Collecting stories over things

Years from now, I won't remember most of the things I bought. I'll remember the thin mountain air, the burn in my legs on the way up, and the moment the trail opened up and there was a perfectly still lake sitting between the hills like it had been waiting for me.

That's why I'd always rather spend on a trip than on stuff. Things lose their shine. Stories get better every time you tell them.

What travel gives me

• Perspective: problems that feel huge at my desk look smaller from the top of a trail.
• Confidence: every new place I figure out on my own makes the next challenge feel possible.
• Presence: out there, I'm not thinking about deadlines. I'm just there.

Mark Twain put it better than I can in The Innocents Abroad (1869): "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness." Every trip quietly rearranges what I thought I knew about people and places.

When work travel became part of the journey

Some of my favourite trips didn't start as holidays at all. They started with a conference.

As a researcher, travelling to present my work was one of the first times I got to see new cities on my own. Days were full of talks, posters, nervous practice runs, and conversations with people whose papers I'd been reading for years. But I learned to steal the edges of those trips: an early-morning walk before the first session, a long evening exploring after the last one, and whenever I could, an extra day to find the nearest trail.

Work travel and adventure ended up feeding each other. The confidence I built standing up in front of a room full of experts made solo trails feel less scary. And the headspace I found outdoors made me sharper when I got back to research. If you ever get the chance to travel for work, say yes, and add a day for yourself.

Coming up on the blog

This post is the start of a travel series. Here's what's next:

• Hikes & trails in Kansas (coming soon): big skies, prairie paths, and the trails closer to home than you'd think.
• Hiking & trails in Colorado (coming soon): high-altitude lakes, switchbacks, and learning to respect the mountains.
• Visiting my first 5 national parks (coming soon): what each one taught me, and tips for planning your own.

Travel on a student budget

• Go where nature is free: trails, lakes, beaches, and viewpoints cost nothing.
• Planning several national parks in a year? Look at the America the Beautiful annual pass on the National Park Service website. Check the current price and rules there, as they differ for US residents and non-residents.
• Travel off-season or on weekdays when possible.
• Pack your own snacks and water; it adds up fast.
• Share the trip with friends and split the costs.
• Tie trips to things you're already doing: a conference, a friend's graduation, a long weekend.

Tell me

I'd love to hear from you:

• Want me to share my experience in a particular state?
• What's your favourite national park, and why?
• Which national park should I visit next?

Write to me and tell me. I'll add your suggestions to my list, and maybe to a future post.

Next time you're choosing between a new thing and a new place, choose the place. You'll thank yourself later. ♡