This is the second of 2 posts today, Day #7 in our Travel is… series!

To some, travel seems like a luxury afforded only to the wealthy or well-to-do. To my family, travel is a necessity. I know, that may seem extreme, but bear with me.

Several years ago, my family traveled to meet long lost relatives. In minutes my kids were playing with cousins they’d never met, happily jumping on the trampoline. My kids began to talk about some of the places that we had traveled and quickly learned that their cousins had never been out of the county they were born in.

Why was this so shocking? The county they live in is one of the poorest in the south, with an average income of under $12,000 a year. Drug addiction, alcoholism, and depression are rampant. These kids need to know that things aren’t like that everywhere. I understand if money is tight. But that’s not why they haven’t traveled. Their parent’s simply aren’t interested. They live less than 25 minutes from one of the most beautiful parks I’ve ever been to- a park full of history and natural wonders- and they’ve never been. They have no idea of the beauty and wonder that exists outside the holler they call home.

Travel is Necessary for Survival

Mark Twain wrote, “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.”

I agree. We’ve all heard jokes and perhaps told them of people that live in various regions of the US and world, but if we met those people would our opinion change? Would we look at them with a new appreciation? Travel allows you to interact with people that may be portrayed poorly in the media or in the books we read, or TV shows and movies we watch. Travel opens our minds.

Travel Removes Prejudice.

If you need a reason to travel, maybe this is it. Did you know travel is good for your health? With skyrocketing healthcare costs, don’t you want to give yourself any possible advantage to stay healthy? Travel reduces your stress levels and lowers your risk for heart disease. Travel has often been shown to reduce depression. And workers who take regular vacations are more productive. Think of that next time you’re in a rut.

Travel is Necessary for Your Health.

[Tweet “#Travel is necessary.” #nttw2015]

To survive.

To remove prejudice.

For your health.

You don’t need to book a flight and travel half-way across the world multiple times a year. But if that’s something your family can do comfortably without straining the household budget, go for it.

If you can’t, start local. Travel can be as easy as jumping in the car and driving to a neighboring town to explore. Become a hometown tourist, seek out hidden gems in your neck of the woods. Take opportunities to explore your state in depth. Road trip through a few states or fly across the country. Do whatever fits your budget and current abilities. Whatever you do, make time to travel.

Do you need to add more travel into your life? What steps will you take?

Please click the image below to see the other posts in this series.

Are you looking for tips on how to afford to make family travel a priority? How to save money on travel costs, tips for exploring your hometown as a tourist, or advice on how to travel with teenagers? Join Tonya at The Traveling Praters for those tips and more. Wife. Mom. Lover of small towns, roadside attractions, and the outdoors. A former full-time RVer, Tonya shares her family’s many adventures, destination ideas, and travel tips at The Traveling Praters. You can catch up with Tonya on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.