Where it all began…..
My brother and I circa 1980
“Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer.”
When I was a child, many of our family vacations were camping trips. I grew up in New England and every summer we would take our travel trailer to Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, or upstate New York to camp for a week or two, often with my aunts, uncles and cousins. I’m sure at the time, my brothers and I would groan about the long drive (this was back in the day when books and a walkman were the only entertainment we had). Our camping menu consisted of the usual hot dogs and beans and S’mores for dessert. Our days would be spent playing at the campground with other kids, going on a hike, or finding a local miniature golf course. But one Christmas, my parents told us that we were taking a trip to Hawaii, and that was our Christmas present. I was 12 years old and had never even flown on an airplane. I can still remember what we ate for breakfast on that trip - ham, fresh pineapple, poi- because it was so different from our usual fare of Corn Flakes and Rice Krispies back home. I snorkeled for the first time on that trip. I saw my first volcano. I went to my first Luau. It was my first time experiencing a totally different culture and landscape, and it was amazing.
Fast forward nearly 30 years later. My parents invited my brothers and I on a 2 week vacation in Tuscany and Umbria with a company that specializes in small group tours. I had traveled internationally twice before, once on a Mediterranean cruise and once to Sweden to visit an exchange student I had hosted. Two weeks in Italy sounded exciting, and Tuscany? Well, the pictures I had seen online looked like heaven on Earth. The nice thing about going with a tour company is everything is planned for you. They picked us up at the airport, transported us to each of our destinations, had all of our lodging booked, most meals were included, tour guides were arranged, admission to the activities was included, and at the end they dropped us off at the airport. The downside? The cost and the lack of flexibility. If you’re not a planner, the tour is probably a good option for you. But for me, I enjoy doing research, planning and making itineraries, and finding experiences off the beaten path. I was convinced I could plan just as amazing a trip as that tour company did for less than half the price, and that’s exactly what I’ve been doing ever since.
The purpose of this blog is to share what I’ve learned, help you plan your own adventures, and maybe discover a place that you would not have otherwise known about. Much of my blog will be dedicated to Italy, as it is a country full of history, delicious food, friendly people, beautiful scenery, and diverse landscapes. There are so many amazing places to see so I will share some itineraries from trips I have taken, as well as helpful tips for planning your own adventure.
Feel free to comment below or send me a message! Buon viaggio!
~Melissa
