The Journey or Destination: Exploring the Essence of Travel
In the world of travel, the debate between the journey and the destination is a perennial one. Do we travel for the joy of the process or the excitement of reaching a specific place? Numerous perspectives on this matter come to light through the words of individuals who share their unique experiences and philosophies via the Northology Community Facebook page. As we delve into the thoughts of these wanderers from the Northology Community, a tapestry of ideas unfolds, painting a vivid picture of what travel truly means. Let’s dive in.
The Journey as a Collection of Destinations: Cindy introduced the notion that the journey itself is a series of destinations. She views each aspect of a trip – the driving, the stops, and the views – as individual destinations, creating a journey of destinations. This perspective challenges the dichotomy our question and the selection of journey versus destination, suggesting that both are intertwined and complementary. For us and our family, this concept was realized when we took a 17 day road trip in the summer of 2023, which we called ‘The Great Plaines Tour'.’ We had identified several places to stop and see as we did a large circle covering 10 states.
Our Son Plans a Route While at a Ranger Station in South Dakota
Therapeutic Driving and Epic Camping Destinations: U.P. Adventure company concurred with Cindy, emphasizing the therapeutic nature of driving. Shawn added the camping dimension to the conversation, highlighting the importance of finding enjoyable destinations, which resonated with us and our son’s desire to get to camp ASAP each day as we try to keep our daily drives less than 6 hours with him. For those in the flattest parts of the country like Tony is in Illinois, the destination holds a special allure, prompting early morning departures to savor the beauty of new surroundings and the camaraderie of friends at camp.
Journey as an Educational Experience: Michelle and Jake shed light on the educational aspect of the journey. Michelle speaks of trips revealing more places to explore, while Jake asserts that the journey is filled with memories that rival those of the destination. These perspectives emphasize the transformative power of travel, providing opportunities for self-discovery and personal growth.
Scenic Journey and Unplanned Discoveries: Justin and Jen both emphasize the scenic and unexpected aspects of the journey. Justin finds more memories in the scenic journey, while Jen relishes the unplanned stops and amazing views along the way to the "big destination." These perspectives underscore the beauty of serendipity and the joy of unexpected discoveries during travel. This resonated with us a we reflected on our Great Plains Tour. We had booked campsites for almost every night of our trip but we ended up only staying at two of those reserved locations and the rest were impromptu stays at camp sites we didn’t know exist or were not reservable ahead of time.
Coddiwomple: Traveling with Purposeful Uncertainty: Bill introduces the concept of "coddiwomple" – purposefully traveling towards an unknown destination. This approach embraces the uncertainty of the journey itself as an adventure, echoing the sentiment that the journey is the destination. As a family, as we get more comfortable with our ability to find a place to rest our heads before our little one looses his marbles, we find ourselves adding more of the coddiwomple concept into our journeys.
The Ultimate Reward - Scenic Destinations and Accomplishment: Matthew reflects on the dual nature of travel – the effort and the reward. While the journey is the work, the accomplishment lies in reaching a scenic destination, where a cup of coffee and the rising sun create the ultimate reward. This viewpoint encapsulates the idea that the journey and the destination are symbiotic, each contributing to the fulfillment of the travel experience. As I reflect on my personal journey of vehicle-based adventure, I can see how my own views here have changed. The accomplishments of the journey is what hooked me on the overlanding concept as I was already an avid camper. Adding the technical nature of the vehicle and roads less traveled to add the excitement of a journey was appealing and was in fact a key highlight of many of my early trips. But as a camper at heart, I found myself finding it was the destination that ultimately was what I was looking for and the reward was worth the effort.
Photo Credit: Mountain State Overland
As we navigate the diverse perspectives on the journey versus destination debate, it becomes evident that travel is a multifaceted experience. Despite our question forcing us to think about why we travel and picking one over the other, we know the journey and destination are not mutually exclusive; instead, they intertwine to form a rich tapestry of memories, self-discovery, and the joy of exploration. Whether one finds solace in the process, the thrill of reaching a specific place, or the unexpected wonders along the way, travel remains a personal and transformative journey for all. Tell us what you think by commenting below - are you about the destination, or the journey?
