As a Romantic/Traditional Geographer, I know Travel. Exploring, wandering, pondering, and observing landscapes has always been one of my favorite things to do. For me, the lure of travel rests in the uncertainty. It’s life at its most exciting. I never know what I’ll see next! And because of that philosophy, I’ve traveled a lot...Seen amazing things...Experienced harrowing situations. It all begins with slowing down and taking time to see the landscape. It’s okay to get lost. It’s okay to not know your next location. Embrace the unknown. Keep an open mind. Be spontaneous (even if you have to plan for it).

A wise Traveler once said, “When is the last time you allowed yourself the time and space to simply go somewhere without any directions or expectations? That’s a true luxury that we rarely afford ourselves...we’re always out of time...Don’t be afraid to travel boldly or carve your own path. Don’t worry about losing time...or not seeing everything. You may just see enough. And maybe that enough is even more meaningful”. Indeed. What lies around that next corner or down that dusty road? Why not go...and see?!

Case’s Traveling Style

While I enjoy staying in posh places and high-class flying, for me, staying close to the ground and humble remain key aspects of my travel philosophy. For example, although I would never sacrifice health or safety when traveling – no matter the experience – I don’t mind sleeping under the stars or in my car, staying in hostels, or sharing a Bedouin tent. Those experiences serve to enhance my overall appreciation for the privilege of travel, allowing me to savor times of extravagance.

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Strict lists of things to do and see when traveling bother me. Though I often have an idea of what I want to see and a basic itinerary sketched out, both usually get modified because, once on the ground, things change. A Traveler that likes to see what they see, I just enjoy wandering. Relishing the chance to just wander and explore. Whether that means driving a foreign vehicle, riding a train, hopping a bus (with live chickens), canoeing on a river, riding a camel, or hiking through a jungle, I believe being with/in a landscape remains the key to truly appreciating it. And that means having lots of adaptability, flexibility, patience, and gratitude. Always gratitude.

You also need an effective packing strategy. See this general packing list and then compare it to what I usually pack for most any and every excursion. Once you begin packing less, you’ll be surprised how little you actually need, even for longer trips.

Finally, view some of my general tips for successful travel because, even though experience remains a good teacher, why make the same mistakes as others? Talk to people. Learn from their travel experiences. Just keep in mind two things: the most important souvenir might not always be what you think, and the ability to travel often rests in arranging priorities.

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Case’s Places

I’m not really a country counter, but I do keep track of where I’ve visited in case I want to return for something specific. And, because people tend to ask me, here are some countries I have lived in, studied in, and explored over the years – many of them multiple times...

• Africa:

  • Egypt, Morocco

• Americas:

  • 49 US States, Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, several Canadian Provinces, various Caribbean Islands, Chile, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay

• Asia/Middle East:

  • China, Cyprus, India, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Maldives, Oman, Qatar, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Turkey, United Arab Emirates

• Europe (visit my family castle!):

  • Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Czechoslovakia, England, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Lichtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, (Republic of North) Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Romania, Scotland, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Wales

One of my greatest joys centers on helping people gain field experience. To enhance this endeavor, I developed different programs for students over the years, such as my Geography by Rail® program. While I still offer regular field-based activities for my students, I also enjoy helping folks explore the world. Please contact me if you are interested! I’m always glad to help!

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