love have travel

Song Meanings and Facts

• The Black Keys

Have Love Will Travel by The Black Keys Lyrics Meaning – Exploring the Depths of a Modern Blues Odyssey

by SMF AI · Published January 16, 2024 · Updated April 26, 2024

• Music Video

The Eternal Quest for Connection and Belonging

Uncovering the song’s hidden meaning: love as a driving force, a resonance that transcends time: the universality of blues, the anthem of the hopeful romantic: memorable lines that captivate, modern nomads: wanderlust fueled by the heart.

I travel from Maine down to Mexico To find that girl that loves me so No matter where I’ll be I’ll find that girl and she satisfy me Have love will travel Have love will travel

If you need lovin’ Oh baby, I travel

If you need lovin’ Oh baby, I travel I might take a boat and I take a plane I might hitch-hike or jump a railroad train

Your kind of love drive a man insane So look for me walkin’ just any old way Have love will travel Have love will travel

Full Lyrics

Among the rumbling guitar riffs and raw, unvarnished vocals of The Black Keys, lies the track ‘Have Love Will Travel’. At first glance, it may seem like another blues rock anthem about a man’s quest for love, but a closer inspection reveals layers of emotional texture and a universal narrative about human connection and resilience.

The stark simplicity of the lyrics, combined with the gritty, foot-stomping rhythm, encapsulates a journey of the heart that is both personal and universal. The willingness to traverse great distances for love is an age-old theme, but The Black Keys manage to infuse it with a fresh sense of urgency and poignancy in this modern blues classic.

The narrative of ‘Have Love Will Travel’ suggests a protagonist who is restless, driven by a profound need to seek out and grasp that elusive spark of love. The idea of traveling from ‘Maine down to Mexico’ is symbolic of the lengths one might go to find the person who ‘loves me so’, an odyssey that is not just geographical, but also emotional.

This relentless search is indicative of the human condition: our innate desire for connection and belonging, a theme that resonates deeply in the collective consciousness. The Black Keys tap into this universal quest seamlessly, providing not just a backbeat for the journey, but a shared anthem for all seekers of connection.

Beneath the gritty exterior of tireless travel and undying commitment, ‘Have Love Will Travel’ serves as an allegory for the transformative power of love. It isn’t just a love song; it’s a testament to love’s ability to propel us into action, to inspire us to overcome any obstacle, and to persist against all odds.

The Black Keys do not just sing about love; they sing about a love so potent that it ignites a boundless journey. The relentless pursuit is not only physical but also deeply metaphoric for the inner journey we undergo when we are motivated by love—whether it be romantic, platonic, or self-love.

At its core, The Black Keys’ rendition respects the universal appeal of blues music. The song echoes the heartache and the highs that have been sung about in countless taverns and on lonesome roads. Blues is the grand equalizer, and in ‘Have Love Will Travel’, we hear the echoes of every traveler who has ever set out in pursuit of heart’s yearning.

This connection to the blues tradition is part of why the song resonates with so many. It taps into a continuity of experience that spans generations, making it as relevant today as it would have been a half-century ago.

Lyrics like ‘If you need lovin’, oh baby, I travel’ serve as a rallying cry for the hopeful romantic. These lines aren’t just memorable for their simplicity; they stand out because they encapsulate a declaration of willingness that is both personal and extravagant.

It’s a poetic affirmation of availability and readiness to seek and to cherish love, reaching out to listeners in their own quests and reminding them of the fervent passion that lies within the promise of love — a sentiment as timeless as the blues itself.

The Black Keys capture the nomadic spirit of the modern era with ‘Have Love Will Travel’. The song’s reflectiveness evokes imagery of the solo traveler, hitchhiking, riding trains, and crossing continents. Yet, what the song truly suggests is an emotional journey, charting a map of the heart that doesn’t rely on physical distance, but on the vast expanses of human emotion.

In an age of hyperconnectivity, the song harkens back to a rawer, more primal form of connection — the physical quest for love and understanding. It’s a reminder that, despite all advancements, the need for love remains the most powerful impetus for movement and discovery.

Related posts:

• I’m Not the One by The Black Keys Lyrics Meaning – Unraveling the Emotional Depth of Defiance
• Stop Stop by The Black Keys Lyrics Meaning – The Turmoil of Unreciprocated Love Unraveled
• Mind Eraser by The Black Keys Lyrics Meaning – Peeling Back Layers of Emotional Turmoil
• 11. Mind Eraser by The Black Keys Lyrics Meaning – A Deep Dive into Love’s Labyrinth
• Lies by The Black Keys Lyrics Meaning – Unraveling the Tapestry of Deceit in Modern Love
• All You Ever Wanted by The Black Keys Lyrics Meaning – Exploring the Depths of Desire and Disillusionment
• Girl Is On My Mind by The Black Keys Lyrics Meaning – Unlocking the Obsession and Longing in Heartfelt Rhythms
• Lo/Hi by The Black Keys Lyrics Meaning – Unveiling the Duality of the Human Experience
• Same Old Thing by The Black Keys Lyrics Meaning – A Journey Through the Monotony of Existence
• When The Lights Go Out by The Black Keys Lyrics Meaning – Decoding the Shadows of Human Complexity

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Song Meanings & Facts

• Terms and Conditions

38 Inspiring Travel Love Stories From The Road

If you’re in the mood for romance, or just love a good anecdote, these inspiring travel love stories from the road will have you captivated.

As in, booking a flight in search of your very own  Eat, Pray, Love  story.

Just to fill you in on how this project came to light:

A few months back I sent out an email to my community sharing my personal tips for balancing my relationship in NYC with my trips. The response was incredible, as people wrote me back sharing their own advice and romantic accounts.

With that in mind, I thought it would be interesting to compile a list of romantic stories from other nomads. To do this, I reached out to some of my favorite bloggers to roundup a selection of incredible narratives, from passionate trip flings to underwater engagements to Couchsurfing marriages and beyond.

Honestly, this was a really fun post to read and edit! I think you’ll agree.

After reading the following 38 love and travel stories, let me know in the comments if you’ve got one of your own to add.

And if you’re not sure where to go on your next trip, this free 10-question travel personality quiz can help you discover unique places tailored to your interests!

Psst, don’t forget to pin this post for later!

Table of Contents

Come Travel #BeyondTheGuidebook

Before we dive into this incredible list of romantic stories from the road, I want to invite you to join my inner travel circle via my #BeyondTheGuidebook Newsletter .

It gets sent out once per month and features quirky travel news, inspiring adventures, conscious travel brands, and tons of fun content for curious nomads.

Once you sign up, reply to the welcome email and let me know where you’re heading to next or where you’d like to go. I always love connecting with people in my community.

On that note, let’s dive into the love and travel stories!

1. Love, travel and overcoming long-distance

“Long-distance relationships are not easy. After cutting ties with my crazy ex who stalked me from overseas, I tried my best to stay away from long-distance relationships.

But they say love will find you when you least expect it. Never would I have thought I’d meet the love of my life shortly after moving back to my home country, Taiwan .

It all started in the summer of 2011. A Canadian friend with whom I went to school in Vancouver paid me a visit in Taipei. She brought along her fellow classmates who came for a summer exchange. Among them was my now-husband, Kev.

No, we didn’t hit it off right away.

Actually, it was quite the contrary. I had no impression of him whatsoever; he just wasn’t my type. The turning point actually happened when his friend misdialed my number and invited me out — I guess to make up for the fact that he mistook me for someone else.

It was at that second meetup that his personality really shined through – I had never met a guy who was so witty and caring!

Because he doesn’t speak Mandarin, I volunteered to be his tour guide. We went out several times during his time in Taiwan. From the trendy XiMenDing district to the old town of Jiufen, we explored many parts of the country and made new memories together.

One month had passed and it was time to say goodbye. As much as I despised long distance, I was reluctant to end the friendship there and then.

‘Maybe this time will be different,’ I thought to myself. After all, this is a different person.

So, I decided to give it a shot and made our relationship official on the day he left.

Two years of long-distance.

10,080 km apart.

For 730 days, we fought through 15 hours of time zone difference – thank goodness for modern technology!

Yet the feeling of loneliness was inevitable.

In 2013, I made the bold move to relocate to Calgary, Canada – a city I had never visited before.

Despite having to deal with some serious culture shock, I am glad we could finally put an end to our long-distance relationship.”

-Cat from For Two, Please  

2. A romantic date via Instagram

“While in Thailand, a trip to the 7-Eleven is a must, am I right? I was entering a 7-Eleven in Koh Lanta when I saw this handsome guy looking at me.

‘He must think I’m cute.’

Yes, he was actually staring at me. He paid for his yogurt, gave me another look and, just before he drove off, he looked at me one more time. I was hoping he would say hi, but he didn’t.

Later that day, I got a reply to my Instagram story. Being a blogger , I try to share some travel experience stories on Instagram when I can.

It was a message from him saying, ‘Haha, I thought you looked familiar today at the 7-Eleven. Up for coconuts at the beach?’

He knew my blog.

In fact, he had known A Broken Backpack for several years. We found out later that he even invited me for a coffee when I was in Prague a couple of years back. He had left a comment on a photo where I was announcing I was going to Prague next.

I had declined his invite publicly on Instagram.

In February, we are going to celebrate our first year together. We’ve traveled to several countries since we met. We are both full-travelers and we both work online so the transition was smooth.”

-Melissa from A Broken Backpack

3. Overcoming language barriers

“In 2017 I was staying in a small town on Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast. On my last night there, right before I was scheduled to catch a bus down south, I met a very beautiful local girl.

The irony is that she only spoke Spanish and my Spanish skills were limited at best.

On the night we met, I said that I wasn’t fluent and that she would have to excuse my numerous mistakes. She laughed and didn’t seem to mind at all. We had a lovely evening together but I had to leave the next morning. Like, for good.

We ended up saying goodbye after having met only a few hours beforehand and it was a rather sad ordeal. I was really beating myself up over the circumstances.

Two days later, once I finally arrived and settled into my new destination, I decided to blow off all of my prearranged plans just to go back to that same town and spend more time with her.

Over the course of the next day, I canceled a tour, got a refund on my hostel, booked a new shuttle, and turned right back around for the five-hour return journey. I had been away for about 72 hours by the time my shuttle dropped me off in this town for the second time.

At that point, I had four full days left before flying back to the United States. As you might imagine, I spent almost every waking moment with my new friend.

I took her on a sunset sail tour and she drove me around on her motorcycle. On our last day together, we visited a nearby beach and spent the entire day lounging under the sun and drinking cheap Costa Rican beer while howler monkeys moved along the trees above us.

Although our travel romance only lasted for a few days, it was an extraordinary experience and I’m very lucky to have met her.”

-Michael from Passport Explored

4. Nurturing a relationship in South Korea

“Sitting at a bar rolling silverware at the end of my shift, a shy yet cute guy came up to me and asked to buy me a drink.

A couple of weeks later we started dating and Carl almost immediately asked me to move to South Korea with him. I barely knew the guy, so I told him no and broke up with him.

Carl showed up at my apartment and told me he’d rather have me than Korea and asked if we could try again. While I was hesitant, I said yes and we continued dating; however, six months later I was tired of living in our hometown in West Virginia — so we packed up our bags and booked tickets to South Korea!

We lived in Korea for five years together in one-room apartments and often sleeping on a twin bed. Learning to navigate life in a new country is hard enough, but our relationship wasn’t even a year old when we packed our bags.

In Korea, we started documenting our lives and fell into a community of bloggers and the rest is history!

Korea taught us how wide the world is and my life wouldn’t be the same if Carl hadn’t been bold enough to ask me to move with him.

Ten years after a boy asked me to move to Korea we have a two-year-old and blog about our new home state of North Carolina full-time!”

-Christina from NC Tripping

5. Meeting my soulmate in a hostel in Edinburgh

“When I went backpacking in Europe back in 2011, I expected to meet a handsome foreigner and have a whirlwind romance. Instead, I met a sweet southern US boy who swept me off my feet and became my soulmate.

My husband and I first met in a hostel in Edinburgh, Scotland. We had both chosen the same one because:

A) it was the cheapest one in town, and

B) it was housed in an old church which we both thought was very cool.

We happened to be put in the same dorm room. We had an instant connection and spent a few days exploring Edinburgh together, enjoying whisky, joining in the hostel pub crawl, and so on. It was amazing.

We kept in touch after that — thank you, Facebook — and eventually met up in London.

Eight years and a lot of countries later, we’re married, running a couples’ travel and relationships blog together, and happy as can be.

We’re forever grateful for that fateful meeting in Edinburgh.”

-Amy from Two Drifters

6. Getting to know each other from a distance

“For the longest time, I thought long-distance relationships were impossible. I mean, how can you really get to know someone when you’re not living anywhere near each other?

But that all changed when I met Andy.

It was 2010, and I was living in Atlanta. I tweeted about having trouble setting up the hosting for my website, and Andy, who was living in Freiburg, Germany at the time, saw my tweet and responded with an offer to help.

Despite the six-hour time difference, he stayed up late to wait for me to get home from work, and he helped me with my blog.

It could’ve ended there, but I was intrigued by him. I started reading his blog and emailing him questions about his move from the US to Germany.

Eventually, we started talking on Skype more and more, and it didn’t take long before we started falling in love with each other from 4,000 miles away.

After four months of getting to know each other through Skype and emails, we finally met in person in Prague — a trip I had already booked before we even knew each other. Being with him there felt so natural, and it cleared up the tiny amount of hesitation still lingering in my mind about being in a long-distance relationship.

Over the next few months, I flew to Germany a few times to see him and see where he lived. Then in June 2011, we got married  outside of Atlanta, less than a year after that initial tweet, and a month later, I moved to Germany.

Now we live in Berlin, and we travel quite often. And taking a chance on a long-distance relationship was the best decision I’ve ever made.

Getting to know each other from a distance like that meant we had tons of time where all we could do was talk. If anything, our relationship went at warp speed because we spent hours talking, whereas in a normal dating situation we’d be sitting in silence at a movie theater.

So even though the majority of our relationship was spent on opposite sides of the Atlantic, it was absolutely the right thing for us, and I love him more today than I did the day we got married.”

-Ali from Ali’s Adventures

7. Enjoying a travel fling in Europe

“I absolutely love tour groups because they are the perfect way to meet new people.

The excitement of a fling while traveling is similar to the concept of summer love. It is fast, exhilarating, passionate, and because you know it is eventually going to come to an end there is no reason to hold back.

When experiencing a traveling fling, carpe diem — or seize the day — is key.

This past summer, I went on a 16-day tour from Rome to Lisbon. I was 25 at the time and living in the United States when I met this incredible Australian guy on my tour.

We hit it off right away and would spend hours talking with one another while traveling through the Mediterranean countryside. About halfway through the trip, in Barcelona, we realized that our friendship had developed into something more and wanted to continue traveling together.

We both pushed our flights back to continue our travels and spend more time with each other. We traveled to the beaches of Cascais, explored the gardens of Sintra and danced multiple nights away together in London.

As solo travelers, it was delightful to enjoy this beautiful world with each other and we still talk frequently!”

-Jill from Robe Trotting

8. Traveling with the one you love

“On a trip to Europe with a friend, we were invited to join a table of German guys for a drink. I hit it off with one of them after being intrigued by the tattoo of Argentina on his ankle and we talked about travel, culture and languages between tequila shots and German bars.

The next morning I left on a train to Switzerland and we vowed to keep in touch. Which we did on and off for the next few months when he asked if he could come and visit my new home in Italy. We hired a car and spent a week road tripping Italy and in the end, made our relationship official.

After six months of long-distance, I made the commitment to move to Frankfurt on the condition that we go traveling as soon as he finished his studies.

Two years later we embarked on a 20-month backpacking adventure, which involved a road trip through Eastern Europe, a month Couchsurfing Iran, attending the World Nomad Games in Kyrgyzstan, five months in India and Nepal, a couple of trips back to Germany and finally ended in my home of New Zealand.

We’re currently building our own tiny house on a trailer and planning our next travel adventure!”

-Rohan from Travels of a Bookpacker

9. A Southeast Asia love story

“I left everything behind in Canada to go to Australia solo for a year, ended up meeting my partner — he’s from New Zealand but was living in London at the time and was home visiting family when we met — and he moved back to Australia and we stayed in Australia for five years together!

We then moved to Bali together to start a new adventure, and have been based in Bali for two years with our rescue dog (our baby) Suka. Right now, we’re enjoying slow travel in southeast Asia together.

We are now engaged and planning our Bali wedding for early 2021.

Next stop for us will be to move to Spain for a few years to enjoy the slow travel life in Europe with our little Bali rescue dog!”

-Tia from The Caffeinated Expat

10. Unexpected romance in Cuba

“We didn’t intend to fall in love in Cuba. In fact, we hardly intended to say hello to each other.

We were there on a brief mission trip to host a sports camp for local area youth. Our focus was on the kids and the joy that we could bring them. Yet it seemed like at every meal as we sauntered in to eat, the last two places at the table were always next to each other.

Then there were the times when we were free to wander the streets and we kept running into each other taking pictures of the colorful doors and beautiful people.

It didn’t take long for me to ask her out.

On the last night in Cuba, while the rest of our team headed off for an early bedtime, I asked her to the rooftop bar overlooking Santiago and we shared mojitos together. There was something there. I could feel it. And I sensed this was just the beginning.

The next nine months passed like a blur as we courted, were engaged and then married on New Year’s Eve. We had met in the midst of a traveling adventure, so it would only be fitting that we marry on one, too.

The small island of Utila, 18 miles off the coast of Honduras, had a special place in my heart. And as my bride-to-be knew of this endearing place, she chose it as the place to exchange our vows.

Despite the late-afternoon rain, our pastor forgetting his notes and strangers who wandered into our wedding ceremony — because it happened to be at a seaside bar with the best view of the sunset — we were married as the sun sank into the Caribbean Sea.

