Transcontinental travels
First class, Michelin star restaurants, cruises, and the convenience of having everything provided. Traveling in style offers tourists the ability to visit new places without the worry of having to stress about dealing with unexpected setbacks that may occur in camping. Although when thinking about “traveling in style,” the idea that it can only mean living a lavish lifestyle on vacation may come to mind. However, it can be much simpler than that.
For Halle Cowgill, “traveling in style” can be defined as “[the] equivalent to vacation and vacationing is all about relaxation, and camping is not my idea of relaxing.” Traveling in style allows her to feel more relaxed and avoid worrying about where she’s sleeping, how she’s going to get to a destination, and where and what she’s going to eat, which can be considered a luxury in comparison to camping.
Although traveling in style comes with a multitude of conveniences and luxuries to enjoy, it also entails a large amount of planning to ensure everything goes smoothly. Planning in advance also offers a sense of predictability and anticipation, which may appeal to some travelers. “If I’m traveling to a foreign country, I’d like to have a travel guide who’s from that country.” Cowgill said. “someone who plans an itinerary that can incorporate a bit of fun for everyone on the trip as well as some free days to do whatever we’d like.”
On sophomore Inga Wing’s trip to Spain, she noted that in order to feel relaxed about the trip, she took the time to come up with an itinerary for each day. “I planned out sort of what it looked like every day, what I would be doing during those days, and then how we would get there, that sort of thing,” she said.
Another factor to be concerned about is safety. Crime rates vary from destination to destination and taking the appropriate precautions is essential to ensure safety and minimize potential risks when traveling in style. For sophomore Theo Su, his trip to London made him realize the safety concerns when traveling abroad. “Sometimes you can get mugged … if you go to a big city which is slightly irritating,” he said.
According to Better Health Channel, to prevent the worst from happening, “Keep your travel plans, including accommodation details, to yourself, ask your hotel manager for advice on ‘safe’ versus ‘unsafe’ local areas, and try not to travel at night.”
However, for Su, those aspects of traveling do not clash with his overall enjoyment. “This method of travel allows you to meet new people, which is more interesting to me than just camping,” he said. “I like exploring and talking to people along the way.”
Compared to “roughing it out” in the camping scene, traveling in style offers an experience that can be planned and mediated without too much stress for everyone participating. Overall, traveling in style allows one to enjoy a vast amount of luxuries, ranging from simple conveniences to elaborate and new experiences.
Cozy camping close by
Camping: the age-old tradition of packing up the bare necessities, pitching a tent and exploring the great outdoors.
Junior Jane Higgins grew up camping. “My family has always camped,” she said. “I’ve been [camping] since I was a very, very small child.”
Camping was always a tradition that took off in popularity after society was forced into lockdown in 2020. Many returned to their camping roots, with the number of people camping in Minnesota jumping nearly 20%.
Senior Evan Holmes said, “I started camping during COVID so I could get away from the mundane and sad state of things for a little while. I went backpacking up North, and it was an absolute disaster. It down-poured for most of the time and the mosquitoes were insane, I was completely red and bumpy at the end. I absolutely loved it though and I couldn’t wait to get out again.”
For some, like junior Sam Murphy, it’s a long-standing tradition. “I grew up with camping, and I’ve been very lucky to get to go to the places I’ve been,” he said.
According to the National Park Service, “Some like to disconnect from technology and reconnect with nature. Some families go camping to revitalize their relationships, away from all the distractions at home. Many youth organizations teach young people how to build a fire, pitch a tent, or read a compass. Camping means different things to different people.”
“I feel like the best bonding and connections happen on the trail, as a physical wreck and needing support. Nature is a wonderful place to be yourself because it doesn’t care who you are or what your life is like, it’s just there to be beautiful and miserable all at the same time,” said Holmes.
“I think disconnecting from our phones is really peaceful, and calm. It’s really nice to be in nature,” Higgins said.
Camping offers a detox from a life of screens, and close, stuffy quarters; it’s an opportunity to get back out into the fresh air and strengthen bonds.
Whether it’s the accomplishment that comes with setting up a campsite, building a fire, or the inspiration that comes from seeing the stars in an area without light pollution, camping presents an opportunity to relax. “My favorite part is relaxing at night after a long day of hard work,” Murphy said.
To start camping, consider lodging options. With a tent, finding level ground, bringing a tarp for water protection, and ensuring proper size is essential. If not ready to dive into tent camping, cabins and RVs are always an option. After considering lodging, figure out a destination, taking into account weather and accessibility.
Nothing beats getting out into nature and spending time with loved ones. Nowadays, everywhere has somewhere to get away from the world and connect with nature. Consider getting out to a campsite and spending some time away from the bustle of the city to spend the night under the stars.
