We all engage in the sport whether it's a trip to the city, a visit with relatives or that far away destination. Travel defines who we are; what we like; how we view the world; why we seek new horizons. We relish the victory that comes with arriving at our destination almost as much as the anticipation that goes into making travel possible. So what exactly is this sport called travel?
1. Travel is a far cry from what it used to be. Our nomadic ancestors spent weeks on end walking unpaved roads juggling a cart of worldly possessions and avoiding would-be robbers. Jimmy and I spent 15 hours recently traveling the thousand miles between Denver and Chicago, but the only juggling had to do with the driver’s seat. We did get robbed every time we put gas in the tank, but there was no damage to life or limb, just the wallet.
Fill 'er up is almost a thing of the past nowadays with the cost typically reaching triple digits.
According to the book Word Origins by Dhirendra Verma, the word travel comes from the French word “travail” which means agony or torment, a word taken from Latin, tripalium. It seems years ago torture victims were tied to a tripalium (a three-staked apparatus) and then set on fire. Apparently the act of moving from one place to another was associated with hellish torture. Our drive wasn’t exactly hellish torture, although as any parent can attest, throw in a few toddlers or teenagers and the potential is there after the first 30 minutes.
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Jim and I doing the "ugly" tourist thing in San Francisco.
2. While today’s tourists are often seen as culturally insensitive and demanding, the bad rap associated with their penchant for travel actually goes back to Britain’s sons of royalty according to Michael Quinton, author of the book Port Out, Starboard Home: And Other Language Myths. The word tourist, which means “one who tours”, was originally the exclusive pastime of England’s wealthy, a kind of extended finishing school designed to provide a rich cultural experience before settling down into a career or marriage. Little wonder these rich kids were often found painting the town red in local brothels and gambling halls rather than
exploring the interiors of England’s cathedrals and castles. Much like today’s European backpacking trips, a favorite of young students or gap-year travelers, the drunken debauchery often associated with both groups has earned “tourists” the ugly stigma prevalent today.
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exploring the interiors of England’s cathedrals and castles. Much like today’s European backpacking trips, a favorite of young students or gap-year travelers, the drunken debauchery often associated with both groups has earned “tourists” the ugly stigma prevalent today.
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3. The reality of travel is never quite what we anticipate. So much is riding on the months of work, weeks of planning, hours of packing that the actual event itself is almost anticlimatic. A little bit of humor via some quotes goes a long way in helping to keep it all in perspective.
“The major advantage of domestic travel is that, with a few exceptions such as Miami, most domestic locations are conveniently situated right here in the United States.” – Dave Barry
“Thanks to the interstate highway system, it is now possible to travel from one coast to the other without seeing anything.” – Charles Kuralt
“The worst thing about being a tourist is having other tourists recognize you as a tourist.”
– Russell Baker
“Boy, those French. They have a different word for everything.” – Steve Martin
“Why buy good luggage? You only use it when you travel.” – Yogi Berra
“Two great talkers will not travel far together.” – Spanish Proverb
“Go to Heaven for the climate, Hell for the company.” – Mark Twain
“Kilometers are shorter than miles. Save gas, take your next trip in kilometers.”
– George Carlin
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“The major advantage of domestic travel is that, with a few exceptions such as Miami, most domestic locations are conveniently situated right here in the United States.” – Dave Barry
“Thanks to the interstate highway system, it is now possible to travel from one coast to the other without seeing anything.” – Charles Kuralt
“The worst thing about being a tourist is having other tourists recognize you as a tourist.”
– Russell Baker
“Boy, those French. They have a different word for everything.” – Steve Martin
“Why buy good luggage? You only use it when you travel.” – Yogi Berra
“Two great talkers will not travel far together.” – Spanish Proverb
“Go to Heaven for the climate, Hell for the company.” – Mark Twain
“Kilometers are shorter than miles. Save gas, take your next trip in kilometers.”
– George Carlin
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Time travel never felt so good with grandson Grant.