The next morning we celebrated our marriage with a dive.

We now live full-time on the road, having just celebrated our sixth year of marriage. What began on the road now continues, for as long as the road will stretch before us.

-Chris and Lindsay from Called to Wander

11. Bonding through travel and photography

“Our love story began at a busy bar in Melbourne on a Monday night in 2016 — perks of being a traveler, Monday night parties!

Yet, it wasn’t until six months later that we started dating.

When we first met, it didn’t take long to realize we liked each other; however, Adam was traveling onwards to travel solo in New Zealand soon after and I was planning to stay in Melbourne. These were plans neither of us was willing to change.

Both Adam (from Oregon, US) and I (from London, UK) had been traveling solo for several years and loved the freedom that came with it, something we were both reluctant to give up.

But fate brought us back together; six months later we both found ourselves in Cairns, Australia, and arranged to meet immediately. We knew instantly that the connection we’d had was still there.

While we had loved traveling independently, we knew these feelings were something we didn’t want to give up. As our visas both reached their expiration in Australia at the same time, we realized we wanted to try this crazy travel life together.

We packed our bags and set off from Cairns to Bali together. We bonded through our passion for photography and love of travel. As we continued on from Bali to Singapore then to England and the USA — where we met each other’s families — we fell in love with each other.

Since then, we’ve traveled to around 15 countries together and across four continents.

Neither of us had expected to fall in love on the road, but that’s exactly what happened.

Without traveling, we would never have met each other or have developed the passion for photography which helped us bond at the beginning.

It hasn’t been without its difficulties, as with all relationships, but having similar interests has meant we’ve rarely had to compromise. Now, we couldn’t imagine traveling any other way.”

-Sophie from We Dream of Travel

12. I fell in love with a stranger through Couchsurfing

“Love crazy short stories ? I met my now ex-boyfriend on the second day I’d been in Santiago, Chile. He was a local, and, thanks to a mutual friend who had stayed at his place a few years previously, was letting me CouchSurf in his spare bedroom for the weekend.

I only stayed there for two days, but we immediately clicked.

It’s quite impressive to find yourself not running out of conversation with someone new — particularly when you’re speaking in a second language that you only have a cursory grasp of.

After that weekend, I headed down into Patagonia for a month, but we stayed in touch and he promised me there would always be space in his spare room if I needed it.

I passed through again on my way out of the country and what was meant to be a week-long stay evolved into a three-year relationship with both him and a country I now see as my second home.

Because of him, I became fluent in Spanish and was even commissioned to write the new Moon Chile guidebook, thanks to my knowledge of the country.

While we eventually broke up amicably — having learned that we didn’t want the same things in life — everything about my life changed because of that decision to take a chance on Couchsurfing with a stranger.”

-Steph from Worldly Adventurer

13. Meeting through Instagram

“Our love story is a bit of a modern one as we actually met via Instagram! I was drone- and travel-obsessed and Boyan ( @boyanoo ) is the best drone photographer from the Netherlands.

I saw his Instagram and was immediately in awe of his drone photos.

Fast forward and he was coming to London, so he sent me a message to see if I could show him around. I had never even seen his face at this point and had no intentions at all!

I had already booked a trip to Amsterdam not long after this and this is when we had our first date, as the London meeting had gone so well we spent the whole week together.

On our first date, we sat in a restaurant for hours while it poured with rain outside. After this, he asked me whether I’d like to travel around England with him in December. I hate the cold, and despite this, I had such a good time.

I knew he was special.

By March, we had both quit our jobs to travel full-time. Being a full-time nurse and Boyan’s video jobs abroad, it was hard to see each other and I had already started blogging part-time.

We now run the travel blog together, as well as a business doing videography and photography for worldwide clients.

We have escaped the European winter for Bali this year, which has been a dream of mine my whole life. It was amazing to finally find someone with as much energy and passion for travel as I do.

With our two suitcases, we now travel from place to place and every now and then pop back to see our families.

Since we met a year ago we have traveled to over 20 countries in Europe and Asia. He even convinced me to go to the Faroe Islands!

For someone who considers themselves solar-powered, a week in the Faroe Islands with nothing but rain and still enjoying myself says it all!”

-Hanna from SolarPoweredBlonde

14. Falling in love in Cuba

“Cuba will always have a special place in my heart. I don’t know if it’s because it was the first vacation I took sans parents, if it was the amazing weather and beaches, or (most likely) because it was where I had my first vacation love. Maybe a combination of them all!

When I arrived in Cuba, I didn’t expect to find love, but it happened.

I was on the beach when two gorgeous men walked by and started talking to my sister and me. Well, they tried to talk to us because they had very limited English and we didn’t speak much Spanish.

I really hit it off with one of the men. The language barrier wasn’t enough to stop us from hanging out together and we spent the rest of the day getting to know each other with my broken Spanish and his broken English. It was the first time I really realized that you don’t need to speak the same language to communicate with someone, and that body language is more than enough.

We spent the rest of our short five days on vacation together, exploring places in Varadero we would have never gone to without a local guide. It remains one of the best vacations I ever went on.

We exchanged emails, but our relationship eventually fizzled out. It was fun while it lasted and I’ll never forget him either.”

-Naomi from Eat Love Explore

15. Becoming digital nomads together

“When Couchsurfing just outside of Gibraltar in September 2015, I looked in a digital nomad Facebook group for my next host in Tarifa, Spain.

A German guy named Jonas answered my request for a piece of floor to sleep on for one night in a matter of minutes. I hitchhiked to Tarifa and met Jonas.

We fell pretty hard for each other over a game of durak and sharing our travel lore. I ended up staying with him in Tarifa for two weeks. After that, I hitchhiked to Portugal alone — but we kept in touch.

A week or two later, he decided to travel to Lisbon to meet me. As scary as that was, that’s where we admitted our feelings and decided to try to be together.

Two days later I was on a plane to Berlin with him and one month later we were in Gran Canaria waiting for our repositioning cruise to take us to Brazil. Essentially, we directly moved in with each other via our full-time traveling lives.

That was a whirlwind time.

I taught Jonas how to hitchhike, and he taught me how to become a digital nomad .

We started Digital Nomads Guides together and hitchhiked around South America — sometimes together, sometimes apart; I was too stubborn to get on a bus or plane, and Jonas didn’t always want to hitchhike. We never wanted to stop each other from realizing our own goals and dreams.

In 2017 after kayaking on lake Guatapé in Colombia, I shared my big dream:

To kayak down the entire Danube River in Europe.

Jonas happened to have a similar dream:

To do a long-distance kayak trip.

We would do it after I got out of student debt in 2019. We decided to paddle from the source in Donaueschingen to Budapest in 2019 and finish the other half to the Black Sea in 2021, spending the intermezzo in Asia, where we are now.

For four-and-a-half months, from spring till autumn, we were happily stuck together on the Danube River in an inflatable canoe named Zucchini .

Kayaking together and working on moving us downstream was really challenging, but something that brought us together even closer. The trip went so well that we continued paddling beyond Budapest and paddled 1,253 kilometers (779 miles) in total.

I’m thrilled to share more dreams and journeys with Jonas. Together we can do great things.”

-Iris from Mind of a Hitchhiker

16. From Jerusalem to Vietnam

“It was December 2016 in the Old City of Jerusalem. I’d just gotten back from my trip to Bethlehem, which I was evaluating as part of my job in the hostel I was working at.

I was sitting at the tour desk when a guy walked up and asked about the Bethlehem tour. I’d just had such a great time on the tour myself, so I confidently took over and told about my experience.

This guy was very engaging and I could see he was interested in booking the tour. After 30 minutes of him asking questions, which I eagerly answered, he simply gave a cold ‘I don’t think I’ll do the tour.’

As you can imagine, I was not happy. But I managed to tell him it was no problem, and that if he changed his mind the tour desk would be there.

From then on, this guy would come over to say hello or have a drink in the common area with me for a few minutes. We weren’t really hanging out but we would often greet each other around the hostel and in the bar area.

About two weeks later, he told me that he was leaving Israel to continue his trip towards Turkey. Since that day we would message each other to keep in touch once in a while. I even told him my next travel plans for June.

One day he told me that he’d like to meet me in Malaysia. I didn’t believe him but he showed up — flying all the way from Lithuania.

We then traveled for about a month through Thailand, parting ways in Chiang Mai about two weeks later.

Then I went to Cambodia, and a few weeks later he flew from China to meet me there.

After ten days, he left for China again as he was trying to see if he could make it his new temporary home.

A month after we parted ways, I was in Vietnam building my own new home base and, you guessed it, he flew to Vietnam to meet me.

That was September 2017. Two and a half years later, we’ve been to four continents and fifteen countries together. We are still traveling the world and working on our individual dreams together. “

-Mary from A Mary Road

17. A romantic story that began on a mountaintop 

“My partner and I met on top of a mountain in the Austrian Alps almost ten years ago. We were both snowboarding in Mayrhofen during the end of season festival called Snowbombing, which is a huge party.

We bumped into each other in an apres-ski bar and our groups ended up snowboarding — and drinking — together for the remainder of the festival week.

Hailing from Australia, when I first heard his accent I was hopeful for just a holiday romance, but then it transpired. He lived in London too, having moved there a few years earlier.

So after the trip, we met up and the rest is history.

Except not quite.

After 18 months together in London we decided to go traveling and become nomadic in the process. My partner already had a location-independent business but I started freelance writing work and also growing my travel blog .

During our two years traveling we spent a summer in Amsterdam house-sitting because it seemed like a fun place to live, with good Internet for our work, lots for me to blog about, and the chance to just stay put for a little while.

That summer changed our lives as we fell in love with the city and the way of life there.

We returned to Amsterdam a year later after more nomadic travel, putting down some roots in the form of signing a six-month rental lease for an apartment, which seemed forever at the time after staying in places only a few weeks or months.

Fast forward six years and we are still living in Amsterdam in a house we own and with our two young boys living there, too!

Having kids has absolutely changed how we travel — we definitely prefer to have a home base and long-term travel just doesn’t suit us — but we still enjoy discovering new places together. It’s just more likely that we go on a luxury family vacation .

Of course, we still make time for snowboarding trips in Austria — that’s where it all began — but we also really enjoy exploring the country we now feel so lucky to live in, the Netherlands.”

-Frankie from As the Bird Flies

18. A holiday romance in Uganda

“When I arrived in Kampala, Uganda, for a four-month volunteering stint in 2018, I was definitely not looking for love. I was, however, keen to make friends, and I thought one good way to meet people would be to go on Tinder.

Since I wasn’t looking for a boyfriend, it didn’t really matter if I fancied the guys; they just needed to look fun to hang out with.

So when I spotted James (not his real name), it didn’t matter that he wasn’t my type. He was the same age as me and said he was also new in town. Maybe we could check out some of the amazing things to do in Uganda together !

On a Friday we met after work for a drink. He greeted me with a kiss on the cheek, smiled a dazzling smile, and BAM ! I was smitten.

That one drink turned into drinks, dinner, and dancing until late. The next day we met for lunch…

…and I didn’t go home until the end of the weekend.

We were both infatuated. We exchanged dozens of WhatsApp messages a day, both incredulous at our luck to have found each other so soon after arriving in a new country.

We made plans to go away the following weekend and spent an idyllic two days in Entebbe on the shores of Lake Victoria.

I’m a travel blogger and photographer, and James took to the role of Instagram husband like a duck to water, grabbing my camera to fire off shots at every opportunity (the photo attached is by him).

We started to talk about me extending my stay in Uganda. He invited me to visit his home country, South Africa . He sent a photo of us to his mum.

But like most whirlwind romances that start with fireworks, the spark burned bright but it also burned fast. James started to feel crowded:

It was too intense, he was a free spirit, he didn’t really want a relationship. When he finally ended things I was devastated.

It made the rest of my trip rather difficult. Kampala is a very small ex-pat community, everyone hangs out in the same few bars and restaurants, and by now we were firmly in the same friendship group.

Everywhere I went, there he was, flirting with other girls. Our group had even planned another weekend away, and since I was determined not to let this breakup limit my chances to explore the country, I went anyway, even though he would be there too.

I spent most of the trip trying not to cry.

I did have a wonderful time in Uganda and love the country, but I’m more cautious now. Something like that can really color your experience, and I wouldn’t want it to happen again.

That said, I’m passionate about travel, and am still hoping to meet someone like-minded on another trip.

Maybe next time I’ll be luckier.”

-Bella from Passport & Pixels

19. Love at first sight in South Korea

“When I took up a teaching job back in 2009, I never would have guessed that I would fall in love and find my wife. In 2009 I left my home in South Africa to embark on a three-year journey to Seoul, South Korea .

The reason for going was to get my second degree through correspondence and I needed money to support myself. South Korea beat my original choice of Japan due to many factors, but the biggest factor was that it paid more.

I had never been to Asia before and had no idea what to expect.

Six months into my stay in 2010 I went out with a friend on my birthday. She invited a mutual friend and when she walked into the room, time stopped and all went in slow motion, just like a cheesy RomCom. But for real.

Over the course of several years, our relationship grew from a spark to a flame, and that growth was instigated by traveling the country.

They say that you know if you are compatible with someone depending on how well you travel together. It’s the real proof that the relationship will last.

We would venture out to the far-flung corners of South Korea discovering the many islands, cultural differences, and foods of the country.

We lived for another year in Los Angeles, cultivating our relationship and finally getting married six years later, in 2016.

We still move between Cape Town and Seoul — and everywhere in between — and see travel as an integral part of our relationship. We always come back new, utterly refreshed and invigorated, after a stint of travel.”

-Cal from Once in a Lifetime Journey

20. Meeting the love of my life on the other side of the world

“I met my now-boyfriend pretty much exactly four years ago on a night out in Sydney. He is from the UK, I am from Germany, and it was only a few weeks before I had to leave Australia to start my working holiday year in New Zealand.

I never imagined anything serious to come from this, but after that first night, we spent every day together until I had to leave.

He dropped me off at the airport and saying goodbye was incredibly hard. We had no idea whether we’d ever meet again and I really did not want to leave.

He promised he was going to visit me in New Zealand but I didn’t know if he meant it or just said it to make the goodbye easier.

Only two weeks after I left though, he actually came to New Zealand to visit me. We spent a wonderful week together before he returned to Australia to rejoin his friends that he was traveling with.

Which meant we had to say goodbye. Again.

At this point, we decided to make it official and were committed to a long-distance relationship.

We were planning to visit each other and figure out everything else along the way. What I didn’t know was that he would come back only two days after he left to start his working holiday year in New Zealand with me.

He basically just went back to Australia to get the rest of his luggage and apply for the visa in New Zealand. You can imagine how happy I was when he told me.

From then on, we have been together literally 24/7. Don’t ask me how we are still getting along!

Two years into our relationship we started an online business together so that we could keep traveling. Which we did.

We have been to about 30 countries on five different continents together. We have had the greatest adventures and a life I could only have dreamed of before we met.

Now, four years later, we are in the United Kingdom planning to buy a house.

I never expected meeting the person I would end up with on a night out on the other side of the world only a few weeks before I had to leave the country. But that’s exactly what happened and I could not be happier!”

-Valerie from Valerie’s Adventure Time

21. Falling through a bridge on a first date in Thailand

“If you like short funny travel stories, here’s one for you:

I kind of sort of met Garrett in Thailand, but also kind of sort of met him online.

It’s a very weird and long story involving a creepy mutual friend who forced us to become Facebook friends “because we both liked traveling.” Little did I know Thailand and this creeper would have such an impact on my life.

Fast forward a year or so later, Garrett was living and working in New Zealand and I was happily chilling in Thailand working online. He was going on vacation to Thailand and since the creeper dude a year prior forced us to be friends online, he knew I was there.

He asked me a few typical questions and I told him to let me know when he came through so we could meet up.

And he did.

And we literally haven’t been separated since! (Okay, fine, we both have some random solo travels, but you get the point.)

The day after we met we went strolling along the bridge in Pai, Thailand. Kind of a first date, I guess?

I had literally just spoken about how funny it was that you always had to look down in Thailand because there’s always some obstacle — when I fell through a hole in the bridge!

I was rustling through my purse instead of looking down. Luckily, the hole was only big enough for one of my legs to fit through.

I still have a dent in my leg in that spot to this day and for some reason, Garrett’s still with me. He always makes sure to point out potholes, bumps, and cracks in the road for me now. How sweet.

So that’s how I met my boyfriend in Thailand and fell through a bridge on our first date.

It’s been over four years with countless adventures in between and more to come.”

-Nina and Garrett from Oregon is for Adventure

22. A Peruvian love lust story

“It all happened when I was solo backpacking in Peru. I had been in South America for close to two months at that time and had just recently arrived from Ecuador.

One of my favorite things to do while traveling is to meet locals and get a perspective on their daily lives and culture. Naturally, I was on one of those horrible dating apps to meet some local Peruvians. I am not going to say which dating app specifically but let just make up a name.

Let’s call it Tinder.

So I was on Tinder in a small city in Peru called Trujillo. Trujillo is the home of the magnificent archaeological site known as Chan Chan, the biggest city from the pre-Colombian period. I matched with this girl and we started talking.

Let’s call her Maria. Things were going great.

Then one day I decided to eat some Anticuchos, a Peruvian street food of cow hearts on a skewer.

Well, the next day I was properly ill. Puking, nausea, fever — everything.

I thought I was going to die; but Maria took care of me for the whole week I was there, taking me to the hospital, to the blood tests, and everything. She even made me traditional Peruvian cuisine and that was when I knew I had something for her.

After I got better we started traveling Peru together, trekking up the Andes, visiting Machu Picchu, and walking down the cobblestoned streets of Cusco.

We were together for over a month until the day came when I had to leave Peru. Even though we said our goodbyes we planned to keep in touch.

