When most people imagine travel, they think of airports, big cities, or bucket-list landmarks. I’ve learned that some of the most meaningful journeys don’t start with boarding passes or tourist maps — they start on foot, one trail at a time.

On my recent hikes in East Tennessee, I’ve found myself thinking less about the destination and more about the rhythm of movement, the sound of water over rocks, and the way the forest shifts as you climb. Hiking has a way of turning the world into something both expansive and intimate — you notice details you’d miss from a car window, but you also feel connected to something much larger than yourself.

Traveling this way has changed how I see the world. It’s not always about where you go, but how you arrive. Hiking trails — whether in my own backyard in Tennessee or halfway across the world in The Azores — force you to slow down. They strip away distractions. They remind you that discovery is often waiting just beyond the next bend.

Why trails make the best travel companions

• They take you off-script. No two hikes ever feel the same, even on the same trail. Weather, light, and even your own state of mind change the experience.
• They connect you with locals. On a trail, conversations happen more easily. You’ll trade tips with fellow hikers, share snacks, or just exchange a nod that says we get it.
• They turn challenges into stories. Every steep climb or muddy section becomes part of your travel journal — the kind of memory that sticks far longer than a souvenir.

Looking ahead

In the coming months, I’ll be sharing more stories from trails both near and far — from East Tennessee forest paths to routes in Madeira. My goal isn’t just to log miles but to invite you into the idea that travel isn’t always about going farther. Sometimes, it’s about going deeper.

The world is out there — sometimes it just takes a good pair of boots to find it.