After decades of growth, COVID-19 dealt the travel industry its worst year since 1990. However, 2024 is predicted to top pre-pandemic levels. That is surely the case with my friends and family who are living their best life.
When my sister, Lauren Briggs, told people that she and her husband Randy were going to Antarctica, “Why are you going there?” was a frequent response.
![Man getting baptized](http://livingyourbestlife60plus.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/IMG_8921-1024x577.jpg)
Lauren and Randy, 69 and 75, have been racking up the frequent traveler miles—especially since COVID-19. They typically take a major trip a year, but several were cancelled due to the pandemic. This has resulted in trips, seemingly, back-to-back. They have recently been to Iceland and Israel, and on cruises to the rivers of Russia, the Danube and Rhine rivers, the Baltics, the British Isles, Japan and Korea, and the Galapagos Islands. And now, Antarctica.
At this Best-Life phase they have the time, resources, and health to travel. They decided to take the more physically challenging, exotic, and harder-to-get-to trips now—while they still can.
I am not as well traveled as my sister—though as part of my former life as a motivational speaker, I score very high on those Facebook questions that ask you to check off every place you’ve been in the US. Having lived out of a suitcase for decades, it has been nice to have had a phase without a lot of airplanes. But now, I, too, am ready to travel more. Just before his 65th birthday, my husband announced he wanted to travel more. Guess what he got for his birthday? Our combined travel is still ahead of us but just last month, along with friends from the Lubbock Women’s Club, I returned home from a small ship cruise through the San Juan Islands which included Victoria, Canada. Before getting off the ship, I put my money down on a trip for both of us through the Great Lakes in August of 2025. We are going to Mexico this November.
![travel group](http://livingyourbestlife60plus.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/IMG_20240420_112728-1-1-1024x719.jpg)
Throughout Lauren’s and my recent travel, we’ve met people who have been on many cruises and to exotic places—Antarctica being just one of them. People asking Lauren why she’d go to Antarctica prompted a more general, more philosophical question: Why travel? Lauren queried her Facebook friends and I intentionally sat with people I didn’t know on my April cruise to learn their answers to the question.
It’s a “sanity break” Yvonne, a trauma nurse who deals with loss and death every day, said when I asked her why she travels. Yvonne started traveling when she was a consultant with Cookie Lee Jewelry. She sold jewelry, giving the proceeds to charity, and won many trips. She has been on 10 cruises. Her sister Cynthia, who often travels with her, quipped: “Because it’s fun!” Overall answers to our question ranged from “fun,” to philosophical, to even philanthropic.
Regarding Antarctica specifically, Lauren received the following comments:
- I’m so glad that we went to Antarctica—yes, we encountered many of the same questions as you. Now, we have been to all 7 continents and that is rare for most people. People also said some derogatory things about us going to China, but we loved it! ~ Cathy Thomas Askwith
- Our Antarctica trip was magical! It is difficult to express in words what the experience is like. ~ Anita Vanaman
- What a harsh living environment and yet, there is life! And there is stunning beauty in a place that has minimal color to it. I’m loving your trip narrative. Thanks! ~ Laurie TenHave-Chapman
Culture and Community
89-year-old Maybelle Kern, who organized my San Juan Islands trip, and her 93-year-old sister Joyce Cheatam started traveling when they had spring break from school. Maybelle was a school principal and Joyce a teacher. In 2019 they visited 5 different countries and have now been to 6 continents (not Antarctica). Joyce told me she likes the new experiences and learning something new every day.
Our cousin, Michelle Chapman-Rienstra, responded: “I have devoted my career to cultural exchange and believe wholeheartedly in the transformative power of experiencing new cultures and environments. Keep exploring!” Maxine Marsolini added: “I understand the satisfaction of seeing the world up close.” Janice Stachowiak told me: “I enjoy seeing the similarity of humankind.” Robin McCain McAlpine said: “Dale and I travel to experience other cultures; see how they live. To view/experience historical sites. To visit folks we have met during our travels and whom have invited us to visit their homeland.”
![two women in front of pink tulips](http://livingyourbestlife60plus.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/20240424_131948-670x1024.jpg)
Naomi Carmona Morshead explained, “At the age of 61, I began climbing mountains to raise money for Mending Kids to save the lives of children born with congenital heart defects, like mine, in developing countries. I have since done 200 climbs on 43 mountains on 3 continents. I have raised more than $288,000 for heart surgery patients.”
Respite
As Yvonne mentioned, travel offers a respite. Charlie Wheeler explained: “I go to work, I go to work, I go to work. I need a break in routine. This is what I work for!”