But sometimes distance doesn’t always make the heart grow fonder.”

-Sean from LivingOutLau

23. Getting engaged underwater

“Alya is from Russia and I am a South African. We met in a small surf town in the Philippines, sleeping in neighboring beds in a dormitory and were together 24 hours a day since the day we met.

Both of us were traveling around Southeast Asia for a couple of months and came to San Fernando in the Philippines to surf.

We shared a tuk-tuk to a surf beach every morning and day trips evolved into traveling around the Philippines together for two months.

It was an amazing time. Both of us love hiking and diving and we were always searching for amazing mountains and beaches.

After traveling together for more than two years I asked Alya to marry me underwater while scuba diving from Nusa Penida island in Indonesia. While on the road, I had a couple of traveling jobs as a scuba instructor and Alya did some English teaching.

On a trip down the Amazon River, we decided to start a travel blog .

It has been four years and our successful travel blog, Stingy Nomads, allows us to work together while traveling full-time and doing things we love.”

-Campbell and Alya from Stingy Nomads

24. Finding love in Argentina

After getting a postgraduate degree in the south of Spain, interning in Barcelona and a year-long stint working in the Caribbean, I had my eyes set on Argentina.

I moved to Buenos Aires —where I luckily already had a group of friends installed and waiting.

“I’ll stay here for two years, tops,” I said to myself.

Four months into my Argentine life I was out at a club when I saw him. I’m not exactly a club-goer, and later I’d find out neither was he. We were just meant to meet there, out of our comfort zones.

We immediately made plans for an actual date two days later and have been inseparable ever since. It’s been ten years.

I never thought I’d still be in Argentina, let alone that I’d have fallen head over heels for an Argentine. My friends were right; he stopped me in my tracks. He’s also obsessed with travel and spent time in Australia and Thailand.

We travel as much as we can together but have our roots here in Buenos Aires. We’re having a baby this year and are excited to see what the future holds!”

-Erin from Sol Salute

25. An around the world travel romance

“When I decided to move abroad, I put my dating life on a shelf.

I figured I’d worry about my single status when I got back, though, in the back of my head, I couldn’t help think that at 28, going abroad for a long period of time was only going to prolong the long journey of finding love.

But…I wanted to travel.

After nearly 15 months of being abroad, I landed on the island of Koh Phi Phi, Thailand for the last four days of my trip.

I didn’t know a soul, so I booked myself into a notoriously social hostel. I happened to join a flip cup game on the beach when I noticed the tall, handsome guy next to me.

When I told him I was from the US, he replied cheekily, ‘I know. There’s only one place in the world that does dental work like that.’

And what can I say? I fell for him.

He was from The Netherlands and we spent the rest of the night talking. We mentioned meeting up the next day but unfortunately, my phone had suffered a casualty on a boat trip and the only thing I could give him was my Facebook.

By the afternoon, I hadn’t heard from him so I sent him a Facebook message inviting him to dinner with a group of people and still never heard back.

I ran upstairs 10 minutes before dinner to check my computer, only to find that he still hadn’t responded. I was a little dejected, but when I got back down to the beach, there he was, waiting for me.

We were inseparable for the next three days and then I finally flew back home.

Two months later he came to the US to visit me and we decided to do a long-distance relationship. We met up in Italy, vacationed in Croatia , introduced our families, found a ring in Ireland and got engaged in The Netherlands.

About a year and a half after meeting, we got married and he moved to the USA. We’ve been here ever since!”

-Ashley from Jetset Jansen

26. A Roman love story

“My husband and I first met in the ancient ruins of the Roman Forum in 2001. I’d picked up a job as a tour guide there, and he was a tourist on one of my co-worker’s tours.

We chatted briefly, and a few days later he showed up to follow one of my tours. He’d been captivated by the city just like I had and decided to stay and become a tour guide .

So, we became colleagues and good friends.

Our mutual love of travel was what we initially bonded over. Both of us were pretty new to travel but dreamed of exploring the whole world, and we would spend hours in bookshops poring over guide books.

We even planned a three-month overland trip through the Middle East together, just as friends. I was a bit nervous about visiting that part of the world as a solo female traveler , so I invited myself along on his trip from Cairo to Istanbul.

It was just a couple of months before we left for that trip that our relationship took a romantic turn.

And for the first few years, we spent more time together traveling than staying in one place. In between trips, we did a few more stints as seasonal tour guides in Rome to save up money, and six years after we met we returned there to get married.

It was a small, intimate wedding with 30 or so of our closest friends and family, and it was the best day of our lives. We arrived in Rome just 10 days before the wedding and managed to throw it all together in time, even if some aspects were a bit unconventional.

Instead of the usual wedding reception with cheesy music and dancing, we all had dinner together at  our favorite Roman trattoria .

Over the past 20 years or so we’ve traveled to more than 100 countries on all seven continents, and we still make it back to Rome as often as we can.”

-Wendy from The Nomadic Vegan

27. Falling in love on a semester abroad

“When I was in college, I took my very first plane ride to my first international destination:

Studying abroad in Costa Rica for my last semester of university.

I had never been abroad before, but I was excited and open to new experiences in this beautiful, lush, tropical country — and little did I know it would eventually become my heart’s home.

I stayed with a local Costa Rican family and spent much of my free time getting to know them, practicing my Spanish and learning about the way Costa Ricans lived and connected.

I often invited the youngest son who still lived in a nearby house on outings and trips with us, and we usually ended up being the only two who didn’t cancel. We grew closer, spending a lot of our time together, and as you probably expected, eventually had a fling.

At the end of the semester, we both decided we could probably not continue to date long-distance from abroad; but as soon as I got back home, we would chat on Facebook and Skype nearly every day and eventually we could not keep up with the rouse so we gave in and started dating.

That winter, we traveled together to the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica, then took a bus to the border of Panama, walked across the bridge over the river of Sixaola, and spent the weekend traveling around the islands of Bocas del Toro .

We traveled well together, which doesn’t always work even with friends no matter how much you enjoy each other’s company. To stretch our money further we stayed in hostels, cooked in the kitchens, and took public transportation.

It was gritty and authentic and we absolutely loved it.

We dated for nearly two years like this, visiting each other in our home countries, traveling around and enjoying every moment of it.

Eventually, I landed an internship in Costa Rica, and after living only an hour away from each other for a few months, we knew this was what we wanted. So, we got engaged and planned our wedding in Costa Rica.

Now we have been married for nearly four years, going on a lifetime. Our favorite thing to do together is travel; how fitting for a marriage formed out of it!

I never expected for travel to change my life, but it did in many ways. I met my lifetime partner, and fell in love with travel itself while on the road.”

-Michele from Adventures Abound

28. Meeting my fiance on a press trip for travel bloggers

“I met my now fiancé on a trip to Menorca , Spain. The trip was a conference and press trip for travel bloggers and influencers , and we were both invited to participate. It wasn’t until the end of the trip that we really began to talk and realized that we had much more in common than our jobs.

We continued to date after the trip. I was living in London at the time and he had already been nomadic for several years.

Our early relationship involved meeting up in random places — including Estonia, Scotland, and London — when he had breaks from assignments and I could convince my boss to let me work remotely.

Around five months later, I quit my job in London to take my own blog full-time and we have been traveling together ever since.

We’ve now been together for nearly three years, living nomadically in countries such as Georgia, Mexico, Greece, and Japan.

Last year, we decided to set down some roots and bought a new-build apartment in Portugal. I’m from the UK and he’s from Canada, so it’s nice to find a place to make ‘ours’ after traveling so many countries together.

We’ll be moving to Portugal to start the next chapter of our life together this summer and we’re getting married just down the road from our new apartment next spring.”

-Jodie from Ala Jode

29. From Europe to the United States to the world

“Our love story began back in 2013 in the horse capital of the world in Lexington, Kentucky.

My husband, who is Russian, and I, being Ukrainian, were destined to meet not in our neighboring countries in Europe but on the opposite side of the world in one of the least touristy cities in America.

At that time, I (Anya), while living in Washington DC, was looking for various jobs that could help me relocate, let me travel and pay well. Mark (my husband) was living in Kentucky, working in the hospitality business but wanting to have a change, move somewhere new and experience other parts of the US.

My desire to move to another state brought me to Kentucky for one year where I came to work for Marriott Hotels and where I met Mark. Not much time passed after our first acquaintance, as we realized we wanted to travel and try to live in other states.

We took a leap of faith, packed our bags and moved together across the country to Los Angeles to spend three and a half years there just to understand that we actually wanted to see the world.

So we took another risk and packed again.

We left part of our life behind and set off on the most adventurous journey both of us could have ever dreamt about.

Today, two and half years later, after we left the United States to travel the world, we are location-independent and working online , living in different countries around the world, constantly traveling and exploring one region at a time.

Is it easy?

But this is the life we would never trade for anything else.

We are grateful to the United States for bringing us together, letting us catch this travel bug and helping us understand what type of life is best for us.”

-Anya from Road is Calling

30. Love in Bangkok

“At the age of 22, I booked a one-way ticket to Bangkok, Thailand and embarked on my very first solo travel trip through Southeast Asia and Australia. I never imagined that this trip would change the course of my life and that I would meet my current partner one fateful night in Bangkok.

I was enjoying an evening with other travelers in a small bar on Bangkok’s bustling Khao San Road when Rick and I crossed paths for the first time. We didn’t exchange each other’s numbers that evening, but as fate would have it we bumped into each other in the busy streets of Bangkok the next day!

Rick told me of his plans to travel to the beautiful island of Koh Tao the following day and invited me to join him. Unfortunately, I declined his invitation due to already having the train tickets for my solo trip to Malaysia booked for the next day.

He still held out hope and told me exactly where to meet him if I happened to change my mind.

To this day, I still don’t quite know what made me go and cancel my train ticket to Malaysia and meet him at the bus station. His face lit up as soon as he saw me walking toward him and that’s when I knew I made the right decision.

We spent one week together on Koh Tao and then due to pre-arranged travel plans, went our separate ways. We sporadically kept in touch via Facebook and a full year passed before we saw each other again.

My travels eventually brought me to his home city of Perth, Australia and that’s when he invited me to stay at his house and the rest is history. I found myself applying for a partner visa so that I could stay in Australia and telling my family back in Canada that I wouldn’t be coming home!

Fast forward eight years later, we recently got engaged in Tallinn, Estonia on our summer travels through Europe and we are now planning our wedding for 2021 in Canada!”

-Ann from TheRoad-IsLife

31. House-sitting across the world together

“I’ve met and become friends with many people thanks to my travel blog and social media.

I met Mark through Twitter over three years ago and learned we had a lot in common. We both loved to travel and it turned out we were both nomadic house sitters.

Over the years we ended up meeting a few times while house sitting in the same city. Twice for lunch and once for breakfast. We also chatted here and there as we moved around; we exchanged stories of the pets we were caring for and talked about the city we were staying in at the moment.

Then last summer we were both going to be in Miami for a few weeks.

We ended up spending more time together and we realized we really liked each other. We knew that a relationship together would have to start off as a long-distance relationship because we both already had a few things scheduled.

However, we wanted to give it a try. We talked every day and eventually, we were able to start house sitting together.

We have been on the road together now for a few months and already have house sits scheduled together through most of 2020. We’re so happy that our love of travel brought us together and are excited to continue to travel and explore new places together.”

-Vicky from Buddy the Traveling Monkey

32. Discovering a new road to travel

“I met my husband when I was on vacation in New York City . I was on a long multi-month trip around the world, catching up with friends, traveling and eventually making my way to Rio, where I was planning to stop and get a job teaching English.

Instead, two weeks before I left the United States for five months in Canada, I met Kevin.

We spent those two weeks wandering through the Met, having brunch at Balthazar’s, lazing around on the Hudson River, and having dinner in the East Village. New York is an easy place to fall in love!

In my five months traveling the width of Canada by rail, Kevin came to vacation with me three times.

A week soaking up the breathtaking scenery on the Rockies, another week kayaking and cycling around Salt Spring Island near Vancouver, and a final week freezing together in a Montreal winter!

Well, in the end, my journey south to Rio never happened. Instead, when I left Canada, we both moved to Australia for three years, then eventually back to New York, where it all began.

Since then, we got married and celebrated by playing tourists in our favorite city, drinking champagne at sunset on a sailing boat in New York Harbor.

We still live in NYC and I still travel, but I’ve substituted a nomadic existence for twice-yearly trips with my husband, sampling different locations all around the world.

So, I fell in love on the road, ended up down a different road altogether, and now travel a new one together with my husband.”

-James from Travel Collecting

33. Getting together through Couchsurfing

“It was a rainy rainy day in January in the mountains of Vietnam and I had just left my motorbike partner behind in Phong Nha after riding with him for 15 days as I needed some me-time.

Partway through the ride to Ninh Binh, it struck me that I wanted to keep riding and find some nightlife and enjoy myself.

It was a 330-mile ride and it was raining hard, so I couldn’t read the signs and was on a car-only highway. The police forced me to stop and turn around and get off the highway to go back to the regular roads, meaning I had to stay in Ninh Binh for the night.

The next morning I was up bright and early again, peddling through the rain until I finally reached Hanoi midday. Full of energy and eager to explore the city, I found myself on one of the best travel apps :

Couchsurfing .

Little did I know that by getting on the app that day it would forever change my life.

There was a group of 12 Couchsurfers from all over the world getting together for drinks and food and sharing travel stories. Inna and I were seated across from one another but not saying much, though we couldn’t help but feel a connection so strongly and deeply to one another.

After we left that spot the group got smaller, and continued to get smaller after each stop on our night out. Inna and I got to know each other a little more each time — until we ultimately ended up walking around Hoàn Kiếm Lake until the sun came up.

Unfortunately, she was scheduled to leave Vietnam two days later to go back to Ukraine and I was leaving Vietnam in two weeks to start my tour through Europe. After the longest week of our changed lives, we decided Inna would join me traveling, as well!

Two years later we are still traveling together. We’re engaged, fully in love, and still treat each and every day as though it’s our last!”

-Jim & Inna from Executive Thrillseekers

34. What happens in Vegas doesn’t always stay in Vegas

“Travel brought me and my now-husband together.

We were living in separate cities in the United States — I was a college student in Chicago and he had just moved to New York for work — and had both traveled to Las Vegas with friends to celebrate New Year’s Eve.

I was playing the slot machines at the casino at the hotel we were both staying at. He sat next to me and we talked and gambled for about an hour until I had to leave.

A few hours later and shortly before midnight we ran into each other again at the casino and shared a kiss at midnight on New Year’s.

We hung out and talked for a few more hours until we said goodbye since we were leaving Vegas the next morning. We did not make plans to see each other again, but we exchanged phone numbers.

We kept in touch by phone until he came to visit me a few months later and we decided to start dating long distance. Since we both were living with roommates and loved to travel we found it more convenient to meet in different cities in North America for weekend getaways.

Eventually, after a few years of dating long distance and traveling to see each other, we got married with a destination wedding in the British Virgin Islands.

We have been married for over 10 years and now live together in Chicago with our two kids and beloved yorkie.

They say “What Happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas” but for us, that was definitely not the case!”

-Matilda from The Travel Sisters

35. A Mexican romance

“When I first met my boyfriend during a study abroad program in 2010, romance was the last thing on my mind.

I was determined to spend my 10 months in Mexico becoming fluent in Spanish so I could travel Mexico worry-free while simultaneously gaining enough college credits to graduate on time.

Meeting Héctor was not part of the plan.

We first met at a party I was hosting with my study abroad cohort (how else do you meet people in college?). We had an immediate connection and while the people around us shotgunned beers we fell into a conversation about one of our shared passions:

I know it sounds super cheesy, but I felt something inside me shift. He was different than anyone I’d ever met before. Maybe it was just because he laughed at my dumb jokes? I can’t say for sure.

Naturally, I was bummed to discover that he was moving away to Mexico City to study music in just a few weeks.

We kept in touch, IM-ing about our favorite bands and discussing whatever poetry I was reading for my literature classes, and I regularly begged him to play me Enrique Iglesias songs on his guitar. He refused.

Soon, an opportunity for me to visit Mexico City presented itself, and we went on our “first date” — a Shakira concert at Foro del Sol. It was amazing!

What followed was a whirlwind, semi long-distance (I lived five hours away) romance that ended when my study abroad program did.

Over the years we kept in touch as friends, and each of us had relationships come and go. For years, there didn’t appear to be future for us.

Then, in 2017, I finally had the chance to return to Mexico. I asked Héctor if he wanted to join me for a beach vacation in Playa del Carmen and he agreed.

From the minute I stepped off the airplane it was like no time had passed. We fell into conversations about music, making taco puns, and me requesting that he sing me Enrique Iglesias songs. At the end of the trip neither of us could deny that the feelings were still there.

Within a few short months, we’d both quit our jobs and relocated to Playa del Carmen to be together for real.

And now, three years on, we’re living back in Xalapa, Veracruz where we first met 10 years ago. We still talk about music, we still make taco puns, and he still won’t play me an Enrique Iglesias song.”

-Janine from Janine in the World

36. A Nigerian princess meets a Wyoming cowboy

“If you think this is a fictional story, you will be wrong. It is a true-life account of how I met the love of my life.

My twin sister and I left everything we knew in Nigeria and journeyed to a little town called Laramie, Wyoming, in the United States.

We knew no one in the town or neighboring state, and with a population of about 28,000 people, it was a huge culture shock for us since we had lived in a town of over 1 million people. Quickly, we got acclimated though, frankly, we had no choice.

I started working and taking college classes and made new friends. One of my coworkers, Zeb, used to think my sister and I were the same person and would complement how hardworking I was since I “worked all the time.” Until he realized that there were two of us.

Zeb was a nice guy, but I didn’t really think much of it.

