Welcome to #tuneuptuesday! I realize that today's topic is not the most relevant, practical, or realistic in these days of COVID-19. But a girl can dream, can't she??? I am dreaming of the day when all of us can travel freely again without worrying about the Coronavirus!
As an adult, I have always loved to travel. But when I was young, I lived in a very tiny town in a rural part of Pennsylvania, and my family never went on vacation. Even when I “went off” to college, I only ended up about an hour away from my home, in yet another rural area. I think that staying put for such a long time really made me want to get out and see the world when I was old enough to do so on my own.
I absolutely think that traveling is a gold star activity! As we discussed last week, it’s good to step out of your comfort zone every once in awhile, and traveling to a new place is pretty much guaranteed to take you out of your comfort zone!
Going on an adventure in a new location can create a level of good stress, which can in turn lead to an increase in focus, creativity, and motivation. Traveling can also allow you to practice responding to change and difficulties when unexpected things occur, a skill which you can then apply when you return home.
So, where is it that I would like to travel to most? Well, my answer has a bit of back story to it.
When I was almost 21 years old, way back in January 1990, I was reading my tiny hometown newspaper, and a story caught my eye: "Hawaii beckons to couples seeking a special hideaway." The article went on to say that the Kona Village Resort on the big island of Hawaii was one of the most romantic wedding and honeymoon destinations in the world.
I was so enthralled with this article that I cut it out of the paper, dated it, and put it in my scrapbook. I so wanted to see the "ancient lava flows, lush lagoons, and swaying palms" that were described, and I particularly wanted to stay in one of the "plush, thatched-roof 'hales'" that make up the resort. I would dream about going there often when I was in my early 20's.
After awhile, I forgot about the Kona Village Resort and my dream to go there someday. But, then, about 10 years ago, I was in a coffee shop when I came across a copy of Islands Magazine. And there it was again – Kona Village Resort was listed as one of the 10 most romantic island getaways. Of course, I devoured the story. It made me feel so happy, it was like running into an old friend you haven't seen in years and realizing how much you missed her.
I missed Kona Village Resort. When I got home, I dug out the 1990 article that I had saved for all of these years, and I fell in love with the resort all over again. My dream was reborn.
But not too long thereafter, my hopes were dashed. In 2011, the Kona Village resort closed after sustaining substantial damage from the waves of a tsunami following an earthquake in Japan. When I found out that the resort had closed, I felt sad that I would not be able to fulfill the dream I had created more than 20 years before.
Knowing all of this, you can imagine how thrilled I was when I recently discovered that the Kona Village Resort is planning to reopen, possibly in 2022! Of course it won’t be exactly the same as it once was, but some of the resort’s original elements are being duplicated.
Now my dream is back, bigger than before! I still hope to get to Kona Village Resort one day, after it opens its doors again. And I will give myself the biggest gold star when I get there!!
If you would like to dream along with me, you can check out the resort's landing page here.
Do you like to travel? If so, where would you most like to go on your dream vacation? Tell us in the comments!