4. While H. G. Wells is considered the granddaddy of time travel with The Time Machine and The Chronic Argonauts, purportedly the first book to feature a time machine for the purpose of travel was written in 1881 by Edward Page Mitchell, The Clock That Went Backwards. I wouldn't mind some time travel to knock off a few years.
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It may be #9 on the list, but Chicago, including Navy Pier, is #1 on my local radar.
5. According to Lonely Planet's team of travel gurus, the best picks for US destinations in 2012 is a list of what's new, what's interesting and what's overlooked. Pack your bags and go, go, go!
#10. Yellowstone National Park
#9. Chicago, Illinois
#8. Hawai’i: The Big Island
#7. Boulder, Colorado
#6. California Gold Country
#5. Culebra, Puerto Rico
#4. Four Corners Region, Southwest USA
#3. Cincinnati, Ohio
#2. Hudson River Valley, New York
#1. US Virgin Islands
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#10. Yellowstone National Park
#9. Chicago, Illinois
#8. Hawai’i: The Big Island
#7. Boulder, Colorado
#6. California Gold Country
#5. Culebra, Puerto Rico
#4. Four Corners Region, Southwest USA
#3. Cincinnati, Ohio
#2. Hudson River Valley, New York
#1. US Virgin Islands
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6. Every year since 1984 following the passage of a joint resolution by Congress, the first full week in May has been recognized as National Travel and Tourism Week. Then President Ronald Reagan signed a Presidential Proclamation urging citizens to observe the week with “the appropriate ceremonies and activities.” Given the travel industry generated $1.8 trillion in economic impact last year with $759 billion spent by domestic and international travelers that created an additional $1 trillion in other industries, we have much to celebrate in an
otherwise lagging economy. Each household would pay $1,000 more in taxes without the tax revenue generated by the travel and tourism industry. Direct spending by resident and international travelers in the U.S. average $2 billion a day, $86.6 million an hour, $1.4 million a minute and $24,000 a second. That means 14 million jobs for Americans, including 7.4 million directly in the travel industry and 6.7 million in other industries. Payroll for those jobs included $188 billion directly or indirectly induced by the travel industry. Start planning that next trip!
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otherwise lagging economy. Each household would pay $1,000 more in taxes without the tax revenue generated by the travel and tourism industry. Direct spending by resident and international travelers in the U.S. average $2 billion a day, $86.6 million an hour, $1.4 million a minute and $24,000 a second. That means 14 million jobs for Americans, including 7.4 million directly in the travel industry and 6.7 million in other industries. Payroll for those jobs included $188 billion directly or indirectly induced by the travel industry. Start planning that next trip!
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Up in the air is the only place to be for "mileage millionaires."
7. Would you rather be a millionaire or a “mileage millionaire”? It’s a no-brainer for Randy Petersen, the guy who racks up more miles traveling than most. He’s a mileage millionaire
(17 million and counting) with no less than 5 airlines and 4 hotel programs. According to Randy, approximately 50,000 people make “mileage runs” each year to collect enough air miles to retain their elite status, 200 of whom are part of Randy’s members only website, Flyertalk.com.
“The world’s leading expert on airline frequent flyer programs” according to the New York Times, Randy and many of his customers are the real life equivalent of Ryan Bingham (played by George Clooney), the frequent flyer in the movie Up in the Air who was obsessed with reaching 10 million frequent flyer miles. As Randy puts it, “He who dies with the most miles wins!”
With 75 million people worldwide enrolled in some sort of frequent flyer program, keeping up with the perks, promotions and elite status that come with all that travel and all the programs out there (92 by Randy’s count) can be daunting; which is where Randy comes in with his Frequent Flyer Services empire, a conglomerate encompassing 12 different businesses, all
of which deal with none other than frequent flyer programs.
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(17 million and counting) with no less than 5 airlines and 4 hotel programs. According to Randy, approximately 50,000 people make “mileage runs” each year to collect enough air miles to retain their elite status, 200 of whom are part of Randy’s members only website, Flyertalk.com.
