Journeys and Adventures

I know today is St. Patrick’s Day and there are plenty of fun adventures taking place today, but today is also my birthday, so I wanted to share one of my favorite travel tips—always travel on your birthday.  For the past seven years, my boyfriend and I have traveled on each of our birthdays (mine is obviously in March and his is in November, so they’re spread apart nicely).

     As one grows older, birthdays can become awkward uneventful days; so instead of bringing cupcakes to work or planning a party for myself, I take a trip.  It gives me something to look forward to every year, helps me avoid the forced birthday wishes (and the loneliness of being at work on your “special day”), and it saves my boyfriend from having to get me a gift (he always pays for the hotel or transportation or something special as a gift).

     Take a look at your birthday (and the birthday of your significant other) and see if travel is a gift you can give yourself this year.  Even if it’s just a trip to a special inn or dinner and a show in a big city, enjoy it—the day is yours!

I have great memories from all my birthday trips:

2003: Dublin, Ireland–With a birthday on St. Patrick’s Day, where else would I go?  (See me with my friends enjoying my birthday dinner at McDonald’s?  I’m on the left.)

2004: Egypt–We did a seven-day trip that included the Red Sea and Cairo.

2005: Canary Islands, Spain–We stayed just three days, but enjoyed the sun and seafood every day.

2006: Tuscany–We stayed in a villa and explored the area with some wonderful food and wine—and a few sights, of course.

2007: Vienna, Austria–A night at the opera courtesy of my dear boyfriend.

2008: London, England–One of my favorite cities.  We were at a St. Paddy’s Day fest on the 17th, but had dinner the night before at The Square, a fantastic Michelin-starred restaurant.

2009: Edinburgh, Scotland–I’m sure we’ll be celebrating in a pub somewhere…I’ll have a pint—or two—for you!

How can you create some special birthday memories using travel?

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