You know how people get excited and *starstruck* when it comes to certain celebrities? Well, I fangirl over places. Once you book a trip, you build up the anticipation, look up pictures, research restaurants and find the “Top 10 Things to Do in…”

So prior to this blog, I had been to Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and the Bahamas, to name a few, but my best friend invited me to Trujillo Colon, Honduras, and that country, nor city, was on top of anyone’s bucket list.

My family tried to talk me out of such trips because at the time, Honduras was home to the “Murder Capital of the World,” and I think the Zika virus was also a Summer 2016 obstacle, but that clearly didn’t stop me. When I stepped foot into the San Pedro Sula airport, I was quiet, observant, and internally screaming (in a good way.)

You don’t have to live or stay in a luxurious resort or hotel to have a good time. Some of my best trips, including Honduras, have been at the top of my list of favorite trips. Some highlights of my Honduras trip include: living without power for 21+ hours, having my best friend’s house with the beach as her backyard, showering in an outhouse with only cold water, and being able to walk along the beach to a hotel for banana pancakes every morning.

Honduras was kind of my introduction to simple living. Despite what the media was reporting about the country, I had never felt more welcomed into a country and never felt threatened with my well-being. Sure, there may be unfavorable aspects or regions associated with a location, but from doing my own research, I think I’d rather focus on the good and direct my attention towards the positive aspects, be it the individuals or the various locales.

My other favorite trip has been my solo trip to Portland, Oregon. I didn’t think I’d like this city as much as I did, but I visited a friend in San Francisco around September 2022, and the coast gave me a glimpse into the Pacific Northwest and I immediately fell in love.

Shortly after, I booked a trip to Portland the following month. The only thing I’ll “complain” about was the 15+hr drive; once I drove through Redding, the drive was becoming worth it. I stayed in an Airbnb on the outskirts of the city. The location had a cute neighborhood with lots of colorful trees – this was important because I was actually going to experience a Fall.

The leaves were changing colors, and the air was crisp and cool. I booked two 8-hour tours, one being the Oregon coast, and the other being the Oregon mountains and waterfalls. In between those tours, I visited two filming locations of some films I grew up watching – Twilight and Halloweentown. This trip was such a sweet and quiet escape, and I appreciated this trip because it was my first solo trip that couldn’t have been smoother.

I think I’ve always enjoyed traveling. I’m from a small town, so I would always find ways to get out for a bit. Some days, I would travel to Nashville and the surrounding cities in search of a new environment.

 

Growing up, my family took me on various vacations, ranging from all-inclusive resorts in Mexico to theme parks in Kentucky. I don’t think I appreciated travel as much as a kid then as I do now, and truthfully, I hardly remember those vacations.

However, I do remember telling my family that we needed to stop vacationing at the same beach every year, because there is a whole world out there for us to see. Since expressing my opinion in 2018, we’ve traveled to Sedona, Las Vegas, Key West and Honolulu.

 

 

As I’ve matured, I’ve started to look at traveling from a different perspective. I definitely have more life experiences under my belt, and I think traveling has also made me become more open-minded with everything, and I mean EVERYTHING. I want to embody what traveling has taught me: to be warm and welcoming, to romanticize the little things in life, to be more accepting and respectful of other cultures and their beliefs, and to leave people better than I found them and vice versa.

Embrace the concept of loving your neighbor as you love yourself, keeping in mind that we all share the same home on this planet called Earth. If you cannot find the time to escape the city for the weekend or travel outside your home state, then I have a recommendation for you. Set aside your ego, break down your barriers, and take the opportunity to acquaint yourself with someone unfamiliar today, especially someone from a different background than yours.

Love always,

American Girl Meets World