Then I realized we had the same major when we met in class the next semester in a smaller class size. We worked on a group project together, and a good friend, Noelle, kept saying, “I think Zeb likes you!” She was great at reading people, and she was right.

Zeb had finally summoned the courage to ask me out on a date. I was clueless about dating, as my academics were my main priority, but I decided to give Zeb a chance.

As the saying goes, “The rest is history.”

I had asked God for three things in the person I was going to marry:

• The person’s family has to love my family and me as we are (the good, the bad, the ugly),
• he must have faith in God as Christians,
• and he has to be an excellent cook since I dread cooking.

Every day, I thank God for giving me the best gift I have ever received, my husband, Zeb.

Like in all relationships, it is not always smooth sailing from cultural differences to personality, but it has been worth it.

Now, we are on a quest to journey the world together, starting with  traveling in Africa . “

-Lydia from Africa Wanderlust

37. Finding love in India

“Some places that we travel to leave their mark more than others. We like to think that every place we visit changes us in some way, but in some countries that change is much more profound.

In the case of my travels to India , they have completely changed my life.

Before my trips to India, I would get nervous. Family and friends were never particularly understanding of why I insisted on journeying halfway across the world to solo travel India.

But once I settled into the chaotic peace, I would find myself more and more at home in India, learning to live by the moment and surrender just a little bit of that hard-wired need to be in control.

In 2017 my travels took a turn for the unexpected as I experienced what would become one of my favorite stories of India to share.

A day before I was due to leave after a month of traveling there, I met Ravi in his hometown of Mumbai. Over chai and wandering around Colaba, posing for touristy shots in front of the gateway, we discovered a connection we knew we wanted to grow.

I didn’t see him again for another four months.

Fast forward two years and we’re living on the other side of the world in Toronto, Canada. We’ve traveled many places in India and around the world that are new to both of us, and we’ve been able to see places differently through each others’ eyes.

Finding love in India has shown me that the typecasting around gender roles in patriarchal societies — which India is considered — are not always true. Both of us are a long way from home — in many senses — which has taught us to be kinder, more flexible, and more understanding.

I have learned a lot about what it truly means to be close to ones’ family, even at the end of a phone, and Ravi has learned to make the perfect poha (a flattened rice dish).

I have learned that far from trying to scam people — which is the traveler stereotype — most Indians are incredibly kind.

Back in India we have been pleasantly surprised by the number of people who accept us openly as a mixed ethnicity couple, vs the number of people who judge for breaking the mold.”

-Ellie & Ravi from Soul Travel Blog

38. Falling in love in Barcelona

“In 2015, a good friend from university and I decided to have a little trip to the south of Europe during our semester break.

Since we were working full-time during most of our time off from university, we only had two weeks before our classes would start again, and we wanted to make them count.

So we booked several busses and flights starting from Madrid. After we visited Porto and Lisbon, we planned to stay three days in Barcelona before heading to Paris and returning home to Germany from there by bus.

Since we were students at that time, we tried to travel as cheaply as possible using Couchsurfing in most of the places we visited.

While my friend went to bed earlier during our first night in Barcelona, I stayed awake for hours talking to our host, Eduardo, in the living room of his flat. From the beginning, we felt a great connection sharing the same stupid kind of humor and a passion for traveling.

When we left Barcelona two days later, I was sure I would never see him again, even though we promised each other to stay in touch.

Little did I know that just 10 days later, he would take a flight to visit me in Germany, spending a whole week with me. Since I had classes to attend during the week, we went on a memorable little weekend trip to Amsterdam which became the first of many trips together.

The next three months we spent visiting each other once a month; however, for my last semester of university, I had a semester abroad coming up in which I had to spend three months in the Maldives.

It wasn’t easy not being able to see each other for three months in such an early stage of our relationship, and my WiFi-connection was awful, which made it almost impossible to video chat.

Anyway, when my internship was finally over, I flew right to Barcelona to live with Eduardo in the same flat where we first met.

Fast forward to today, after exploring more than 15 countries together, we are currently traveling around South America on a seven-month honeymoon!”

-Vicki from Vickiviaja

Romantic Travel Video

A note from Jessie:

While I personally didn’t meet my fiance traveling, we did say “I Love You” for the first time during a trip to Savannah, Georgia.

You can see the video from that special trip above.

Seriously, the atmosphere combined with the many things to do in Savannah makes it such a romantic trip!

Do you have any inspiring love stories from the road to share?

Bonus short travel stories.

Looking for more of the best travel stories ? Check out:

20 Embarrassing Travel Stories That Will Make You Laugh & Blush

25 Crazy Travel Stories You Need To Read To Believe

23 Inspiring Travel Stories Sharing The Kindness Of Strangers

16 Short Funny Travel Stories That Will Make You Laugh Out Loud

Sexual Assault Stories From The Road (& What I’ve Learned)

8 Crazy NYC Subway Stories That Will Make You Hail A Cab

A Host’s Perspective: My Worst Airbnb Horror Stories

17 True Short Adventure Travel Stories To Inspire Your Next Trip

11 Epic Travel Fail Stories From The Road

18 Scary Travel Stories From Haunted Hotels To Creepy Cabins

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15 Comments

We found love in a hostel place! Who knew that the Couchsurfing app could be good for finding some romance?? Love this!

Awww, these are too cute! Thanks so much for sharing these – it’s always good to read about happy experiences on the road, as well as the more practical tips!

These are such amazing and inspiring stories. It gives me hope for finding a travel soulmate one day! 🙂

Gosh this was such a fun read! I loved reading all these stories. I think A Broken Backpack was my favorite – so unexpected! Great idea, Jessie ♥️

Loved these fairytale stories.Very well put together Jessie.

Thank you for sharing your information.Really i love this article.

These stories are so awesome. I really loved reading 🙂

very informative articles or reviews at this time.

This is so informative, thanks alot or sharing. love your blog so much

This was a lot of fun to read! All of these stories were fascinating to read. it was so unexpected! Excellent concept

These are really adorable! Thank you so much for sharing these – it’s always nice to hear about enjoyable road trips as well as practical advice!

Loved reading these, some made my heart melt! As if we need more reasons to travel! Thanks for sharing

Thank you so much for sharing this blog i really loved it. it’s so nice to get more information about road trips. thanks again, i really enjoyed reading your article.

These Love Stories are so adorable. Loved i.

What sweet love stories these are. I adored this lovely pair.

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33 Meaningful Reasons Why People LOVE to Travel

A World in Reach contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I may receive a commission at no cost to you! Read my full disclosure here .

“Do you like to travel?”

This is a question I’ve been asked so many times in my life.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been obsessed with seeing the world. In high school, I joined all of the clubs that had travel opportunities to out-of-state conferences.

In college, I studied abroad four times – and planned solo trips and trips with friends in between!

You could say that I LOVE to travel – it’s also one of the reasons I created this blog! Traveling is in my blood, and I have two major missions in life: 1. see as much of the world as possible, and 2. inspire others to do the same!

There’s even a word for people like me. I’m a hodophil e , which means “one who loves to travel.”

I could talk all day long about why I love traveling and the fulfillment that traveling has brought to my life. And there are tons of other travelers out there that feel the same as me!

To put together this ultimate list of reasons why people love to travel, I worked with some fellow travel addicts to tell stories of what travel means to us.

You’ll find stories of personal growth, checking off bucket list experiences, and learning new things – all thanks to travel.

So, if you’re thinking about traveling the world for yourself, or are just wondering about how traveling can change your life, keep reading for personal stories of why people love to travel!

Table of Contents

1. Travel helps you check things off your bucket list.

Written by Sydney from A World in Reach

Growing up in a small, rural town, I dreamed of one day flying across the ocean, visiting world-class cities, and seeing the landmarks I had only seen on TV in real life.

I had always found Stonehenge and its history to be so fascinating, and I thought that climbing the Great Wall of China would be one of the coolest things anyone could do.

Seeing the Eiffel Tower in Paris sparkle at night was something I often dreamed about, as was walking through the hectic streets of Tokyo.

At the time, all of these experiences seemed like a pipe dream. How would I ever be able to afford to visit such faraway places?

But now, thanks to the gift of travel, I’ve been able to check all of these things and more off of my bucket list. And thanks to learning how to travel on a budget, I’ve been doing it cheaply while still maximizing my experiences.

Today, my bucket list is never-ending – each time I check something off, something new gets added. I’m still dreaming of seeing the Pyramids of Giza, going on a South African safari, and eating my way through Mexico City.

I wake up each day thankful for the experiences I’ve been given, and I look forward each day to checking the next thing off my bucket list.

2. Traveling gets you out of your comfort zone.

One of the things I love most about traveling is that it gets me out of my comfort zone.

To me, travel is one of the most rewarding and enriching experiences in the world. Hopping off a plane and being in a completely new environment is a feeling unlike any other.

When I get stuck in my day-to-day routine, I crave the excitement (and sometimes, chaos) of a travel day.

Traveling forces you to do something difficult – you might have to navigate a city with a language barrier, get accustomed to cultural norms totally different from your own, or figure out how to get a spare key to your accommodation when you got locked out of your Airbnb late at night with a dying phone battery (if you’re wondering why that’s so specific, it’s because it was easily my most stressful travel experience to date!).

Thanks to travel allowing me to get out of my comfort zone, I’ve improved my critical thinking and decision-making skills. I’ve also become a more empathetic person, and striking up conversations with strangers doesn’t seem so intimidating since I do it regularly when traveling.

Travel is an incredible way to broaden your horizons and expand your worldview. It challenges you to step outside of your comfort zone, confront your fears and insecurities, and connect with others.

If you’re ever yearning for an escape from the routine, start planning a trip.

3. Travel lets you try new foods.

I travel for a lot of reasons – seeing iconic landmarks in person, learning something new at museums and historical sites, and meeting new people from different walks of life.

One of my favorite things about travel though is all of the different food!

I’ve always been a foodie, and traveling has opened me up to so many unique dishes and cuisines that I can’t get at home.

Some of my fondest travel memories include eating my way through Ueno Market (one of the best things to do in Tokyo ), trying cuy (guinea pig) in Ecuador, and taking a Hawaiian cooking class in Oahu.

When I’m planning a trip, I always keep a list of foods to try and the best restaurants to visit. I also love taking local cooking classes so that I can learn how to make the dishes at home!

One of the #1 pieces of travel advice I always give others is to always try a new food , even if it’s something out of your comfort zone. You never know, you might end up with a new favorite!

4. Travel lets you escape everyday life and discover yourself.

Written by Kristin from Tiny Footsteps Travel

Traveling helps you discover not only new places but yourself.

Having grown up in a small town that I never left where I faced bullying at school, it was hard to imagine life outside of my reality.

At 12 years old, I got on a plane for the first time, to visit family in Sweden. This was my first taste of international travel, and it taught me more than just that there are beautiful, breathtaking landscapes abroad.

In meeting my extended family members, I learned that life could look different from how I grew up. Travel became my passion that fired my spirit, and became the dream at the end of the tunnel whenever I faced hard days.

I pursued traveling in my teens and early 20s. I traveled back to Sweden and also lived abroad in France, Germany, Mexico, South Korea, and Australia.

Overseas in far-off countries, it didn’t matter whether I was popular in school or not. I got to meet people as a whole new person and discover what I liked and who I really was.

I empowered myself by doing adventurous things, like skydiving on the beach in Australia.

Now as an adult, I love to give the gift of travel to my own two children. Our most recent family trip was to Costa Rica , which is the perfect destination with kids, a partner, or on your own.

5. When you travel, you get to learn about other cultures.

Written by Cristina from My Little World of Travelling

One of the main reasons why I love traveling is learning about other cultures. Although you can read books, watch documentaries or hear other travelers’ stories, nothing is better than experiencing the culture yourself.

Each destination I’ve visited has taught me something about a culture, but Mexico stands out for me. Despite Spanish being my first language, Mexican Spanish and culture are very different from Spain’s.

Visiting places like Chichen Itza and eating at local restaurants inspired me to cook more Mexican foods at home, learn more about its gastronomy, and made me curious about their traditions.

I also love that you can take new habits and traditions from other countries. Having traveled and lived in the UK , I adopted new habits like drinking tea and using words and expressions from regions like Yorkshire.

6. Traveling allows you to meet new, interesting people.

Written by Tammi from Wander Healthy

Traveling is a fantastic way to meet new and interesting people, especially for first-time travelers.

It puts you outside of your usual routine, providing opportunities to interact with people who share unique insights and experiences about the places you’re visiting. This is an easy and awesome way to learn about different cultures and customs.

Whether it’s chance encounters or shared experiences, you’re likely to interact with others every time you turn around.

It could be striking up a conversation on a train, meeting someone in a coffee shop, or attending a local event, but the possibilities for meeting new people are endless.

Staying in hostels or going on tours, my personal favorites, have a way of leading to conversations and lifelong connections with friends you wouldn’t have met otherwise.

Whether you’re backpacking through Europe, exploring Southeast Asia, or taking a road trip across the United States, you’re likely to meet people with interests and hobbies similar to yours, and your community builds naturally.

Traveling is the only thing that does this so effortlessly, letting you meet new and interesting people from all walks of life and create memories for a lifetime.

7. Traveling lets you see unique landscapes unlike any you’ve seen before.

Written by Sierra from Your Guide to Wandering

Traveling has allowed me to see landscapes found nowhere else in the world.

There are many places on earth that, without protection, would have disappeared with time. I’m grateful for our protected lands and historic monuments to allow me to experience nature and history from a first-hand perspective.

The ability to see fossils along my hikes in Moab, Utah, bike along 75-foot sand dunes in Cape Cod , or stroll the grounds of 12th-century castles in Portugal is invaluable.

Travel allows every day to be a different story and a different adventure. I don’t have to read about history or natural wonders just in books – I can experience them in real life.

Traveling to unique landscapes sparks our curiosity and childlike wonder. How were humans able to build the Roman Empire in ancient days with the most primitive of tools? How were the caves in Carlsbad, New Mexico formed over millions of years by just wind and water?

Travel constantly inspires me and keeps me exploring the bounds of history, science, and nature. What a privilege we get to travel and see such unique historical and natural places on Earth.

8. Travel helps you see things from a new perspective.

Written by Jo from World Wild Schooling

One of the things that I love most about traveling is the ability to see things from a new perspective.

Whether it’s a different culture, a new environment, or simply a change of scenery, traveling has a way of opening up your eyes to the world around you.

When we’re stuck in our daily routines and familiar surroundings, it’s easy to become complacent and forget about the wider world.

Traveling helps to break us out of this bubble and expose us to new ways of thinking and living. It allows us to see how people in other parts of the world approach life, work, and relationships.

For example, I was surprised to find out that in Phuket, Thailand, buses have no glass in the windows due to the consistently warm climate. This may seem like a small detail, but it highlights the unique ways that different cultures adapt to their surroundings.

Similarly, my jaw dropped when I first visited Brussels, Belgium , and saw that all signs are bilingual, even the subtitles in cinemas (yes, this means 4 lines of text!). This reflects the country’s complex linguistic history and the ongoing efforts to maintain both French and Dutch as official languages.

9. Travel can make you feel alive.

Written by Michele from Adventures Abound

Traveling makes simple experiences feel momentous, it sparks creativity, and it makes me come alive!

My first time going to another country was when I studied abroad in Costa Rica , and I realized that even the smallest experiences like taking a bus to a cool landmark or walking to a neighborhood festival were suddenly interesting in a new country.

I loved meeting new people, learning about the culture and the language, and traveling around to see beautiful nature in Costa Rica. Even just taking a bus to go visit a coffee farm felt like the most fun adventure.

Once I went on that trip, I was bitten by the travel bug as they say.

I started seeking out ways to feel like I was exploring and that often meant getting out around where I lived.

It’s so fun to explore little towns, peruse around farmer’s markets and shop with local vendors with the lens that I am traveling like I would if I were further from home.

10. Traveling allows you to see art in the world’s best museums.

Written by Lisa from Waves and Cobblestones

One of the reasons that I love to travel is that it gives me the opportunity to visit world-class art museums and spend time looking at fabulous pieces of art up close.

It’s quite a special way to experience art when you can look at a statue from different angles to note and admire all of the fine details.

If you can, always walk around a sculpture to view it from all sides. You just can’t appreciate it in the same way from a photo.

In some museums, the way that the art is displayed improves the viewing experience. In the Musée de l’Orangerie (one of my favorite Paris attractions ), Monet’s Water Lilies paintings are displayed in a unique oval room for an immersive panoramic viewing experience.

Visiting museums is one of my favorite things to do when I travel. And it’s also a great option for a rainy day!

11. Traveling strengthens friendship bonds.

Written by Kristin from Global Travel Escapades

One of the biggest reasons why I love to travel is because it allows me to strengthen the bonds I share with friends.

My friends and I traveled together right after graduating from university.

Although we somewhat knew each other before going on the trip, we didn’t really know each other!

But on this trip, we spent over a week laughing our butts off, dealing with stressful situations, and generally going on all kinds of crazy adventures around French Polynesia together.

There was no shortage of mistakes during this intense period, but we all came out on the other side for the better!

Fast forward almost two years later, and we all still speak so fondly of that time together. In addition, we went from mere acquaintances to the best of friends.

So, for me, I love traveling because it helps strengthen the friendships and relationships I have with others!

12. Travel helps you learn about history and its impact on places you visit.

Written by Diana from Travels in Poland

Traveling has always been my passion, but when you visit a place where you really feel something you can’t explain, it can transform your perspective on travel.

This happened to me when I visited Auschwitz-Birkenau .

My family is Polish and my grandmother, who was there with me, couldn’t get herself to enter the camp fully for several hours. She lived through the occupation and knew people shipped off to the camp. I realized how deeply this impacted me when I visited.

I’ve long been captivated by the way events shape societies, leaving indelible marks on the fabric of their being.

