Don’t Ask Me What My Favorite Travel Destination Is - Unless You Have a Few Hours!
by Stephanie Busby - Travel Planner - Europe, Central America, Caribbean; River Cruises; Group Trips
Wingman TB - My Travel Buddy Todd Ball - And Life Partner - Photographer
As a travel agent, I am often asked: “What’s your favorite travel destination?” This can’t be easily answered. How COULD I possibly pick a favorite when EVERY place I’ve traveled to has left a distinct and lasting impression on me. I simply don’t have one favorite - I have a collection of them.
Here’s how I would answer, if the question was rephrased:
What’s the most surprising place your curiosity has taken you?
The Azores! This remote group of islands caught our attention for my retirement and 60th birthday celebration adventure. Every winding road enticed us to go further creating one adventure after the next.
Sete Cidades, Ilha de São Miguel, Azores, Portugal
Beautiful hydrangeas bushes grow thick and tall enough to serve as walls between pastures. We wondered if this beauty is why the cows are said to be the happiest in the world. Vineyards are lined with stacks of lava rock creating protected and warm conditions for each individual grape vine for a unique wine. A dip in the ocean was like no other experience, like climbing a slide to drop into the lava surrounded swimming hole. Being so curious about these Atlantic Sea tropics created a travel adventure as unique as its language!
A close second on the surprise list is a river cruise! We jumped on the opportunity to experience this with Avalon Waterways along the Gargonne and Dordogne Rivers in Southern France. I never thought we would travel with 80 other people with a full staff to attend to our every need, but we were so pleasantly surprised! It was so easy to leave the boat and explore, the daily adventures were more than I hoped for and the boat life spoiled us!
Is there a place you've traveled that feels like a second home?
Spanish speaking countries! A college semester in Spain cemented my love for the Spanish language and culture. The impact of this passion has created a comfort in Spanish speaking countries that I don’t have in other places. I tend to ask more questions, converse with natives and enjoy communicating.
Experiences like learning how to make coconut bread with Valentina in Panama, learning how to prepare fresh caught lobster in Costa Rica, or appeasing my Spanish "mom" with my sister and wearing flamenco dresses she sewed herself!
What trip pushed your boundaries?
Egypt! Egypt pushed our boundaries from the start! After arriving in Cairo, our lost luggage and hair-raising taxi ride to our hotel was rewarded with a nose to broken nose view of the Sphinx and the pyramids right from our room! From the crazy traffic to the visible poverty and the unique culture, Egypt was a captivating challenge to our comfort zone. We survived it and we loved it.
Why did you become so interested in travel?
My family! My parents’ greatest gift has been the love of travel. Though my sister and I fought growing up, travel was the one thing that turned us into best friends now! They exposed us to new cultures, landscapes and challenges, and that the world is a big place! Overnight drives to Mexico, sailing the British Virgin Islands, the Grenadines and the Bahamas, driving all over Spain and Portugal all brought out the best of us as a family. When a challenge arose, we navigated by mom’s quote of “the difference between an adventure and ordeal is your attitude!” These experiences are why I always want to see more, feel more, taste more and do more after every trip.
Which trip inspired you the most?
Panama! Learning about the history of the Panama Canal and then seeing it; visiting a villager who had “everything” despite having “nothing”; staying on a monkey island started by a woman who wanted to do something different with her life; and seeing mother nature at her finest, searching for Red Poison Dart Frogs. Our experiences in Panama made us feel that we came back different human beings.
A historical visit to Vis, Croatia, my semester in Spain and an 18 day art teachers workshop in France were also trips that inspired me.
What I’ve learned about rephrasing “what’s your favorite place” is that it’s not just the location lingering in my memory, but a feeling. So if we meet and you ask me where my favorite place is, forgive me. I’ll likely come back with a question for you and depending on YOUR answer, I’ll have a better answer for you.
Stephanie is the owner of Two Herons Travel, who practices what she preaches! 52 years of travelling has inspired her to share her passion for travel by creating itineraries for like minded travelers. Retired from teaching art and Spanish, this career continuously led her to a new venture as a travel advisor. She feels lucky to have Todd along for the ride, always willing to go anywhere and always supportive of this venture! Focusing on Europe and Central America, Stephanie plans vacations for solo travelers, couples and groups. Not limited to just these destinations, Stephanie is continuously learning about new places, travel trends and dreaming of where the next adventure will take her!
