The Power of Travel: Memories, Lessons, and a New Adventure

Categories

Travel has always been a special part of our family’s life. Before our son Mitchell came along, Dana and I loved to explore new places, and once he joined us, we continued making travel a priority. From camping out on Elk River to staying in the historic Old Yellowstone Lodge, we've experienced it all—from rustic to luxurious. We've stayed in top-tier rooms at Disney World and even searched for the Loch Ness Monster. One year, Mitchell had the incredible experience of visiting the Atlantic, Gulf, and Pacific coasts all in the same year.

While we don't always drive the newest or fanciest cars or wear brand-name clothes, we choose to spend our disposable income on travel. Now that Mitchell is grown and has his own job (thank goodness, paying his own bills!), I wouldn't trade anything for the memories of those road trips together. Those adventures shaped our family, and we learned so much along the way.

Travel isn't just about seeing new places—it's about the lessons it teaches and the challenges it presents. As an accountant, I’ve always been mindful of our budget, and some of that has definitely rubbed off on Mitchell. One year, I booked a trip to French Broad Dude Ranch in Tennessee, hoping it would be a fun father-son getaway. We started the trip with a night on a riverboat in Chattanooga and a visit to Rock City, before heading to the ranch.

But when Mitchell, who was around 9 at the time, got dropped off at my office, I could tell he wasn’t thrilled. I asked him what was wrong, and he said, “I didn’t choose to go to a dude ranch, and I don’t like horses.” As much as I was excited for this trip, Mitchell’s response was a clear sign that he was nervous. It wasn’t that he disliked horses; it was that he had never been on one, and the unknown was a little scary.

I told him, "I can call and cancel, but I’ve already paid for it, and they won't give us our money back." With a sigh, he said, "Well then, I guess we are going."—and so, the adventure began. It turned out to be one of the most memorable trips we've ever had. We helped a guy push his car to the pumps after he ran out of gas, spent the night on the riverboat, and had a blast at Rock City (even if it’s a bit corny). At the ranch, we rode horses, herded cows, and met some truly unique people. It wasn’t what Mitchell expected, but by the end, he was glad we went. And I have to admit, I was pretty proud of him for stepping out of his comfort zone.

Travel teaches us so much. It’s about learning to deal with the unexpected, meeting people who are different from us but finding common ground, and doing things we never thought we’d try. It shows us that sometimes, the best memories come from experiences we never thought we wanted.

That’s why Dana and I decided to start our travel business. We wanted to help others create those kinds of lasting memories with their families—just like we did. Our goal is to support our community and, of course, to travel more ourselves.

With this blog, I hope you’ll follow along with us on our journey, explore new destinations, and maybe even find a place you'd love to visit. I’ll also share some of the services our Cruise Planners franchise offers, which might be useful for anyone who loves planning trips as much as I do.

The truth is, as we get older, traveling won’t be as easy as it is now. That’s one of the reasons I started this blog—so I’ll have a place to look back on all the great times we've had, reliving those adventures through words and photos. I hope you’ll engage, share your feedback, and maybe even let Dana or I plan a trip for you. Here’s to many more memories on the road!