learn could vary. It could be about yourself, another person or maybe the place you are visiting. Traveling makes you wealthy in memories. It may cost some money and you may not get any physical items out of it, but the knowledge, memories and wisdom you gain are priceless.

I try to travel as much as I can. In the last five years, I’ve been to England, Scotland, a pit stop in Iceland, New York state once, New York City twice, Texas twice, Chicago, Wisconsin a handful of times, Northern Minnesota a handful of times, South Dakota, North Dakota and California for the first time ever this year.

Currently, I’m planning two trips. One is for later this month for fall break. I’m thinking maybe the Badlands in South Dakota or somewhere scenic in Minnesota, such as Stillwater. The second trip is in January. I’ll be going to Portland for a wedding photographer seminar. I would love to start that trip off by stopping in Seattle first, since I’ve never been there, and there is just something about it that draws me to it. I’d also like to end my trip by heading down to the Sacramento area to visit my goddaughter before heading back to Minnesota. If that’s what I end up doing, my trip would be about two weeks long. That would be the longest I’ve ever been away from home, but I’d meet so many new people, end up at two destinations I’ve never been, get to see family and most likely learn a lot about myself.

I’m so excited for upcoming travel in my life. Even if you don’t have the opportunity to travel far away, travel locally. Need a little escape? Make a drive out in the country for a few hours or drive through all of the tiny towns in your area. It’s refreshing to see somewhere new.

 

Erin Murtaugh is an undergraduate at Bemidji State University studying elementary education. She can be reached at murtaugh.erin@gmail.com.