Stepping onto the hallowed grounds of Auschwitz, I felt the weight of the past heavy on my shoulders.

My grandmother’s eyes, glistening with unshed tears, told a thousand stories. This was where she lost family and friends, their lives snuffed out by the unimaginable cruelty of the Holocaust.

It was in walking onto these grounds that I grasped the true power of travel: the ability to connect with the past, witness history firsthand, and gain insight into the myriad of ways it continues to shape our world.

Through this poignant journey, I found a renewed appreciation for the transformative potential of travel, and a deeper understanding of the impact places have on people. Learning not only about history, but about the way it has shaped our world, and how we can learn from it.

13. Traveling helps you find a home base.

Written by Mal from Where To Stay Bali

Traveling was always my passion, but since I quit my career in finance and my conventional life in my home country, traveling has a whole new meaning for me.

Slow travel has become my way of life and a search for somewhere I can one day settle.

Since the beginning of my digital nomad life, I’ve lived part-time in Greece, Albania, Mexico, and the Netherlands.

I loved each of these places for different reasons – for their weather, culture, food, and people.

But, there has been one place that felt different to me, more special, a place that I want to keep coming back to. I found a place in Bali , which is now my second home.

If you keep an open mind during your travels, you may also find a place like that – a second home that can change your life!

14. Travel gives you the chance to study and learn in a new culture.

Written by Amber from Amber Everywhere

I love to travel because it allows me to experience new cultures and ways of living.

In particular, I had wonderful experiences studying abroad when I was in college because it gave me a chance to learn and live in a new place.

I stayed with a host family during my first two trips abroad, once in Guatemala and again in Jordan.

Living with a local family gave me a chance to experience the culture, try different foods, and see entirely different parts of those cities that I would’ve otherwise found.

Studying abroad also gave me a chance to travel slowly, and I stayed in each place long enough to have a favorite restaurant or route to take to school.

There were smaller cultural nuances that I learned, either because they were explained to me by locals or because I just picked them up as I went.

15. Travel teaches self-confidence and self-acceptance.

Written by Chelsea from A Wandering Redhead

I want to personally thank travel for the self-love and self-acceptance that it has taught me. 

Pre-travel, I was shy, people-pleasing, and disbelieving if someone called me pretty. 

Post-travel, I am confident, I love my body and what it can do for me, and I’m overall more radiant and bubbly. 

Without travel, I may have never started my self-love journey and I certainly wouldn’t be where I am today. 

I love the progress that I have made and believe that everyone should solo travel at some point in their life.

16. Traveling fulfills childhood dreams.

Written by Colleen from Then We Walked

As a girl, I would watch Whicker’s World on our black-and-white TV.

Every week, Alan Whicker would appear on screen like a traveling James Bond, complete with his very correct English accent, and transport me to a new exotic corner of the globe.

I was enthralled. It lit a flame. I wanted to explore, too. I dreamed of Table Mountain, Fisherman’s Wharf, the Sphinx, the Parthenon, Hal Long Bay, and the Cook Islands.

But ordinary people didn’t travel in the 1960s, and I was a child.  I started work, married, bought a house, and had a family. Inside, I still dreamed.

We traveled a little, ticking off some of my bucket list, but last year, our children had flown the nest and we retired.  Now, we’re traveling and exploring in earnest!

I’ve waited half a lifetime to go exploring and I’m beyond excited about our plans.

My advice to the girl who watched the TV: don’t wait.

17. Traveling allows you to connect with nature.

Written by Taryn from Happiest Outdoors

One of my favorite things about traveling is connecting with nature.

I love the simplicity of hiking and wilderness camping because it removes all the chaos and distractions of everyday life. It’s just me and the mountains.

It’s also a great way to understand the local ecology. I find it fascinating to learn about the way glaciers and volcanoes work or what unique animal species live in the area.

Instead of just looking at a spectacular view, I can understand the way the landscape came to be, and that deepens my relationship with the place.

Spending time traveling in nature has also been pivotal in my life.

Back in 2019, I had some time to think while hiking the 65-kilometer Overland Track in Tasmania, Australia . The trek made me realize that it was the right time to leave my 9-5 job and write full-time.

Since then I’ve expanded my outdoor adventure website, written a hiking guidebook, and moved to a small mountain town so I can hike every day. 

18. Travel increases feelings of gratitude.

Written by Kristin from World on Wheels Blog

One of the reasons I love to travel is that it makes me more grateful.

When you are constantly in the same country or even environment, it’s easy to take things for granted.

As a traveler who uses a wheelchair and lives in the United States, it’s easy to forget that not all countries have ADA laws that guarantee access.

When I travel to places like South America, I am reminded how little things like curb cuts make a huge difference in how hard or easy it is to navigate a town. I can’t help but feel sad for the people with disabilities that actually live there.

Aside from reminders about how lucky I am to live in a country that encourages accessibility for all, I also feel a sense of gratitude that I’m able to explore the world and witness some of the immense beauty it has to offer.

There’s something incredibly special about seeing the power of Iguazu Falls and realizing how small you are in this massive world of ours. It’s a feeling and experience that photography just cannot seem to capture.

Travel is important for so many reasons, but helping to feel more gratitude is one of the things that I love the most.

19. Travel humbles you.

Written by Milijana from World Travel Connector

Gustave Flaubert, a literary genius and a wise man, once noted: “Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world.”

And indeed, it is one of many lessons that traveling teaches you. Traveling puts you into a broader perspective of time, place, and the universe.

Visiting fascinating archeological sites like Petra in Jordan, Angor Wat in Cambodia, Giza in Egypt, and Pompeii in Italy made me see what a tiny place I occupy in today’s world and question the knowledge of contemporary times. It made me think.

Meeting other cultures while traveling showed me how oblivious I could be to other customs and traditions and how much there is always left to learn.

Traveling made me aware of the prejudices that I thought never existed. Travel shamed me. However, it also taught me the importance of being always open to learning while keeping the ego in check. 

I found it especially rewarding to hike Camino de Santiago in Spain. Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims walked the trail before me. The Camino reminded me of the importance of modesty, effort, perseverance, and purpose. And, most importantly, what a tiny place I occupy in the world.

So, if you like meaningful travels, prepare your  Camino de Santiago packing list and walk the Camino. Let the Camino teach you valuable life lessons! 

20. Traveling helps you de-stress and recharge.

Written by Paulina from UK Everyday

Traveling is an excellent way to de-stress and recharge.

Discovering new places can allow you to reconnect with yourself. It can also help reduce stress levels by providing a change of scenery and an escape from the mundane routines of everyday life.

Traveling can also provide people with a sense of freedom from their work-related responsibilities, allowing them to relax surrounded by natural landscapes.

Exploring some of the best beaches in Wales can be a great way to disconnect from the stresses of everyday life.

Additionally, traveling can help boost creativity, as it encourages new ideas and perspectives. This can help spark creativity by introducing fresh ideas that you might not have otherwise thought of when stressed.

For these reasons, traveling is great to help de-stress and recharge.

Furthermore, travel also provides a break from your daily routine, allowing you to step away from your comfort zone and explore the unknown without worrying about your daily problems.

21. Travel lets you connect with other cultures through the arts.

Written by Dawn from Culture Feasting

If you consider yourself an artistic person, know that traveling can be a total game-changer.

As a creative person myself, I’ve found that exploring new destinations has the power to expand my spirit and give me all sorts of new artistic opportunities.

Over the years I have come to crave the stimulation of experiencing different cultures and their unique art forms.

From visiting local museums to catching a traditional dance performance, there are so many ways to connect with the arts while on vacation.

It’s not just about admiring pretty paintings or sculptures, either. It’s about immersing yourself in a foreign environment and gaining a whole new perspective on the world.

I’ve found that this can really inspire me to incorporate new artistic elements into my own creative projects.

So next time you’re planning a trip, consider how it could enhance your love for the arts and help you connect with other cultures on a deeper level.

22. Travel gives you a change of scenery.

Written by Tina from Veganderlust

I grew up in a small village in Austria, a country with beautiful lakes and mountains, but also a landlocked country.

The best part about traveling is the change of scenery. My favorite places to go to are cities next to the ocean, which is a completely different scenery from landlocked Austria.

There’s nothing better on your holiday than exploring a city and then relaxing at the beach.

That’s why I really loved my last trip to Barcelona . There’s so much culture and history to discover in this city, and afterward, you can go swimming in the sea.

By visiting different places with a change of scenery, you also develop a new appreciation for your own home scenery – one of the many positive side effects of traveling.

As much as I love traveling to coastal destinations, I always love seeing the mountains when I come back home.

23. Travel can strengthen your romantic relationships.

Written by Amy & Liam from Plain2Plane

There are so many wonderful reasons to travel.

If you’re in a relationship then there is nothing better than sharing experiences with your significant other.

Imagine waking up in Egypt with your partner, ready to go out for the day. You are going parasailing together, enjoying cocktails, quad biking – the list really is endless. You get to enjoy all of this with someone that you love and care about.

Traveling can be challenging at times and you have to make many different, sometimes difficult, decisions.

You have the luxury to share these moments together and form a closer relationship unlike any other. This will help you create a deeper bond with your partner.

You will also be able to step out of your comfort zone and try new things together. This will ultimately bring you closer together too!

24. Travel is inspiring.

Written by Chelsea from Adventures of Chels

One of the reasons I enjoy traveling is because of the many ways it inspires me.

Traveling inspires me to better myself physically, mentally, and emotionally.

I’m inspired physically when I’ve committed to a trip that involves physical effort. One example would be hiking the Inca Trail in Peru.

When I learned that the trail involved miles of steady incline at high altitudes I felt motivated to prepare for that physically. This resulted in healthier eating habits and weeks of exercising leading up to my trip.

I’m inspired mentally by the way traveling increases my desire to do even more of it. This usually prompts me to tighten my budget to save for my next trip.

It also helps put into perspective the things I need vs. want and how that plays into not only my budget but also my overall happiness.

Emotionally, traveling inspires me to be a better person. When I see the way people in other parts of the world live, many times with very little, I feel humbled.

I feel inclined to be more grateful for the things I have and the experiences I’m afforded. It contributes to my overall well-being when I’m reminded of how little I need to truly be happy.

There are many reasons why I love traveling; but, the way it inspires me is definitely high on the list.

25. Travel turns kids into global citizens.

Written by Brodi from Our Offbeat Life

As full-time digital nomads, my family has seen so many places and experienced so much that I never thought possible when I was younger.

My son is learning about different cultures, languages, and ways of life that he would have never been exposed to if we had stayed in one place.

Traveling as a family has allowed him to gain a greater appreciation for the world around him.

He’s able to see how people live differently in different parts of the world and understand why those differences exist.

He is also learning valuable lessons about resilience, adaptability, and problem-solving as he navigates through unfamiliar places and situations.

Most importantly, traveling has given him the opportunity to explore his own identity as a global citizen.

He is developing an understanding of what it means to be part of something bigger than himself – a global community – and how he can contribute positively to it.

26. Traveling helps you find new opportunities in life.

Written by Min from Amsterdam Travel Blog

Traveling is not just visiting new places, experiencing new cultures, and trying local food. It can mean much more than that; it allowed me to find new opportunities and has changed my life forever.

When traveling to Europe for the first time at 18 years old, I noticed how big the world was, and life was so different on the other side of the world.

Because of that, I became more motivated to embrace the world. I decided to travel and meet more people.

While traveling in Amsterdam , luckily, I met some friendly people, including international students from Paraguay and South Africa. They studied in the Netherlands with a full scholarship.

They told me that the Netherlands was their first choice since they could have more connections with people around the world quickly while studying, and easier to find a job here after graduation as a non-European.

I came from Taiwan and grew up there all my life. After working for a few years, I quit my job and studied in the Netherlands. Now, I finally moved to The Netherlands permanently on my own, and if I didn’t travel, I would not know that it was possible to move here.

I encourage you to travel more and be open to meeting new people. The world is so big – people you meet can help you see the world from a different perspective and get valuable information about your life.

27. Travel can help you create change in your own community.

Written by Annie from Your Friend the Nomad

Travel is not just about the place you visit, but the transformation you experience and how you transform your community in response.

I learned this when I spent a few months volunteering with a reconciliation organization in the Middle East.

Despite decades of violence between their communities, I saw ordinary people working together to build bridges across social divides.

As an outsider looking in, I only saw the tip of the iceberg of the challenges locals were facing—yet I could see that peacemaking was not an easy or quick task.

After a few months, I returned to the US completely changed. The framework for reconciliation that I learned abroad guided how I navigated the aftermath of George Floyd’s death, conversations about immigration, and even interpersonal conflicts.

Personal transformation is available to you as you travel whether you’re traversing war zones or relaxing on  tranquil tropical beaches . You just have to lean in and allow your biases to be broken.

28. Travel lets you see the vast landscapes of the world.

Written by Jessica from Uprooted Travel

As an outdoor adventure lover, one of the primary reasons I love to travel is to experience the vast array of landscapes the world has to offer.

This can take shape in so many different ways, from exploring the lush rainforests and rugged beaches of my own backyard in the Pacific Northwest to checking out any of the best hikes in Arches National Park in Utah, with unique sandstone fins and dramatic natural arches.

Of course, this takes me beyond my home country of the United States—there’s endless natural beauty to explore, like the turquoise waterfalls of Costa Rica , the luscious highlands of Iceland, or the sweeping grasslands of the Serengeti.

Along the way, of course, I get to enjoy all of the other aspects of travel, like trying new cuisines, befriending locals, and seeing the world through a new perspective.

But for me, getting to step foot in a uniquely stunning landscape propels me to keep traveling and seeing this big, beautiful world.

29. Travel helps you make the world a better place.

Written by Chloe from Passport Down Under

Traveling has allowed me to positively impact the world by leaving the country in a better position than when I entered it, which is what I love most about traveling.

Traveling has allowed me to give back by supporting local businesses and economies.

By choosing to buy locally-made products and using local services, I have helped to create jobs and support the growth of small businesses. This can contribute to the development of sustainable tourism and the preservation of cultural heritage.

Furthermore, traveling has allowed me to give back through volunteering and community service.

I have participated in activities such as clean-up projects on the beaches of Byron Bay, wildlife conservation projects in Cambodia, and teaching English to local children in Thailand.

These experiences not only allowed me to contribute to the community but also to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and needs of the local people, especially in counties such as Cambodia.

Overall, traveling has allowed me to leave the world a better place by positively impacting the communities I visit.

30. Travel is great for learning a new language.

Written by Diana from Avagu Press

Learning a language is a huge reason to travel. While textbooks and classrooms might work for math and literature, learning a foreign language requires a bit of independent study and a lot of practice time.

The best way to get that practice time?

Immersion — spending hours, days, weeks, and even longer completely immersed in a foreign language, using it to live.

Unless you happen to live somewhere where multiple languages are spoken, travel is key to immersing yourself in a foreign language.

For the most effective language-learning, language-learning resources that specifically target your travel plans (like a Swahili-learning guide specifically for safari ) will help you make the most out of your experience.

Focus on communication, and don’t worry too much about mistakes.

The beautiful thing about being a novice in a foreign language is that nobody expects too much, so the pressure is off! Enjoy your trip, and enjoy your language learning.

31. Travel brings adventure.

Written by Melissa from My Beautiful Passport

One of the reasons I love to travel is for adventure and trying adventurous activities.

When traveling to new destinations, not only do you get to immerse yourself in different cultures and try new foods, but you have the chance to participate in exhilarating adventure sports that will leave you breathless.

From snorkeling with turtles to parasailing over beautiful coastlines, and volcano boarding down an active volcano, the rush of excitement is unmatched.

For adventure-seekers like myself, traveling to participate in activities like these create memories that last a lifetime.

I have chosen many of my vacation locations specifically for the fun adventure sports I can try there, and often, it is the first time I’m trying each activity.

The thrill of adventure travel is hard to beat, and the rush of excitement that comes with it is truly unforgettable.

32. Travel inspires me to write about and share my experiences.

Written by Wayne from Always On The Shore

The biggest reason that I love to travel is because it inspires me to write about places I’ve visited and my experiences, so I can motivate others to travel and do the same.

I have always liked traveling but I never had the money to travel until my mid-30s.  Once I started traveling more consistently, I fell in love with the idea of warm-weather locations, such as Florida.

Since I’m from Minnesota and half the year is snowy, cold weather, beach vacations became something that I became obsessed with. Later, that became writing about all things Florida and even the Caribbean.

I know that other people can relate and have similar reasons for wanting to get away, but maybe there’s something stopping them. Like maybe they’re too nervous to fly, which I also experienced, until I did research on flying, and learned ways to cope with flight anxiety.

The main takeaway is that if you’re passionate about seeing amazing places and the world like I am, don’t let anything stop you. If I can inspire others to do the same by sharing my experiences, then I’m happy.

33. Traveling gives me a creative outlet.

As I was growing up, I always assumed that I wasn’t creative. I couldn’t draw, didn’t play an instrument, and I certainly couldn’t sing or dance.

I always did great in English class, but I never enjoyed the creative writing assignments. Coming up with fictional stories just wasn’t my strong suit.

When I finished my undergraduate degree, I had studied abroad four times in four different countries. I had also gone on several independently-planned trips, both international and domestic. At that same time, I also discovered a new creative outlet: travel blogging.

In school, I was always great at writing research papers and writing travel guides was a fun way to use my strengths. Plus, I had always enjoyed giving travel advice to friends and family, so why not share my stories and tips with the world?

Since starting A World in Reach in 2018, I’ve learned and grown so much. I’m so glad that I have a creative outlet where I can share about one of the most important aspects of my life – travel – and help others explore the world on a budget.

Reasons Why People Love to Travel: Final Thoughts

As you can see, there are SO MANY reasons why people love to travel.

For some, traveling sparks creativity, brings personal growth, and helps them escape the routine. For others, traveling brings bucket-list-worthy experiences, delicious food, and adventure.

