Time Travel: Making the Most of your Travel Hours

No. I haven't found the gateway to the space-time continuum. I wasn't even looking for it actually - have you seen Back to the Future? There are way too many problems with seeing your past or future self; I think it's better not messed with. But I've noticed the value of time coming up a lot lately with regard to travel, and the connection makes perfect sense.

I first saw it in an article on saving money while you travel, and I found this tip simply brilliant: The slower you travel, the more money you save (courtesy of the Traveler's Notebook). Just think how much cheaper it would be to walk or bike-ride on your journey than to pay for buses, trains, or cabs. The faster we need to get somewhere, the more we will end up paying.

Another benefit of slower travel is the further embracing of the culture in which you are a visitor. Too often we visit a city only to race from one huge attraction to the next, completely missing the little wonders hidden between the X's on the tourist map. Walking, taking a ferry, or riding a city bus are better ways to meet locals and better understand how they live day to day and what they consider important.

And consider the attractions themselves. Museums, famous tall buildings and artistry, amusement parks and beaches - how much more can we appreciate them if we slow down? There is usually far more to see than we manage to take in. My travel wish is more than a cork board map with countless pins declaring where I've been. I'd much rather have fewer pins but through pictures, stories and understanding, truly be able to say, "I've been there."

Consider this when you're planning your senior class trips:  Once we get there, can we take the time we need to really appreciate where we've been?