Oh the Places You Go . . .

I'm taking the lead from my friends Adrienne and Toya again and posting some Inspirational Wednesday ramblings. The idea that those gals have is to take Wednesday as an opportunity to share what inspires them--whether it's things, or people, or color, or whatever! Today I thought I'd share some PLACES that inspire me.

One of my very favorite things to do is TRAVEL. I love the excitement of traveling somewhere new . . . seeing a sunset I've never seen before . . . discovering a hidden gem of a restaurant or cool building . . . going somewhere I've always dreamed of . . . walking on a beach that's familiar but lovely to me anyway.

To inspire you this morning, then, I thought I'd share with you some of the places that inspire me the most.

First are some of the beautiful places I've been . . .

First we travel to my very favorite city in America--San Antonio, Texas. LOVE, love, love (and am so inspired by!) the history, the food, the color, and the energy there! (btw--most of these awesome photos were taken by my dear hubby Gary). Everything about that city just screams out, "Revel in my fun and my energy, and feel the past all around you. . ."



Another very colorful city that I also love is Charleston, South Carolina. One of the most beautiful streets in America is Rainbow Row.



Now the joy and inspiration I felt when we traveled to Chicago was extraordinary! I love going to a place that I've always heard about but never been to; that's how it was with Chi-town. And when I got there, it didn't disappointment. The city itself is so amazing--especially the views next to Lake Michigan.



Big cities are inspiring, but there's something about a smaller place that brings me a lot of joy! Combine a laid-back atmosphere with a beach and I am SO THERE! We recently discovered Tybee Island, Georgia, and just love it so much! Isn't this beach inspiring??



Another thing I love about traveling is the architecture you see. I've seen some beautiful arches, buildings, roofs, and other aspects of architecture at different places I've traveled, but I guess New Orleans stands out to me! When we went, Gary took a ton of photos of the ironwork on the buildings (this was pre-Katrina and now I'm especially inspired by my memories and photos from that trip!)



I'm posting two photos of my next inspiring place because, well, it is just VERY inspiring. It is truly the most beautiful place I've ever been, and I dream of going back someday. The water was the clearest blue I've ever seen, the food was fresh and amazing, the people were friendly, the island was fascinating in its geography (lush and tropical on one side, desert-like in its interior, and wild and untamed on the other side).

We loved Aruba! (these pictures aren't Gary's, because we traveled there in 1995 and we don't have any digital images from way back then!)






Now are some places I dream of going . . .

There are many places I want to go in my lifetime, and who knows how many of them I'll actually get to visit? But I get inspired by my dreams of these places (and in the meantime, I watch the Travel Channel and look at travel magazines to get inspired vicariously!)

Some of the places I dream of visiting are here in our own country. Like the Grand Canyon! Its beauty just seems unequaled; its vastness and grandness just amazes me; it truly must be one of the most beautiful places on earth. I can only imagine what it would be like in person!



I'm sure many of us dream about going to Hawaii . . . I'm a sucker for beaches and it must be one of the most beautiful in the world. But I especially want to go someday because one of my best childhood friends lives there, and I would love to see Michelle! Maybe someday!



A place I dream of going for many reasons is Scotland. Its stark beauty just amazes me--its rolling hills and lonely-looking moutainsides. Its history and ruggedness and people just fascinate me. But perhaps what inspires me the most is that it's one place where we actually know that ancestors came from! Gary's family came from the Isle of Skye to America, and how I would love to see an actual place across the seas where my children's ancestors lived and worked and loved. These photos of the Isle of Skye definitely inspire me . . .

(I sure wish this first photo was bigger, but I couldn't get it to enlarge. It's an actual castle on the Isle of Skye. How cool is that?)



And then this beautiful landscape . . .


I've always dreamed of going to Europe and would love to go to just about anywhere there. There's something about a place that's so OLD (there are stores over there older than a lost of our "historic" buildings, since we are a relatively new country). I would just love to see the streets and museums and cafes and buildings and landscapes in London and Paris especially. My dream of going to both of those places might possibly come true this next summer, when McKenna takes a London-Paris trip and I have a chance to go. Boy does that possibility inspire me . . .



I'm continually amazed by the beauty around us! Look at the variety of locales that God has blessed us with. It's truly amazing to think of this great big world and all the beauty in it. Just thinking of some of those places inspires me!!

What places inspire you?

Have you ever traveled to any of these places?

Where do you dream of going?

Do you know of any travel blogs or websites that are especially inspiring (love to read these!)?

What is it about a place that gives you joy and inspiration?

Boy am I inspired now . . . and I'm ready to go somewhere!!