The question “Why do you love to travel?” has no right or wrong answer. Traveling is a deeply personal experience that can bring happiness to different people in many different ways.

So, if you’re thinking about traveling in the future, I hope this post and the stories told within have shown you all of the positivity that travel can bring to your life.

If you were asked, “Why do you love to travel?”, what would your answer be?

After traveling outside of the US for the first time while studying abroad, I quickly developed a love for travel and an obsession for exploring as much of the world as possible. Now, I'm on a mission to teach college students, young adults, and anyone else who wants to see the world how to travel while minimizing their expenses and maximizing their experiences.

Some articles on Fair Dinkum traveller may contain compensated links. Please read the  disclaimer for more information.

Why I Love Travelling – a personal story about how travel changed my life

Aug 6, 2022 | Feature | 0 comments

If you’re still wondering why I love travelling so much, then read on for my personal story about how travel changed my life! It’s hard to imagine where it all began because I wasn’t raised to see the world. But once the floodlights switched on and I had a taste of travel, there was no coming back. Travelling has opened my eyes to new cultures and different ways of life and shown me an endless amount of natural beauty. It has changed me as a person for the better and given me experiences that I will never forget.

There are special memories in life, like when I met my wife for the first time, my kids were born, and we bought our first house and truly felt like adults. But for me, some of my most cherished memories are from my travels. I love the adventure and excitement that comes with planning a trip, not knowing what lies ahead but being confident that it will be amazing.

Hey, not that my wedding day over 16 years ago and the day my kids were born don’t top the list; of course, they do. However, there is something about getting away from every day and exploring our big beautiful world.

From the first time I stepped foot on a plane as a young adult, I was hooked. I loved everything about flying; the anticipation of takeoff, the views from above, and finally touching down at a new destination. The sense of freedom and adventure that comes with travel is unlike anything else. And I knew that I wanted more.

So, why do I love travelling? For me, it’s all about the experiences. Each new place I visit presents an opportunity to learn something new, see things from a different perspective and make memories that will last a lifetime. 

Whether watching the sunset over the Himalayas in Nepal, I was hiking the jungle in Borneo or enjoying a coffee in a Bali cafe. While travelling, I will always create memories that I will treasure forever.

The sunrise from Chisapani in Nepal.

Why do I love travelling, and how did it change my life? Let’s go back a bit before I even saw another country outside of Australia. By the end, you’ll understand why I love travelling and how I can’t stop.

Unless a virus takes control of the world, naturally.

I never travelled internationally growing up.

I don’t think I am alone in this because international travel is undoubtedly more convenient in modern times than in my youthful years in the 80s and 90.s. But my family never went on holidays overseas, except for domestic trips to Sydney from Melbourne. That was fine, Sydney was superb, and the memories were strong, especially the beachside area of Manly. Yet, international travel remained a mystery. 

However, going overseas was a pipedream growing up. It all changed when I got my first real job and joined the Australian Army.

My first overseas trip came about a deployment in the Army.

On my first overseas trip, I didn’t even have a passport. I didn’t need one getting deployed to another country with the Army, so that’s always a remarkable fact I like to mention from time to time. How is this for a little fun fact?

Anyway, my deployment was peacekeeping in East Timor, and I was there for just three months. It was a fantastic experience and one that changed my life in so many ways that I am forever grateful for.

However, it wasn’t a holiday. Besides being based in the hills of Bobonaro with fantastic views near the Indonesian Border, there wasn’t a lot of time to be a tourist.

Visiting South Korea is when travelling truly opened my eyes.

Okay, my first real trip overseas with an official passport happened in 2005 when I visited Seoul, South Korea, with my Korean girlfriend. Spoiler alert She became my wife, and we’ve been married 16-plus years now, so happy ending and all that.

But this is where I had what I like to call my ‘travel epiphany’. I hadn’t given travel much thought, but being in Korea and seeing the sights of Seoul, exploring the city region and seeing impressive palaces and temples and so forth was genuinely fantastic. I loved it; I was beginning to get the travel bug.

The Gyeongbokgung Palace must be on your list during your vacation in Seoul.

A travelling Halt as Marriage and Kids took over.

Unfortunately, a trip to South Korea would be the last trip abroad for eight years, that’s right, eight years! Because we got married, had kids and bought a house, the critical stuff required in adulthood. Which is excellent, I love being a husband and father, but the travel itch was still there. I often researched for trips, but timing and financings were not there.

But why do I love travelling? Especially when I barely touched the surface in the travel stratosphere.

It’s hard to explain why I love travelling so much because it is an indescribable feeling whether you travel a lot or not.

But as circumstances changed, kids grew older, and we had a bit more money, we finally started to travel again.

And I haven’t stopped since!

Travel restarted with a trip to Fiji.

Suppose I ever think about why I love travelling. In that case, the paradise islands of Fiji in the Pacific stand out because it was here on the beaches of Fiji that I realized that I wanted to travel more. That I needed to see more places and explore this big wide world we live in.

However, it was not only the stunning beachside resorts and cocktails that helped too; the locals were the kindest people I had ever met. They had this unique way of life and culture that I wanted to learn more about.

If a tiny island country could get me enthusiastic about the rest of the world, I was keen to see what other countries had in store.

I was visiting a boutique island in Fiji.

Then Asia came calling again, and I never looked back.

Fiji got the blood pumping for travel. Therefore it was time to travel more frequently. With Asia being the most affordable place to travel from Australia, it became my haven for a trip.

Over the years following Fiji and before the virus hit the world, which took travel to a halt, I visited terrific destinations.

I return trips to South Korea, expanding further than Seoul and seeing beautiful destinations in Muju, Busan and Jeju. I had several trips to Bali, Malaysia and Thailand. I’ll never forget my tenth wedding Anniversary in Koh Samui, Thailand, where it became the Island of Love.

I became well-travelled in Asia, but what stands out the most was two adventures of different kinds. Firstly, in 2017, was the volunteering experience I had in Vientiane, Laos, where I tried my hand at teaching English to school kids and monks.

The second unbelievable experience was hiking in Nepal, just outside Kathmandu, and seeing the unbelievable Himalayas with my two eyes. It was better than any picture I could see on social media or television.

The continent of Asia is spectacular for many reasons, and I’m excited to see what else is out there in this big wide world. Who knows, maybe one day I’ll conquer Europe or even Africa! And that’s why I love travelling, it changes you as a person, witnessing experiences of different cultures in different destinations.

Happy and smiling from a high vantage point in Koh Samui in Thailand.

My most memorable trips to this date

Hiking in Nepal, volunteering in Laos or having a wedding anniversary in Koh Samui all stands out, but what indeed is the most memorable trip. Well, I can tell you, it’s none of the above.

• Kyoto in Japan – Japan is incredible, and Kyoto is a beautiful city to get lost in for a few days. I saw the best tourist attractions, the Fushimi Inari-Taisha and the Kinkaku-Ji, to only name a few best places to visit in Kyoto. The temples, the food and the culture make this place very special to me.
• South Korea – Whether it’s Seoul, Busan, Jeju, or Gyeongju, there’s an excellent reason I’ve returned to Korea on numerous occasions . It’s a beautiful country with something new, whether the food, the nightlife, or just exploring a new neighbourhood.
• Nusa Lembongan in Indonesia – The beautiful island of Bali, Nusa Lembongan is the perfect place to relax and escape the hustle and bustle of city life. With its turquoise waters, white sand beaches and coral reefs, it’s easy to spend a few days on the island and cherish life and what is around you.

Paradise awaits any traveller on arrival in Nusa Lembongan.

How my love for travel opened my world to travel writing

The love of travel inspired my blog, Fair Dinkum Traveller, which started in 2016. It’s a place where I share my personal travel stories, itineraries and tips to help others explore this big wide world we live in.

I have visited some unique places as a travel writer and influencer through writing. I’ve written about travel destinations, especially my immense love of Asia and my home country in Australia.

I’ve been very fortunate to have articles published in well-known travel publications, giving me more opportunities to quench my thirst for travel.

But why do I write about travel? I want to inspire others to get out there and explore this big wide world we live in. I want others to know that seeing the world is possible, whether you’re from a small town or city.

And that’s why I love travelling, because it changes you as a person, witnessing experiences of different cultures in different destinations.

How did you catch the travel bug? Please let me know in the comments below.

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---- The world was created for LOVERS to explore hand in hand marveling at its BEAUTY. You've found that love . Let us pull the rest of the PIECES together.

Weddings   and   wanderlust

Have Lover, Will Travel • wedding officiant & honeymoon planning • weddings & wanderlust • Have Lover, Will Travel • wedding officiant & honeymoon planning • weddings & wanderlust • Have Lover, Will Travel • wedding officiant & honeymoon planning • weddings & wanderlust •  HAVE LOVER, WILL TRAVEL • WEDDING OFFICIANT & HONEYMOON PLANNING • WEDDINGS & WANDERLUST • HAVE LOVER, WILL TRAVEL • WEDDING OFFICIANT & HONEYMOON PLANNING • WEDDINGS & WANDERLUST • HAVE LOVER, WILL TRAVEL • WEDDING OFFICIANT & HONEYMOON PLANNING • WEDDINGS & WANDERLUST •  

We want to hear your story

Have Lover, Will Travel is a wedding officiant and honeymoon travel planning company based in Brooklyn, New York.

Weddings   and    wanderlust

Irrepressible … that once in a lifetime stuff. It’s not the kind that’s made in movies, it’s what cannot be captured by frames or in scripts. It’s the in-between, the looks that pass only between the two of you. The heat in the tiny spaces that exist between your palms. The single silhouette that you become moving slowly at night. It’s beauty, inexplicable and pure. This type of love is the kind you were made to discover. And now with it, hand in hand, discover the world. You have your lover, your date is set, your bags are packed, and your heart is full. Let me do the rest.

Yeah, it’s that kind of love

“Who cared about logic, or about the working of things? They were young and in love, things like that never matteredwhen you are both of those things.” - Lily Moon River

I like to say I bookend your love story; I’m here for the before and after. I’m a wedding officiant, dedicated to building a ceremony that is personal, memorable, and naturally reflects your love. I’m a honeymoon planner, helping to curate an adventure that will let your love traverse borders and break through boundaries. You’ve found your lover. Let me tell your story and create an adventure together.

Wedding officiant & honeymoon planner

I'm liz norment.

Once you decide to move forward with HLWT as your officiant, I’ll revise your outline with a ton of personalized questions that will be evocative of you and your partner’s love story. I’ll require both partners to respond separately and to answer the questions in a conversational, stream-of-consciousness style. And please skip over any questions that don’t feel personal to your relationship! From there, I’ll set deadlines to keep us all on track as we work to build your ceremony.

02   |  Your Story

While I’m writing your ceremony, I fully immerse myself in the responses that you and your partner have shared. I conjure up details about the setting for the ceremony that will bring your guests into the scene. I let myself get lost in stories of your adventures and romance. I use my expressive style of writing to invite your guests into the story of your love,, from the first interaction to the proposal. I create custom vows based on your dynamic as a couple, and offer inspiration for readings to be included in the ceremony.  

03 / 06 | CEREMONY WRITING

During our collaborative editing process, I’ll allow you to review as much of the ceremony as you wish to review. Most couples prefer to keep the “love story” section a surprise until the wedding day. However, I require extra scrutiny on the sections that mention family history to make sure your families feel properly represented (no matter how complicated they may seem!) I’ll make sure that the ceremony feels representative of you and your love and is well-balanced with deep emotion and light-hearted humor.

04 / 06 | EDITING PROCESS

I’ll arrive early to coordinate with your team on wedding day for sound checks, to review the marriage license, and to make sure that your wedding party is informed and prepared. During the ceremony, I’ll take my time to make sure every detail of your story is felt by your guests. I’ll be sure to address family directly when they are mentioned. And, I always step away slightly during the pronouncement so that the grand finale and kiss puts you and your partner at the center of the attention.

05 / 06 | WEDDING DAY

After researching the legalities surrounding the jurisdiction where your ceremony is held, I’ll be sure that you and your partner are well-informed to obtain your marriage license. On your wedding day, I’ll oversee the signing of the marriage license, ensuring that multiple copies are filled out. I’ll then file the license on your behalf, following up with the County Clerk within a designated period of time to be sure that everything is taken care of.

06 / 06 | THE LEGAL PART

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The ring may symbolize the promise of a lifetime of love together, but your passport will be the booklet where your memories are made. I’ll work with you to plan a trip that reflects your love. Let’s get started.

honeymoon Planning

From the top of Red Rocks amphitheater in Colorado to an intimate affair in Chianti, Italy, I’ve shared the love stories of so many adventurous couples, helping them find just the right words to say “I do”. Let me tell your story.

Wedding Officiating

additional services, In so many words.

And then some...

The most unique gift you can give to your guests. I'll set up my 1960 Smith Corona typewriter at your reception and will type out personal love stories for your guests onto custom-designed postcards.

live story typing

Honoring someone you love at an event is both an incredible opportunity and a nerve-wracking experience. Your wedding toast should hit all the right notes; heartfelt and witty, timely and memorable. Let me put it all into words for you.

speeches + toasts

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How Travel Can Heal Body Image

The uncertainties of travel can place extra stress on people who struggle with how they look. here are a few ways to make travel joyful instead..

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Focusing on what your body is capable of doing while traveling, rather than what it looks like, can help move energy away from negative self-talk.

Photo by STEKLO/Shutterstock

Alicia Cook has struggled with body image for more than half her life. The 37-year-old writer can still recall the first time when, as a teenager, she wished she could make herself shrink. “While I’ve come to better accept and almost love my body for what it’s able to do, it’s something that is always in the back of my mind,” Cook says. “I have good days and bad days when it comes to the mirror.”

The pressure can build particularly when on the road. Whether it’s the lack of a routine, social outings centered on food, bikini-clad beach days, or the social pressure to obtain a “vacation body,” the freedom that traveling can offer might feel to some people like a trap.

Cook says she’s found a way to keep her body image concerns in check at home, including abstaining from alcohol and “becoming more and more fond of routine.” However, maintaining a positive self-image while traveling has required careful practice.

“I don’t become an entirely different person just because I’m on vacation,” she says. “I won’t eat dessert every night I’m away, even if the people I’m traveling with do. I try to book trips that fall during a particular time of my cycle, because I know the week leading up to my period my body image is low and I feel bloated. I know how it sounds. But I’m just being transparent because I know I’m not alone.”

More than half of Americans say they feel pressured to have a certain body type, according to a 2021 body image study conducted by YouGov , an international research and analytics firm. A reported 76 percent of Americans believe that women are under more pressure than men to look a particular way, and women are nearly twice as likely as men to describe themselves as overweight, according to the same study.

For those with body image issues, the inherent uncertainty associated with traveling can be triggering, says Kristine Luce, a psychologist and the codirector of the adult eating disorder program at Stanford University School of Medicine.

“Some travelers ruminate and plan excessively in response to the unpredictability of access to specific food choices and exercise options,” she says. “On the other hand, some people who travel demonstrate a pattern of eating that is typical for chronic restrictive dieters and use vacation to abandon all restraint.”

Nicole, who asked to be identified only by her first name to protect her privacy, says prior to traveling she always thinks about where she’ll be able to exercise while away. “I ask myself: ‘Where will I be? What is the schedule? Will there be a gym?’” says the 36-year-old bakery owner, who developed body image concerns after spending 25 years as a competitive dancer. “Anytime I travel, I eat more than usual and feel bloated and guilty. I usually feel OK on day one, but by day two and after day three I feel anxious, like I’m straying too far away from ‘the norm.’”

Nicole says social media has made travel all the more complicated. “A lot of my trips were negatively impacted by the pressure to look a certain way in pictures that will wind up on the internet forever,” she says. “This definitely impacted the way I chose to eat. . . . I wonder how I would have felt on trips if cameras and social media didn’t exist.”

Multiple studies have shown a negative correlation between social media use and body image. When there’s more pressure to document a trip than to simply enjoy the moment, a person is certainly at a higher risk of feeling negative about their appearance. According to Luce, when preparing to travel, it can help to consider the purpose of their trip and what they want to gain from the overall experience. “This can refocus their attention if body image distress threatens their joys, satisfaction, and [the lasting] memory of their travel,” she says. “It’s useful to recognize that how we feel in our bodies—full, heavy, bloated—is not visible to others.”

On a trip, Luce suggests travelers “embrace scents, textures, colors, and flavors of local cuisines and consider their bodily cues.” By remaining present, she adds, those on vacation can enjoy a “more immersive experience.”

One 2017 study found that spending more time in nature can improve a person’s self-esteem and establish a more positive body image. Research also suggests that focusing on what your body can do —whether it’s surfing, hiking, fishing, or climbing—rather than how your body looks during a specific activity can also improve a person’s self-image.

That was certainly the case for Jennifer Hepton, who says that even preparing for a trip helps her better manage her mental health. The 50 year old says she struggled with body image and dissociation after years of infertility and the loss of her stillborn daughter, but she eventually discovered that the act of traveling helped “awaken a new sense of self.”

“I realized that it’s OK to indulge occasionally, and that what matters is the joy and deeper connection experienced through travel,” she explains. “And when I return home, I focus on intentionally living and reflecting on my broader health and well-being throughout the year.”

That’s why Claire Mysko, author of Does This Pregnancy Make Me Look Fat?, believes traveling can ultimately serve as a way to improve one’s body image. “When we are able to sit with discomfort of being out of our routines, it is possible to ride those waves of worry to some pretty joyful places,” Mysko says. “Just as low self-esteem can negatively affect body image, resilience can have a positive effect.”

Keep on trucking: How Love's Travel Stop grew from one store to an international empire

W ATONGA — Harold Wells, 73, has worked for Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores for 51 years, an entire career, after starting out here in one of the late Tom Love's earliest stores.