“The world’s leading expert on airline frequent flyer programs” according to the New York Times, Randy and many of his customers are the real life equivalent of Ryan Bingham (played by George Clooney), the frequent flyer in the movie Up in the Air who was obsessed with reaching 10 million frequent flyer miles. As Randy puts it, “He who dies with the most miles wins!”
With 75 million people worldwide enrolled in some sort of frequent flyer program, keeping up with the perks, promotions and elite status that come with all that travel and all the programs out there (92 by Randy’s count) can be daunting; which is where Randy comes in with his Frequent Flyer Services empire, a conglomerate encompassing 12 different businesses, all
of which deal with none other than frequent flyer programs.
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8. Leave it to the English to come up with the world’s first travel agency. Founded by Thomas Cook in 1850, this Brit introduced the concept of the hotel reservation. Cook also personally organized and led the first round-the-world tour, lasting 222 days and covering over 40,225 kilometers. That's approximately 24,996 miles for you non-Brits.
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9. Some travel destinations are simply out of this world, none more so than the one Virgin Galactic promises to deliver for the 400 or so tourists that have already signed on for the travel opportunity of a lifetime. The people at Virgin Galactic, including founder and mogul Richard Branson, like to think they’re “democratizing” space travel. I’m not sure I’d go that far considering the cost of a roundtrip ticket (I wouldn’t buy anything less) is $200,000 for the two hour flight, of which 5 minutes will be spent weightless. Not exactly pocket change for the masses, but then the view is priceless!
About half of the 400 passengers waiting for liftoff sometime in 2012 if all goes well are from the U.S., the rest from approximately 45 other countries. Only there will be no liftoff, as we non-astronaut earthlings have grown accustomed to seeing, via this private enterprise. As described by Virgin Galactic: "The VMSEve (Virgin MotherShip Eve), a twin fuselage aircraft with one enormous wingspan that stretches 140 feet across, is the vehicle that will carry
SpaceShip Two into the upper reaches of the atmosphere. SpaceShip Two will be positioned under the wing, between the mothership’s fuselages, for the ride up. From an altitude of over 50,000 feet, the spaceship will be launched from the mothership, using its own rocket power to reach its destination of 68 miles above the Earth’s surface."
If you’re looking to go even farther, check out Boeing’s flights with Space Adventures to the International Space Station and join the handful of paying customers who share the ultimate in bragging rights when it comes to travel.
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About half of the 400 passengers waiting for liftoff sometime in 2012 if all goes well are from the U.S., the rest from approximately 45 other countries. Only there will be no liftoff, as we non-astronaut earthlings have grown accustomed to seeing, via this private enterprise. As described by Virgin Galactic: "The VMSEve (Virgin MotherShip Eve), a twin fuselage aircraft with one enormous wingspan that stretches 140 feet across, is the vehicle that will carry
SpaceShip Two into the upper reaches of the atmosphere. SpaceShip Two will be positioned under the wing, between the mothership’s fuselages, for the ride up. From an altitude of over 50,000 feet, the spaceship will be launched from the mothership, using its own rocket power to reach its destination of 68 miles above the Earth’s surface."
If you’re looking to go even farther, check out Boeing’s flights with Space Adventures to the International Space Station and join the handful of paying customers who share the ultimate in bragging rights when it comes to travel.
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I wouldn't know given my lack of experience, but isn't First Class the best seat in the house?
10. The best seat in the house when traveling via an airplane, according to flight-comparison website Skyscanner and the 1000 passengers who responded to their survey, would be seat 6A, a window seat up front. That’s of course assuming you don’t fly First Class. According to the study, 45% of people prefer the first few rows of seats since those passengers usually get to board and deplane first. The worst seat in the house, based on those same respondents – seat 31E, a middle seat near the back of the plane. It doesn't matter where your seat is if the wailing baby travels on the same plane.
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