Memories
![two hands on rock wall](http://livingyourbestlife60plus.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/IMG_0471-1-768x1024.jpg)
Cloyce Stetson and his wife traveled with their friends Pat and Charlie Wheeler. All four were with me on the San Juan Islands trip. He said: “traveling with people I know makes it more enjoyable. We have common memories. Plus, being with a group Like the Women’s Club trip, takes care of planning. I’m just along for the ride.” The four enjoyed it so much, they have already booked another trip together. Speaking of memories, Charlie added: “We buy refrigerator magnets from each trip. Every time we open the fridge helps us remember where we’ve been.” Pat agrees. She says she’d rather spend money on memories than more things.
When traveling, Maybelle likes to meet new people and see things most people only see on TV. She added: “Later, when we see some place we’ve been on TV, I say, “remember when we were there?’”
Dori and Tom, shared this with me: “We have been very lucky to have lived in a time when we could do all this. We used to take pictures—but now we save memories. We don’t remember the names of all the places we’ve been, but we have the memories.” They are 80 years old and have been on 10 cruises.
Addictive
It seems that travel is a bit addictive. Penny Flory explains: “The only way I survive the very end of a trip is to begin planning the next. It helps me.” Charlie calls travel “the adventure of what’s next.” He says it is “like opening a Christmas present.” Robin has found that “the more we travel, the more we want to travel!”
And John Kennedy believes he has an untreatable condition: “Always-wanting-to-see-the-other-side-of-the-hill syndrome.”
Don’t Wait
Hopefully, we’ve encouraged you to travel. According to Carolyn Gross, “If one doesn’t travel one doesn’t grow. The world is a very diverse place and all of it is worth seeing.” Mary Rice Hopkins, who has been to Antarctica and called it “the best,” says travel is their big expenditure. She quotes a friend who told her: “Travel is the only thing that makes you richer.”
![woman in gold colored tee shirt](http://livingyourbestlife60plus.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/next-adventure-705x1024.jpg)
But don’t wait. Sandy Morrison told Lauren: “I am enthralled with your photos and videos! I love penguins and seals, and you’ve seen so many different ones. My own travels have always been in North America, but I love to travel. Seeing new and old places, enjoying the wonders of God’s creation in nature, and soaking up the history is very fulfilling. Had Lee not gotten ALS, we would be planning a lot of adventures ourselves.”
As Lauren’s frequent traveling companion, Karen says: “Step out of your comfort zone & travel—near or far—but change your view of the world!
If you have the time, resources, and health, get ready for your next adventure!
![Blonde woman in orange shirt](http://livingyourbestlife60plus.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Tedder-108copy_pp-683x1024.jpg)
Marita Littauer Tedder has spent the majority of her adult life working with women—helping them improve relationships, achieve their speaking and writing dreams, and being the best version of themselves they can possibly be. The author of 20 books, this Living Our Best Life Project is her newest effort—through which she hopes to challenge women to be fulfilled where they are.
Being a cruiser, 25+ cruises, I always have never booked for the future. It gives us something to look forward to.
In 2022, we spent three months in Europe, two of those in a small apartment in Italy. We met our neighbors and the locals and saw and did things most “tourists ” miss. It is wonderdul to explore and connect with other cultures. We have made five trips to Scotland to connect with our roots. The more we go, the more we want to go.
Thanks for sharing. I am encouraging Lauren to write another article on travel connected to our heritage.
I wasn’t clear, do you book the next cruise while still on board, or not?
Thanks for the encouragement! It has been wonderful to watch your Lauren’s adventures on Facebook through your beautiful photos! We used to travel a lot by plane. You have inspired me!
thank you, Marita, for sharing with friends about our trip and encouraging others to travel.
I have always found people to be friendly and proud to show off their surroundings. Once a Frenchman followed us all the way out to the airport on the train to show us where to get off, knowing we didn’t read French!
If we go to the East coast on our next t trip. it is like a different country in many ways. There is a lot to see in our own United States! And if you go oversees with an organized group or cruise, they make sure it is safe taking you there. It’s their life, too!
I hope you have convinced others to get out of their comfort zones and see the world and with friends, a group and or family it is even more fun!!
thank you, Marita, for sharing with friends about our trip and encouraging others to travel.
I have always found people to be friendly and proud to show off their surroundings. Once a Frenchman followed us all the way out to the airport on the train to show us where to get off, knowing we didn’t read French!
If we go to the East coast on our next t trip. it is like a different country in many ways. There is a lot to see in our own United States! And if you go oversees with an organized group or cruise, they make sure it is safe taking you there. It’s their life, too!
I hope you have convinced others to get out of their comfort zones and see the world and with friends, a group and or family it is even more fun!!
Thank you! You took good care of us on our trip!