Al Harper, 70, is still here in Watonga, where he grew up and where he's worked for 24 years in Love's No. 1, the first of what is now nearly 650 Love's Travel Stops and convenience stores catering to casual drivers and professional truckers in 42 states. The company has about 40,000 employees.

Over those decades, Wells and Harper have demonstrated, actually lived out what Love's points to for its success: "humble beginnings, teamwork, work ethic and perseverance."

The Love family, and the family-owned corporation, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary, say those aspects of the company's culture — humble beginnings, teamwork, work ethic and perseverance — have guided its growth since Tom and Judy Love started out in 1964.

Judy Love doesn't say much to the media, but in light of Love's 60th anniversary, she told The Oklahoman:

"When Tom and I opened the first location in Watonga 60 years ago, we couldn’t imagine what this company would become. The journey has been amazing. One thing I know is that we wouldn’t be here without our loyal team members and customers. We are fortunate so I feel that we should help others. That’s why we’ve always given back to many nonprofit organizations."

Dedication and innovation keep longtime Love's employees at work for decades at Love's No 1 in Watonga and at OKC corporate headquarters

Harper said a manager at Love's No. 1 recruited him to take the night shift in 2001, when shoplifters and others were causing the store trouble. It was his second career after 27 years working at a carpet mill until it closed. He said he "got it cleaned up," and has been happy working there ever since.

"I like meeting the people. I told (a supervisor), 'I'll stay here and keep the store going as long as I can,'" the 70-year-old said.

Wells started at Love's in Watonga part time in 1972, when he was working on degrees in math and physics at Southwestern State College in Weatherford, just before it was renamed Southwestern Oklahoma State University. He graduated but stayed with Love's, never looking back.

Wells is Love's manager of retail accounting systems and has lived in Edmond and worked at company headquarters — at suburban 10601 N Pennsylvania Ave. in The Village — for decades. He said every innovation Love's has made over the years has given him something new and exciting to learn. He could have retired 10 years ago, but he's kept at it.

"It's easy to work for a company and believe in what you do," he said, when the company has a reputation like Love's.

Love's Field: A reminder that roots and reputation helped bring the big-hearted Loves big riches

Roots and reputation helped make Love's a top workplace, and helped make the Loves generous billionaires, giving to causes across the state, not just in Oklahoma City.

Love's Travel Stops had $26.5 billion in revenue last year, according to Forbes, making it the ninth-largest private company in the country. Judy Love had a net worth of $10.2 billion, landing her at No. 2 on USA Today's list of "America's richest self-made women."

Symbols abound for "humble beginnings, teamwork, work ethic and perseverance." Add benevolence, and the symbol Jenny Love Meyer keeps in her office makes sense. She's a daughter of Tom and Judy Love, and Love's chief culture officer.

The reminder of what it took to get the family and company where they are? A softball trophy, but a replica, making it a reminder of a reminder:

Love's Field, which opened this year . Love's contributed the lead gift of the $37 million that helped pay for the $48 million field and stadium, earning it naming rights. The trophy is a reproduction of the University of Oklahoma Sooners’ 2023 NCAA championship softball trophy.

“This 44,000 square-foot complex is a nod to Coach (Patty) Gasso and all those who have been instrumental to building the Oklahoma softball dynasty and hopefully an inspiration for the female student-athletes who compete in it. They are our leaders of the future,” Love Meyer said. “Love’s is humbled to stand alongside the more than 1,100 donors who graciously supported this project. The $37 million raised is the largest dollar amount privately fundraised for a female-specific facility project in college athletics history.”

Parallels between Love's No. 1 in Watonga and Love's Field in Norman

Raising Love's Field took years and "a village of dedicated people to complete," Love Meyer said. She said she sees parallels to her parents' success after their beginnings in Watonga and Gasso's success after 30 years of "building a softball powerhouse in Norman, Oklahoma."

“With little money to invest and a growing family to support, my parents used a $5,000 loan to lease an abandoned service station in Watonga, a small community 60 miles west of Oklahoma City," she said. "That initial willingness to start and grow a business required confidence, innovative thinking, hard work and perseverance, and is why Love’s is where it is today.

"Similarly, when Coach Gasso arrived in Norman in 1994, she organized practices at a local park and needed to schedule practice in between slow pitch softball leagues. And sometimes had to clean up the dugout from festivities the night before.

"She never gave up. From former OU Associate Athletic Director Marita Hynes, Coach Gasso, softball alumni, to current players, and the university, they persevered through all the challenges. That championship mindset is how success is built.”

How Love's started: Tom and Judy Love 'had two small children to feed and bills to pay'

Nobody in the Love family, or among the earliest employees, could have dreamed that Love's, first called Musket Corp., would ever become such a retail juggernaut, with locations popping up along interstate highways like spring dandelions — plus several other ventures catering to, and supporting, the trucking industry, everyday travelers, and fuel supply chain management.

“When my parents opened our first location 60 years ago, they never imagined what Love’s would grow into," Love Meyer said. "They had two small children to feed and bills to pay and had to figure out a way to do that. My dad had the idea to lease an abandoned filling station, and through hard work, finding ways to learn about the business and, as he would say, working with and hiring people smarter than him, they grew it into what it is today.

"We attribute our success to our team members and customers. They’ve helped us grow into what we are today while remaining true to the family-owned and -operated business model that we know sets us apart from competitors. We always say that if our teams take care of customers, we’ll take care of them, and we think that’s been a pretty good standard to live by.”

Love's rolls both ways, with professional drivers and casual customers

If you're a professional truck driver, Love's is a truck stop. If you're not, Love's is a convenience store with fast food. Chances are, trucker or not, you don't know what all drives the family-owned company.

Love's rolls both ways, of course. Two-thirds of fuel sales are to professional drivers, and two-thirds of in-store sales are to casual customers, the company says. But Love's business is more than gasoline, diesel, and road trip snacks and fast food.

This year, the company plans to add up to 25 new locations, update up to 40 older stores, and rebuild four, among other company expansions, said Shane Wharton, Love's president.

“Six decades ago, (the late) Tom Love opened our first service station in Watonga, Oklahoma, and almost immediately started selling household items to make stopping in more convenient for customers,” Wharton said. “Today, as the only major travel stop that is still family owned and operated, we continue with his innovative spirit by adding new products and improving the experience to give customers more reasons to stop in.”

Four generations of Loves are involved with the company, including billionaire co-founder Judy Love . But numerous others have helped build Love's since 1964, Love-Meyer said.

RELATED: Bojangles isn't coming to Oklahoma Love's locations after all, and why is a mystery

“While a lot has changed ... the heart of Love’s has not," she said. “We are so grateful for our incredible team members — past and present — whose contributions play a role in shaping our company.

"Growth and innovation of our product offerings, living our core values and culture daily, and dedication to clean places, friendly faces are what this company was started on in 1964. Today, we proudly stand on that foundation and know our best is still ahead of us.”

RELATED: Biggest-ever Love's Travel Stop reminds me why I love Love's but will wait awhile yet to stop in

Love's went on a buying spree in 2023, its biggest year for mergers and acquisitions.

The company acquired EZ GO from Lawton-based Carey Johnson Oil Co., including six travel stops on Oklahoma turnpikes, five on the Kansas turnpike and 11 convenience stores in Oklahoma and Nebraska.

EZ GO, like Love's, features franchise food and owns and operates Back Forty Barbecue at two locations. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Houston-based Musket Corp., owned by Love's, established European operations with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. Musket's focus is supplying Love’s Travel Stops with gasoline and diesel and managing the company’s biodiesel program. Subsidiary Musket Europe SARL extends the company's commodity supply and logistics, providing relief for the instability in global fuel supply chains.

Love's also bought OKC-based TVC Pro-Driver, a motor club and commercial driver’s license protection service. It assists drivers and fleets in reducing or dismissing fines, preventing downtime for court, and protecting federal compliance, safety and accountability scores. A subscription provides access to a network of attorneys and discounts on safety solutions, health care and more. Terms were not disclosed.

RETAIL INVESTMENT: Car washes near me? Probably. Why investors are building them everywhere in OKC area

Love's continues to expand and enhance services for drivers — professional and casual.

Through awards from the Federal Highway Administration's National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program , Love's-owned Trillium Energy Solutions , which Love's acquired in 2016, plans to add to Love’s electric vehicle fast-charging network with new chargers at 29 locations this year.

For truckers driving Freightliners, which Love's said accounts for about half all trucks on the road, Freightliner ExpressPoint is now available at more than 400 Love’s truck care locations, providing light mechanical warranty repair work for Freightliner trucks through Love’s partnership with Daimler Truck North America. Love's rolled out the service in January and plans to expand it this year.

Love's plans 10 new full-service Speedco locations next to its travel stops, 50 maintenance bays and and about 60 emergency roadside vehicles. Love's has owned Speedco since 2017.

Love family philanthropy seen across Oklahoma, elsewhere

Love's donates 2% of net profits to charity and good causes.

"Many know the story of Love’s...," Love Meyer said last year in Love's first-ever Community Impact Report. "And from those humble roots, he built a family-owned and -operated network of travel stops now approaching 700 locations.

"But it’s important to know that from the start, as he built the business, he cared about the communities where the stores were located. It is this caring, combined with a desire to give back, that is the foundation for charitable giving at Love’s. This is certainly one of the legacies my dad left with us. ... Helping others is nothing new for Love’s."

This year, in addition to the debut of Love’s Field, the Oklahoma City Zoo’s Expedition Africa and completely renovated Love's Pachyderm Building opened, the new Women’s Center at Mercy Hospital opened, and Love's Planetarium at Science Museum Oklahoma is scheduled to open.

"Our efforts are certainly not limited to Oklahoma and include building meaningful partnerships to transform communities nationwide," Love Meyer said.

Love's gave away nearly $12 million in 2022, according its 2023 Community Impact Report — 46% to youths and education, 20% to health and human services, 25% to civic and community organizations, and 9% to other needs. Recipients included:

• $6.9 million to Children's Miracle Network, which has received nearly $50 million in all from Love's.
• $3.5 million to Science Museum Oklahoma/Love's Planeterium.
• $150,000 to Operation Homefront.
• $100,000 to St. Christopher Trucking Development and Relief Fund.
• $50,000 to Truckers Against Trafficking.

In addition, Love's corporate employees donated $676,000 to United Way of Central Oklahoma and 1,400 volunteer hours to various causes.

Judy Love, as matriarch, has led the way in the Love family's giving.

Recipients include Positive Tomorrows, the Oklahoma Hall of Fame, the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, the University of Oklahoma , Oklahoma State University, Children’s Miracle Network and United Way, as well as out-of-state organizations and groups.

All that giving, and all that innovation, have kept the Loves' reputation growing, and Love's competitive and growing, for 60 years.

“As Love's has expanded its network and offerings over the past 60 years, we’ve been able to stay true to who we are and what we represent, clean places with friendly faces who work hard every day to get customers back on the road quickly," Love Meyer said. "The dedication to helping our customers every day, while innovating and striving to be better, is foundational for Love’s, from our leaders to team members across the nation.”

Sign Up: Weekly newsletter Real Estate with Richard Mize

Senior Business Writer Richard Mize has covered housing, construction, commercial real estate and related topics for the newspaper and Oklahoman.com since 1999. Contact him at [email protected].  Sign up for his weekly newsletter, Real Estate with Richard Mize .   You can support Richard's work, and that of his colleagues, by purchasing a digital subscription to The Oklahoman. Right now, you can get 6 months of subscriber-only access for $1 .

What you may not know about Love's truck stops

Here are some things you might not know about Love's, and some more of what the company says to expect in 2024.

• Love’s is growing its Fresh Kitchen concept after customer feedback, offering fresh, healthier and diet-specific food options, including a new omelet bowl, upgraded snack trays, improved mac and cheese bowls, and other items.
• Love's, a top 10 restaurant operator in the U.S., with quick-service offerings from Arby's to McDonald's to Wendy's, will add 20 restaurants this year.
• Love’s will keep expanding its own branded food and snacks including new chip flavors, meat sticks, honey buns, powdered doughnuts and cookies.
• Love's will add RV hookups at 44 locations, ending 2024 with 1,500 hookups at 98 locations, and will double its number of truck washes by adding seven, for professional drivers and RV'ers.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Keep on trucking: How Love's Travel Stop grew from one store to an international empire

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How I Decided to Repurpose My Travel Money

I love traveling, especially to major cities. When contemplating a trip to an urban area with its requisite museums, sculpture parks, cafes, and rococo/classical/art deco architecture styles, I’m as excited as a dog gets when its owner jingles the car keys. 

And Speaking of Dogs…

I recently bought one. A bougee dog that cost in the four digits (and the first number isn’t 1). We had a hole in our hearts from the departure of our beloved Jozy (hard to use the word death in conjunction with our Jozy). So, we did the only rational thing possible. We bought another labradoodle.

While Jozy was considered large, Rosie is considered mini, meaning her max weight is 35 lb. While Jozy was black, Rosie is apricot. Both females, and yes, I know their names  sound  like they rhyme but the spellings, as you can see, are different. So, see, very few similarities. 

Owning a Pet Is a Lot Like Owning Children, Full of Paradoxes

And yet… I’m in love again, though different than my love for Jozy which filled my heart for 13 years. This love is five months old and very fulfilling. Owning a pet is a lot like raising children, full of paradoxes. As author/journalist Jennifer Senior wrote in her book,  All Joy, and No Fun: The Paradox of Modern Parenthood , “children are economically worthless and emotionally priceless.”

The same can be said for pets. Friends who have had pet losses hesitate to repopulate their empty nests with new furry friends. “You won’t be able to travel without the hassle of finding a pet sitter and pet sitters are pricey!” They will tear up your furniture and make your 70-plus-year-old skin bleed from their needle-sharp teeth; they will keep you up all night; they’re expensive! The vet bill and bougee dog food alone will cut into your retirement budget.

Yes, yes, and yes. All true.

But, I would argue – worth it.

Values, Priorities, and Goals Shift as You Age into Your 70s

I don’t think I realized how much one’s values, priorities, and goals shift as you age into your 70s. Although I still value travel and varied experiences, I’m realizing I want to stay in a destination longer and delve deeper into the fresh environs.

I want to explore and form deeper relationships within a new neighborhood. I want to use my temporary home base as a launching point for travel to adjacent destinations. Both of my adult children and their families live in Illinois, so it is highly likely our temporary digs will be in either the northern or southern part of the state. 

My Travel Dollars Are Limited

I’ve had a craving to visit Arches, Redwood, Yosemite, Joshua Tree, and Yellowstone national parks . It is easier to explore the west and its requisite national parks from Illinois than Orlando. Plus, I’ll have free dog sitters in the form of kids and grandkids.

Speaking of family, I want to spend more time with people I love instead of those I would only superficially get to know on a 10-day cruise. Now, don’t get me wrong. The thought of a 10-day cruise is intoxicating, and I can feel my blood pressure start to drop just thinking of such a relaxing venture.

Realistically, however, my travel dollars are limited. And my husband’s recent scary cancer diagnosis has made us re-think international travel. We need to stay closer to a home base and consistent medical care. 

But Back to the Dog…

The other cool thing about getting a longer-term rental in the Chicago/Southern Illinois areas (with access to children and grandchildren) is that I can bring my dog! I can have the fun, comfort (and responsibility) of being with our furry family member in a new locale.

I look forward to exploring more of the Midwest about which I know little and spending extended periods cultivating relationships I really care about. Novel experiences are invaluable for brain health and a good quality of life, and travel fits that bill perfectly. Travel, however, comes in all sizes, shapes, and locations.

Here are photos of people I really want to spend my travel dollars on.

So, I guess I’m saying, at this point in my life, I want to use my hard-earned travel dollars differently than I used to. 

Let’s Have a Conversation:

What are your priorities in your 70s? Are they different from those you had set in your 60s? What is your take on the issue of using travel $$ differently? How have you adjusted your travel based on your priorities, values and goals?

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Nicole shame on you for being so judgemental.

Congrats on your new fur baby! I loved your article. Rethinking how to spend travel $ is excellent food for thought!

I totally understand wanting to be near family and wanting a new pup. No better budget allocations than love, 2- or 4-legged. I have two kitties and have been thinking about a dog. Why not? This season of life, I just want to stay home.

My HOA has breed restrictions; can’t just go for a mystery dog… an overwhelming percentage of shelter dogs here in the Midwest US are pittie mixes. Not allowed for me. Plus, I’m really smitten with Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. Never going to find that at a shelter. I see nothing wrong with seeking an ethical breeder. Enjoy your new doggie and those grandkids!

I too faced the same problem with dogs. I found an ethical breeder and our Jozy is such a happy part of my home

Cavaliers are amazing! They are so sweet, gentle and endearing! I am and have been a groomer for many years and see all breeds. There are specific breed rescues that can help you find a particular breed. I have fostered many dogs and have learned first hand some are so damaged it is difficult to help them. Of course, most are very responsive to love and kindness, too. Please don’t let anyone shame you for your choices.

My folks have found the same when they entered their 70’s …..the travel landscape altered by being closer to home and they added checking out local festivals and conferences that they never knew existed. I recall my Mom saying how despite the comfort in hotels she would miss her duvet, body pillows and those comforts of home.

Shame on you for buying a dog, when you could have saved 2 lives by adopting one!

Oh I wholeheartedly agree!!

Such an unnecessary and unkind comment. How is it any of your business what someone else chooses.

Shame on you for being so judgmental.

