Why You Should Travel More in 2020

Traveling is something everyone has on their bucket list. I mean, who doesn’t want to be a cultured nomad, roaming the earth and having only the best experiences? Unfortunately, life tends to get in the way. Traveling means planning, money, packing, reservations, and time off from work. It’s easy to get sucked into your nine to five, daydreaming of the day you’re finally given the opportunity to pursue your heart’s wildest dreams.

Did you know that traveling can actually be really cheap? Don’t have time to take off from work? Weekend getaways can be really fun and just as fulfilling. Plus, traveling offers physical and physiological health benefits!

Here are some benefits of traveling you should get prepared to experience!

  • It improves your health.

That’s right. Traveling can help cut down on stress and lower your chances of developing heart disease. Going out of your comfort zone can make a huge impact on your mental health, and the physical exercise that usually accompanies sightseeing will help improve your physical health.

For some, traveling may even be a way to help improve depression and anxiety symptoms! As always, make sure to contact your physician when going abroad to make sure you’re up-to-date on your physical.

  • It helps you disconnect.

Traveling is a great way to take a step back from your day to day life and focus on something new. With traveling, you’re able to get out of your routine and remove yourself from the stressors in your life.

When you’re traveling, you can shift your focus and put down the phone. So go ahead, book that flight and set up your “away from the office” email and R E L A X.

  • It makes you smarter.

Whether it’s book smart or street smart, traveling seems to have an impact on both. When you travel to other countries, you’ll most likely learn small phrases or words to help you communicate with the locals. Just learning bits and pieces of other languages helps your brain function, according to the Huffington Post.

As is the rule of life, where something can go wrong, it often will. Traveling will help improve your problem solving skills and critical thinking, which can be easily applied to other aspects of your life.

  • It improves your understanding of other cultures.

The world is filled with rich culture, so why not learn about it? Traveling to experience other cultures first hand is so much more filling than reading about it or watching it on TV. You’re able to see what they see, eat what they eat, smell what they smell.

Understanding other cultures will help enrich your life and develop empathy towards those different from you.

  • It helps you develop lifelong memories.

You loved hearing your grandparents and parents traveling stories, so why not create a few stories of your own? You never know the kind of experiences you’ll have when you travel abroad. Maybe you’ll see some amazing views or try food you’ve never tried before. Maybe you’ll make lifelong friends, or learn something about yourself.

Regardless, when you travel you’re bound to create lifelong memories you’ll be able to tell your own children and grandchildren.

For more travel related news and information, click here.

Experience Top Louisiana Festivals

Louisiana is well-known for its food, music, and the culture. But did you know that The Pelican State has numerous festivals throughout the year celebrating those very things? If you’re looking for a good time in Sportsman’s Paradise, try one of these Louisiana festivals!

Festival International de Louisiane

Festival International de Louisiane is one of the most popular festivals in the state of Louisiana. Hosted every year in Lafayette, Festival International in five days of culture and fun. Every April, downtown Lafayette becomes the home of international music. The festival boasts seven music stages in addition to street musicians, paintings, drawings, and boutiques. The festival is the largest international music and arts festival in the United States. The main purpose of the festival is to bring the gap between Acadiana and its roots in the French-speaking world. Over 20 countries are represented during the festival, which is about to mark its 34th year anniversary!

Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival

In 1959, the Louisiana Legislature named Breaux Bridge, Louisiana the Crawfish Capital of the World. In 1960, as a spin off of the Breaux Bridge Centennial Celebration, the Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival was born. The festival is now known as one of the largest gatherings of Cajun musicians in the world. The Crawfish Festival takes place during the first weekend of May every year. Over 30 bands play each year! If you’re lucky, you may even win the zydeco dance contest. If you’ve never had crawfish etouffee, don’t fret. There’s a cook-off each year!

International Rice Festival

With its home in Crowley, Louisiana, the International Rice Festival is one of the oldest festivals in the state. The first festival was on October 5, 1937 and since then over seven million people have flocked to Crowley to attend. The festival is held in Downtown Crowley and highlights the importance of rice not only as a food, but also as a staple in the world’s economy. Each year the festival holds two parades: the Children’s Parade on Friday and the Grand Parade on Saturday. Other events include a Rice Cooking Contest and a Rice Eating Contest, a frog derby, and a queen’s pageant.

Christmas Festival of Lights

The Christmas Festival of Lights takes place in the oldest permanent settlement in Louisiana- Natchitoches. The Festival of Lights has been a Natchitoches tradition since 1927 and is one of the oldest community holiday celebrations in the United States. The Festival began as a one day event and have transformed into six-week long celebration. The Natchitoches Christmas Season begins the Saturday before Thanksgiving and ends on January 6th. Each year consists of over 300,000 lights and over one hundred set pieces that are on display every night.

Bogalusa Blues & Heritage Festival

Located in Bogalusa, Louisiana, this Louisiana Festival is one that should not be missed. The Bogalusa Blues & Heritage Festival is the youngest festival on the list. The Blues & Heritage Festival was born in 2011 and quickly became one of the largest and most popular festivals in Louisiana. The first festival was held in 2012 and was declared the New Event of the Year by the Louisiana Association of Fairs and Festivals. The festival is held every September with music, lodging, food, and crafts.

For more Louisiana related articles, click here.