The Wanderers

Every year my sister and I go to the Travel and Adventure Show in DC. Held at the convention center, it regularly features speakers like personal favorite, Rick Steves (the man has never steered me wrong on a travel rec!), Samantha Brown, or Andrew McCarthy. We meander through the vendors, signing up to win trips, watch the cultural dancers, sample food and drinks from around the world, and chat with other people who also love to travel.

It also helps that we both have a pretty good track record for winning trips! Last year I celebrated my 50th birthday at an Aruba all-inclusive I won at this very show. Not too shabby. Oddly, my sister won the same trip the year before. But more than anything, it’s a chance for us to dream. We both have had the travel bug all our lives, and do everything we can to take trips whenever we can. We also try to plan once a year to travel together. It’s a great sibling bonding experience.

While the travel companies at the show always offer great deals, I never book anything while I’m there. I simply love the inspiration. Jason looks forward to the treats I bring home. He’ll try a coffee candy from Africa, or a chocolate treat from belgium and say, “okay, where are we going next?” I now have many more ideas.