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If you want to read everything which gets posted, this category posts each entry chronologically.

Journal Prompts-Travel Writing Prompts For While You Are “En-Route” to Your Destination

Posted on by Debbie

Use the following to prompt your writing activity “en-route” to your next destination or adventure.

  1. What made you choose this destination or experience?
  2. What part of this trip have you enjoyed planning for the most?  What has been difficult?
  3. List some facts about your destination.
  4. What are your expectations of your destination or experience?
  5. What do you hope to learn on this adventure?
  6. Is there anything about the trip that worries you or makes you anxious?
  7. How will you prioritize your health while you are traveling?
  8. Make a list of things you can do for self-care while on the trip.
  9. What essential item(s) did you pack that you will never travel without?

 

Journal Prompts-Travel Writing Prompts For “Before” You Travel

Posted on by Debbie

Need a little writing inspiration?  Use the following prompts to get your creativity flowing.  The following are all about the activity “before” you travel:

  1. Detail your itinerary.  Why did you choose this itinerary?
  2. What have you researched about this destination already?
  3. What is on your bucket list at this destination?
  4. What is your purpose for traveling to this destination?  What are your expectations at this location?
  5. What advice have you read or been given about your destination?
  6. What are you most excited about? Why?
  7. Who are you traveling with?  Is this a solo trip or are you traveling with friends or family?
  8. Are you celebrating a milestone moment such as an anniversary, birthday or retirement?
  9. How will you get to your destination?  Describe your transportation and flight details.
  10. Are there local delicacies or new foods you can’t wait to try?
  11. What cultural customs did you research?
  12. Are there phrases or words in a new language?  Write them in your journal.
  13. Are you hoping to relax or do you have plans for big adventures while on this trip?
  14. What souvenir do you want to bring home? For whom?
  15. Give yourself a piece of advice before you leave on your trip.
  16. Share your to do lists or packing list.
  17. What movies or music did you download?
  18. Is there an inspirational quote? Either something you hear and want to remember or something which is a favorite? What feelings does it invoke?

Day 19-Tell a Story

Posted on by Debbie

One of my favorite journal entries was about a man I had observed entering a train I was traveling on. The train had been filled with tourists heading up Mount Snowden in Wales.  These were just ordinary people but then a very scary looking young man entered the train.  I did not know this person, but he exuded an intimidating air about him and he reeked of alcohol.  He was young.  He had a flask of alcohol and appeared intoxicated.  My sight seeing of the scenic journey had existed just beyond the window which he sat next to, it was an interesting juxta position of exploring while keeping one eye trained on this person and experiencing some discomfort at having to occupy a seat next to him.

This was a twist on my usual travel entries.  On that particular adventure, my journal entry would have typically   been limited to explaining how we had taken a train to the top of Mount Snowden in Wales.  I could have described the weather, the way the light flickered on the mountain and the climb in the elevation which had made me woozy.   Instead, I added this interesting character and included details which surrounded us as we shared the time together on the train.  As he stumbled off the train, I watched him head toward destinations unknown and built on this metaphor for my own travel adventures.

A story has a beginning, a middle and an end.  As you create an entry in your journal, consider writing in this form,

 

A is for Amazing Alden

Posted on by Debbie

P7047772 It was a hot summer day, as we set off to explore our first Michigan city. Barely a pinprick on a map, Alden is tiny.   Alan and I had often passed right through on our way to somewhere seemingly more exciting. With a population of just 125 people, it is easy to believe that there is not much there.  Opening the atlas we decided this was the nearest “A” themed location, to our home. Determined to find something of interest in this sleepy little town we traveled for nearly an hour, specifically to see it. Entering the four block long town, colorful signs announce that you have arrived, but blink and you will have traveled beyond the few stores and restaurants that reside in the restored buildings, dating from the 1800’s.

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G is for the Gorgeous Grass River Natural Area

Posted on by Debbie

 

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On our way home from Bellaire, we decided to hike in the “Grass River Natural Area”.  This “great” place is a little off the beaten path, but it isn’t hard to find.  We had heard from others about the amazing “gem” that this protected location is.  With our long, cold winters, there are few things more wonderful than being outside on a warm summer day.  We learned a long time ago to enjoy the sun when it shines!   

 

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAIt was already late afternoon by the time we got started.  Without a plan, we had come unprepared. It was 90 degrees when we set out from the parking lot. We knew we would soon be succumbing to the heat, since we had arrived without our water bottles.  It might have been easy to talk ourselves out of this date since we were also wearing the wrong shoes and hadn’t brought bug spray.   Instead, we chose to live in the moment.  As we set off, we were immediately “greeted” by a friendly Docent on her way home for the day.  She directed us to one of the easier trails.  There are six of them which all interconnect via a looped system, none of them are really difficult, some are just longer than others.

 

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We hoped to cover about 2 miles of the available 7. Wooden boardwalks led us over the wetlands and swampy areas, they also served to guide us through the delicate Fern Trails.  Nature reminds us to reflect on this simplicity and take a moment to just breath. We paused often along our walk, sometimes just to observe a dragonfly lighting upon a cat tail, or a frog jumping into one of the many rivulets.  My date wasn’t bad to look at either!

 

 

 

 

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Eventually, we arrived at a wooden dock where we sat quietly for a bit to enjoy the view of the Grass River. The heat seemed to be keeping people away.   Except for the sound of bugs and birds, there was only silence and solitude.  it was a “great” mini “getaway” to end our day.

I for one am “grateful” that communities choose to protect areas such as this.  The respite these places provide is priceless.  Best of all, this had been a completely free date!

ABC Adventures

Posted on by Debbie

Alan and I have always lived very purposefully.  We have been married a long time and wanted to put a little fun back in our routines.  We decided to call these our ABC Adventures.  Over the years they have grown and now we travel and play by turning to the alphabet first.

What exactly is an ABC Adventure?  It is the art of letting the alphabet decide what your next move is going to be.  It is part Scavenger Hunt, part word play, part travel guide and part bucket list.    They are always fun.

Planning an adventure around the letters of the alphabet will force you to be more creative.  The letters can be used equally for creating a travel itinerary, or for planning a family reunion.  We have held birthday celebrations and Christmas explorations using the alphabet.  They may be played individually, as couples, or within a group.  There is no age limit to the participants.

ABC Adventures are virtually limitless and can be done one letter at a time, over a long period of time or do an entire alphabet in a single day…you set the rules.

In a nutshell you choose a letter, then choose a word which represents that letter.  Words can be single or phrases, they may represent something tangible such as the name of a location, or they may be more abstract, such as a color or emotion.  Once you have chosen your letter and thought up a word,  think up an activity,  place to visit, or emotion which represents that letter/word.

Ask how you capture this memory with photography.  Your words can be used to enhance your description of your activity or use them to stand alone with your image.

Choose another letter and start again.  Can you complete the entire alphabet?

Make it a little more fun and make up a set of letters.  We keep ours in our car so that we are ready for an adventure everywhere we go.

The letters are great conversation starters.  We are often asked what we are up to as we stand in front of a location with our chosen letter.  As we explain how we are exploring the world, others want to play their own version.

This is why we created ABC Explorers.   We use our letters to see the world, to build our relationships and to celebrate life.   As we share our adventures with you, we invite you to join us in our quest for leading a more purposeful life.