A good travel quote inspires both anticipation and reflection. It allows us to view our experiences, both past and present in a different lens. They also spark that desire and willingness to explore, whether near or far. Here our some of our favorite family travel quotes to inspire your next adventure!
1. “Travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living.” – Miriam Beard
When planning a trip, it’s so easy to just make a huge list of the destinations and sights that you want to see. Checklists help us organize our thoughts in a way that make sense, and the accomplishment you feel when checking off a bucket list item is incredible. However, this quote by Miriam Beard hints at a deeper meaning to travel. It’s harder to rationalize, but the transformation that happens within you as you learn more and more about the world around you becomes more noticeable the more that you explore.
2. “Sadly, the traffic lights of life will never all be green at the same time. Conditions are never perfect. ‘Someday’ is a disease that will take your dreams to the grave with you.” – Rolf Potts
We certainly felt this when we were preparing for our full-time travel adventure in 2018. We kept pushing off the decision because we felt that not everything was fallen into place. Once we realized that it’s highly unlikely that the conditions will ever be perfect, we decided to take that leap. “Somedays” and “maybes” give you just enough uncertainty to not do something – so it’s better to decide to act!
3. “People say that what we’re all seeking is a meaning for life. I don’t think that’s what we’re really seeking. I think that what we’re seeking is an experience of being alive.” – Joseph Campbell
That feeling of arriving to a new place evokes a certain level of emotion that is so hard to put into words! The full combination of sights, sounds, smells, and other senses really does provide that feeling of being alive.
4. “Live, travel, adventure, bless, and don’t be sorry.” – Jack Kerouac
We’ve heard many times that it’s better to be “unapologetically yourself.” But it’s hard to really put that into action. Jack Kerouac’s quote really helps with providing that short example of things you should want to do without having to apologize for it.
5. “Remember that wherever your heart is, there you will find your treasure.” – Paulo Coelho
The Alchemist is one of my favorite books, and this quote by Paulo Coelho really rings true. “Wherever your heart is” doesn’t necessarily mean your physical location, but really inspires you to self reflect on what it is that you value in life, and that chasing that “treasure” is one of the most important things to do.
6. “Most of us all walk around as if we’re sleepwalking. We really don’t experience the world fully, because we’re half-asleep, doing things we automatically think we have to do.” – Mitch Albom
It’s so easy to fall into a routine. Don’t get me wrong, routines can be good because it provides a level of simplicity to life. However, when that routine is implemented on a day-by-day basis, then you develop an aversion to risk and new experiences for fear of disrupting the routine. It’s good every now and than to switch from that “automatic” mode back to “manual” and bring some newness into your life!
7. “The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun.” Jon Krakauer
When we traveled full-time, sometimes we’d arrive to a new destination at night. One of the best feelings is waking up the next morning and seeing your new environment fully illuminated on a bright, sunny day. Watching the sun rise and set across Maui on our first day of full-time travel is still a memory that I will never forget.
8. “If I’m an advocate for anything, it’s to move. As far as you can, as much as you can. Across the ocean, or simply across the river. Walk in someone else’s shoes or at least eat their food. It’s a plus for everybody.” – Anthony Bourdain
I love this quote because it gives you very actionable advice. Sometimes we get so focused on an outcome, that we forget that even a small hint of progress gets us closer to the goal. Moving, no matter how little, is still an opportunity to put yourself in a new environment, situation, or conversation.
9. “Travel is rich with learning opportunities, and the ultimate souvenir is a broader perspective.” – Rick Steves
It’s easy to thing of travel souvenirs as physical objects to remember our trip from. However, there’s many intangible “souvenirs” that we also collect throughout our travels. We see this a lot with our kids – although many of our adventures they most likely will not remember fully, they are still learning and absorbing so many values (like resilience, flexibility, and respect for culture) that makes travel so worth it.
10. “For me, a place unvisited is like an unrequited love. A dull ache that- try as you might to think it away, to convince yourself that she really wasn’t the right country for you- just won’t leave you in peace.” – Eric Weiner
Should you always visit a new destination, or return to a place that you know and love? That’s a question we struggle with often, because it’s so easy to think that your favorite place in the world is somewhere you haven’t been to yet.
11. “I believe every human has a finite number of heartbeats. I don’t intend to waste any of mine.” – Neil Armstrong
When a space exploration legend says something, I tend to listen, haha. I love Neil Armstrong’s quote because even though it’s simple, it also doesn’t mean that you have to be doing something epic all the time. All it takes is preparation, confidence, and an understanding of our impending mortality to really try to maximize our lives.
12. “Don’t Adventures Ever Have An End? I Suppose Not. Someone Else Always Has To Carry On The Story” – J.R.R. Tolkien
When we settled into a home base after our full-time adventures, we had mixed feelings. We were sad that we no longer had an itinerary filled with new and exciting destinations, but also happy for the memories that we did create. Even though one adventure might have ended, though, there are still opportunities to extend those memories or create new ones to continue a life full of adventure.
13. “The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity. The fears are paper tigers. You can do anything you decide to do.” – Amelia Earhart
We’re big believers in inertia. Taking the first step towards doing something new is usually the hardest, and learning to turn that new effort into a habit is the next challenge that requires tenacity and will. There will always be naysayers and doubters, but you’re the one in control of your future, so those “paper tigers” can fold into new shapes to help you get on your way.