Nicole, shame on you for being so judgmental! I have 3 Maltese. 2 are from a reputable breeder. They are the sweetest dogs ever. 1 is from a rescue situation. Although I love her dearly, she is a hot mess. She is so fearful and anxious. It took several months before I could even pick her up. She will not potty train. She eats her feces and the other dogs as well. She will not walk on a leash or go down stairs. I have worked with dozens of dogs and have fostered many rescues with great success. Callie is so broken. She has come a long way in the 11 months I have had her, but I really doubt she will ever be fully recovered. Not everyone can make the commitment. I do understand your concerns, but I would sincerely hesitate and evaluate adopting another rescue. … on that note, Callie is home. She will only know love for the rest of her days.

I hear you Beth and bless you for giving this gal safe space to recover from her trauma. However, most rescues do not have the issues you speak of and statistically, pure breds have more of these behavioral issues in addition to shorter life expectancies and health issues due to inbreeding (see latest article form Westminster and NYT article out in May 2024 if you’d like to see the data). By definition, breeders whether you consider them “reputable” or not, participate in forced breeding using a bitch over and over again in what I consider rape of the dog. I truly hope everyone will become more educated on this issue and give these animals the respect and common decency they deserve.

I so agree but our shelters have been really empty and I found an ethical breeder.

No one should be shamed for making decisions that suit their own needs, dreams, beliefs, or lifestyle if they aren’t hurting anyone else. We should all support and care for each other regardless of our different choices and beliefs.

I agree with you Nicole. Though I may not say shame on her I would say it is a crying shame that folks spend thousands of dollars for an overly inbred animal when there are so many at the SPCA who have better life expectancies and are already desperate for a home. If truly set on a “pure bred” there are rescue groups for every breed. I would give anything to irradicate the exploitation of animals including forced breeding and inbreeding causing shorter life expectancies and health issues, which is every pure bred dog now according to the Westminster Kennel Club. I hope everyone reading this will give careful consideration when adopting their next furry companion.

As has happened to me on several occasions trying to adopt from a shelter, it doesn’t always work out for one reason or another. On the other hand, sometimes the administrative process doesn’t stand in the way of adoption. My friend in California saved a beautiful Malinois from being euthanized, a magnificent-looking creature, just in the nick of time.

Tags Finding Happiness Travel Tips and Plans

Liz Kitchens

Liz Kitchens is the author of Be Brave. Lose the Beige! Boldly Breaking the Rules after 50. Her blog, Be Brave. Lose the Beige! focuses on women of the Baby Boomer Generation, Lady Boomers, as she has dubbed them. Liz is the founder of What’s Next Boomer? a website dedicated to helping Baby Boomers navigate retirement or semi-retirement options. Liz can be contacted at [email protected].

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Nurses, Teachers, and Travelers Love These Comfy Slip-on Sneakers — and They’re Just $40 Right Now

Reviewers say their feet “never hurt” in these Skechers slip-ons.

Travel + Leisure / Madison Woiten

Slip-on sneakers aren’t just for the grandmas and gardeners among us. They’re also for the nurses and teachers who spend long days on their feet and, yes, even us sightseers with a penchant for pounding the pavement. When it comes to shoes that keep our feet comfy , supported, and pain-free while we’re out exploring new-to-us cities, tons of travelers have given these Skechers five stars. And right now, Amazon is offering the highly rated Summits Sneaker for 20 percent off, or just $40 per pair. 

Skechers Sport Summits Sneaker

These slip-on kicks could easily be mistaken for regular tennis shoes thanks to their sporty shape and bungee lace system. But instead of bending over to quickly untie them in the TSA line and running the risk of getting whacked in the face with the fully loaded weekender on your shoulder, you can slide out of them in a second. “I wore them right out of the box through three airports,” wrote one reviewer . “No break-in period needed.” Many also say they’re perfectly lightweight, adding less than a pound to your luggage. 

The insoles are made of cushiony memory foam that has kept reviewers’ feet comfortable on consecutive 10-mile amusement park days and other ambitious excursions. The shoes even earned five stars from a pregnant nurse who said they help their feet feel less tired after long shifts. Plus, the soft mesh upper helps contour to your feet and avoid rubbing that can quickly turn into blisters.

After you’ve gotten them dirty on the trails and sidewalks of your destination, Skechers recommends throwing the shoes right in the washer. Many reviewers say they’re easy to clean, but some who’ve worn them through wet grass and the like say they don’t really go back to the same color. Keep this in mind when you’re choosing between the classic all-white style and perhaps the more practical navy, black, gray, and khaki colors.

Skechers’ slip-on Sport Summits Sneaker has maintained a 4.5 star rating from nearly 60,000 ratings. Reviewers most love their comfort, value, and ease of use. 

“I was looking for a pair of tennis shoes to use in New York City,” one reviewer said . “I must have walked around 10 hours over a few days. These were absolutely the best. My feet never hurt.”

Pack these lightweight slip-on sneakers for your next trip to make getting through the chaos of airport security a little easier. Or, shop more slip-on sneakers below.

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At the time of publishing, the price started at $40.

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Screen Rant

10 failed movies that could have been fixed with just 1 change.

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15 "Bad" Movies People Still Love

8 time travel movies that actually make sense, 8 movie franchises that deserved a better legacy.

• Jupiter Ascending should have focused less on the romantic subplot between Jupiter and Caine.
• Van Helsing missed the mark by not retaining Van Helsing's profession as a doctor.
• The Red, White & Royal Blue movie should have included book character June Claremont-Diaz for more depth.

Nothing is more frustrating than watching a terrible movie and knowing one small change would have made it a success. Moviegoers expect experienced filmmakers to know their story well enough to know what script changes, depicted perspectives, casting choices, and technical aspects will best serve that story. Yet however obvious the needed change might be in the eyes of the audience, it somehow didn't make it into the movie itself — and doomed it to fail and possibly join the biggest box office bombs of all time .

Several romantic subplots ruined their movies , demonstrating the tendency of filmmakers to believe they must include this when the story would be better off without it. Other unnecessary additions to the narrative turned what could have been a classic adventure into something too complicated. Additionally, filmmakers are rarely successful when they change the source material they are adapting or challenge the established canon of a series. These are all comparatively small alterations that, if they had been handled differently, would have made for a much better movie.

Some movies are bad. Some movies are so bad, they come full circle to being great and have become beloved as over-the-top cult classics.

10 Jupiter Ascending (2015)

Jupiter and caine's romantic subplot wasn't necessary., jupiter ascending.

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From visionary directors the Wachowskis, Jupiter Ascending follows Mila Kunis' Jupiter Jones, a cleaning woman from Chicago who discovers that she is actually the heir to a vast intergalactic noble house. With the help of genetically modified soldier Caine Wise (Channing Tatum), Jupiter must fight to protect Earth from the greedy clutches of Balem Abrasax (Eddie Redmayne) who is intent on taking over the planet for his own means. 

If Jupiter Ascending hadn't bowed to the idea of an obligatory romantic subplot, the extra screen time could have been used to further develop both Jupiter and Caine's characters.

Jupiter Ascending is widely regarded as a movie with serious wasted potential needing a remake . The premise is fascinating: An average young woman on Earth is identified as a genetic match to the late galactic monarch. She therefore finds herself the target of scheming alien royals wanting to secure their own power. Jupiter Ascending has a strong cast featuring Mila Kunis, Eddie Redmayne, and Sean Bean, as well as some spectacular sets and costumes.

By all means, an intriguing new sci-fi blockbuster directed by the Wachowskis should have been a success. Where the movie went wrong (aside from some lazy dialogue) is dedicating too much time to the romantic subplot between the protagonist and the genetically-engineered soldier protecting her. If Jupiter Ascending hadn't bowed to the idea of an obligatory romantic subplot, the extra screen time could have been used to further develop both Jupiter and Caine's characters.

9 Van Helsing (2004)

Van helsing should still have been a doctor., van helsing (2004).

Van Helsing is a 2004 action-adventure film directed by Stephen Sommers, starring Hugh Jackman as the titular character, a monster hunter tasked with defeating Dracula. Kate Beckinsale, Richard Roxburgh, and Shuler Hensley co-star in this gothic horror-inspired tale that explores the battle between good and evil in Transylvania.

Hopes are high for the Van Helsing reboot when the last movie should have been a hit. Van Helsing himself is one of the most fascinating characters in literature, hailing from Bram Stoker’s classic horror novel Dracula . However, the movie from the early 2000s reduces the premise of this character’s solo adventures to a cheap, throwaway action movie. While Van Helsing is a doctor in the book, Van Helsing makes him a mere vampire hunter, probably based on the idea that this would lend itself better to the action.

However, in doing this, they rob the character of any depth or nuance. Van Helsing can still be a doctor with a much broader knowledge of where the scientific and the supernatural meet and be capable of killing a vampire. Van Helsing’s poor characterization is characteristic of the entire movie, going for the most basic empty concepts thought to be entertaining. It might have been better if they had started with a character truer to the original and gone from there.

8 Red, White & Royal Blue (2023)

The red, white & royal blue movie should have included june claremont-diaz., red, white & royal blue.

Red, White & Royal Blue is a romantic comedy film based on the New York Times best-selling novel by Casey McQuiston. The film follows the President of the United States son, Alex, and Britain's Prince Henry, who are at odds over nearly everything. However, the two get into an altercation at a significant event, further causing a divide between the two nations; they are forced to reconcile their differences on paper. But as the two spend time together, their rivalry evolves into something more.

The movie adaptation of Casey McQuiston’s beloved novel Red, White & Royal Blue was generally well-received, but many critics complained that it lacked depth. Meanwhile, book fans lamented over every character and plot point cut from the story. Among these was June, Alex’s sister, who is essentially merged with his best friend Nora to be one character. The movie didn’t do justice to Alex or Henry’s sisters, with Princess Bea being made Henry’s younger sister and the storyline of her drug addiction also being cut.

However, Bea was at least in the movie. In addition to including another beloved character, June’s presence could have been used to make the Red, White & Royal Blue movie more meaningful overall. Alex and June have a conversation in the book where she tells him that he can still make a difference in the world, even if he is with Henry. Adding this conversation (and therefore June) to the movie would have helped give it the political context it was sorely lacking.

7 Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)

Solo should have cut the kessel run., solo: a star wars story.

Solo: A Star Wars Story is a spin-off of the Star Wars franchise that focuses on the early years of Han Solo, with Alden Ehrenreich replacing Harrison Ford as the iconic smuggler. The movie explores how Han met Chewbacca, acquired the Millennium Falcon, and became the roguish smuggler fans know and love. Donald Glover brings back Lando Calrissian, Woody Harrelson plays Tobias Beckett, Emilia Clarke portrays Qi'ra, and Paul Bettany embodies the crime lord Dryden Vos.

The Star Wars prequel showing the early days of Han Solo’s adventures probably should have done even worse than it did. Alden Ehrenreich’s performance held up, while the story and supporting cast were strong enough to carry the iconic character. However, the movie destroys all the mystery of Han’s past by detailing everything he ever mentioned in an offhand comment in the original Star Wars trilogy.

Han is supposed to come across as more worldly than Luke and less inclined to follow the rules than Leia through his unseen resume of criminal exploits. Telling the audience what they all are ruins the effect. This is not to say that some of his origin story couldn’t have been explored – how he met Chewbacca is worthwhile. However, Solo should not have gone as far as to include the infamous, unexplained Kessel Run. By leaving this adventure out, some of the mystery of Han Solo could have been preserved while showing him in the context of a fun backstory.

6 Tenet (2020)

The protagonist's relationships with kat and neil needed to be developed more..

Armed with only one word—Tenet—and fighting for the survival of the entire world, a nameless Protagonist journeys through a twilight world of international espionage on a mission that will unfold in something beyond real time.

It is safe to say that Tenet does not come out on top in any ranking of Christopher Nolan’s movies . Tenet is a solid movie with a fascinating approach to time travel; its cast of underrated stars are mostly first-time Nolan collaborators who all do well in their roles. However, Tenet lacks a hard-to-define quality that would take it from good to great. One common criticism is that while the concept is interesting, it is far too confusing.

However, Inception is confusing but still works . Further developing the relationships between Tenet's three main characters would have drastically improved the movie, as the very reason they are all involved in the time travel adventure is for each other. Additional conversations that demonstrate why the Protagonist even likes Kat and Neil would better support the story.

Time travel is a common theme in the sci-fi genre, and with every artist making their own time travel rules, not all movies make sense.

5 I Am Legend (2007)

Robert neville should have been a morally gray character in the i am legend movie., i am legend.

Loosely based on Richard Matheson's 1954 novel of the same name, I Am Legend stars Will Smith as Robert Neville, a virologist who believes himself to be the last human on Earth. After a virus turns most of the world's population into vampiric creatures known as Darkseekers, Neville finds himself immune. Believing himself to be the last man of Earth, Neville stalks through the ruins of New York, hoping to create an antidote that will save humanity. 

I Am Legend is hardly one of the highest-grossing movies of all time, but it turned a profit at the box office and achieved decent reviews. However, the I Am Legend movie’s ending differing from the book’s ending is divisive. While in the movie, Robert Neville dies a hero after discovering a cure for the virus plaguing New York City, in the book, he discovers that the vampiric creatures he has been fighting are sentient and view him as the villain in the story.

This ending was apparently cut from the movie because it was poorly received by test audiences. However, it would have made I Am Legend a much more nuanced story about the nature of evil and different sides to a conflict. The filmmakers should have taken the risk for potentially more reward, instead of defaulting to another generically heroic Will Smith action character.

4 Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World's End (2007)

At world's end didn't need the brethren court., pirates of the caribbean: at world's end.

Will Turner, Elizabeth Swann, and Captain Barbossa voyage to Davy Jones locker to rescue Jack Sparrow before the final battle with Davy Jones and the East India Trading Company.

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl worked because it was a basic action-adventure rescue story that supported Jack Sparrow’s wacky antics. The second movie started to devolve into more convoluted supernatural storylines, but the scope was still contained and the characters' motivations straightforward enough for another Princess Bride -esque blockbuster. However, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End took things too far.

The movie tries to achieve some sense of political complexity and historical accuracy with the Brethren Court, but neither of these things are the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise’s strength. The Brethren only padded the runtime and created more plot holes. The third movie could have been rescuing Jack, sorting out internal conflicts, and the final battle with Davy Jones , and it would have been a streamlined story recalling the original.

3 The Matrix: Resurrections

Hugo weaving should have returned as agent smith., the matrix resurrections.

Set sixty years after The Matrix Revolutions, The Matrix Resurrections is a sci-fi action movie that sees the return of Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne moss nearly twenty years after the release of the previous film. Neo has become a game developer who struggles to grasp reality, and his concerns are validated when a new visage of Morpheus arrives to free him from his prison - a newly created Matrix. Learning that Trinity is alive and being held prisoner, Neo will join a new rebel force to save her and confront a new, dangerous foe known as the Analyst.

The Matrix Resurrections proved to be controversial, failing at the box office and garnering average reviews. The movie isn’t terrible, as it is at least self-aware and gives Neo and Trinity a happy ending of sorts. However, Neil Patrick Harris’ The Analyst and a new version of Agent Smith lacked the impact of the original Matrix villains. The consensus is that while recasting Morpheus worked, it did not for Smith . Hugo Weaving is impossible to replace, still standing out in some of the most dramatic parts of the Matrix trilogy that drive home all its major themes.

Recasting Morpheus makes sense because the new character isn’t supposed to be the real Morpheus. However, if Weaving had been able to return, Resurrections could have been a hit. With a new adventure and a classic villain in place, audiences would have been more inclined to welcome Neo and Trinity back. Additionally, it would have been fascinating to see Weaving's performance at certain parts of the movie, such as Smith saving Neo from the Analyst .

2 Terminator 3: Rise Of The Machines (2003)

Terminator 3 should have maintained the time loop structure of the first two movies., terminator 3: rise of the machines (2003).

A highly advanced Terminator travels back in time to kill an adult John Connor and his future lieutenants, including his future wife Kate Brewster.

One sentence explaining why Kyle told Sarah Judgment Day happens in 1997, but that he was mistaken, would have transformed the movie.

The Terminator and Terminator 2: Judgment Day are universally considered the best Terminator movies , with the third installment being the cut-off where the franchises begin to spiral. T2 ends before there is any real confirmation that Sarah, John, and the T-800 succeed in preventing Judgment Day (barring the deleted flash-forward) when the first movie suggests that it is impossible to change the past or future. Other things would have improved Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines : a less repetitive plot, more consideration for John’s would-be future lieutenants, and the great Sarah Connor’s presence.

However, what would have made the movie fascinating is if it had maintained the interpretation that all time travel happens within a closed loop. One sentence explaining why Kyle told Sarah Judgment Day happens in 1997, but that he was mistaken, would have transformed the movie. It would have meant that Sarah and John stopping Judgment Day in the mid-90s was only one event in the timeline, while the real thing was always supposed to happen in the early 2000s.

Often the legacy of a great movie franchise can be tarnished over the years, with substandard sequels diminishing the overall impact of the series.

1 Passengers (2016)

Passengers should have been from aurora's perspective..

Set on a colony ship carrying hibernating human passengers to a distant alien world, Passengers stars Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratt as Aurora and Jim, two passengers on the ship who are awakened from their induced sleep almost a century too early. As the two begin to come to terms with their isolation and start to form a bond, Aurora begins to suspect that Jim is not as innocent in the accident as he claims to be. 

A heavily trodden discourse about Passengers is that the events occurring should have been shown from Aurora’s perspective instead of Jim’s. This would have provided the movie with a substantial plot twist when Aurora realizes that Jim woke her up himself, rather than the audience knowing this from the beginning. Aurora and Jim’s storyline is heavily romanticized when, objectively, he selfishly puts her in a bad situation only to end his solitude.

Framing Jim as the antagonist would have made it a much stronger story altogether, but if they were dead set on the romance, attempting to impart Aurora’s shock to the audience would still have been an improvement. It might have forced the movie to work harder to redeem Jim after the reveal. This suggested change is a very popular one, demonstrating how many audience members can ascertain what alterations would have made a movie better.