Are you a bookworm or more of magazine page flipper?  

I love to read, and I go in spurts of reading.  The whole kids, homeschooling, after school tutoring, and household managing thing might have something to do with my reading dry spells, but if I haven't read anything in a while I get a hankering for a good book.  

I have always loved historical fiction, but as I was thinking about this blog topic I noticed that many of my favorite novels have dynamic settings that have inspired my travel.  

This next part might give away my nerdy historical book secret away, but hang with me.  One of my favorite authors is Edward Rutherford.  He writes epic novels which focus on a specific place.  His stories carry the reader through tens of thousands of year of history and I love them.  He sets the stage by introducing the reader to a handful of character families that live in the chosen area of his book (Ireland, New York, Russia, Paris), and then each chapter follows the lives of these families through generations of history and how the families' lives intertwine.  What attracts me to Rutherford's writing, and keeps me going back, is the way he builds the city of the setting up over each chapter, making history come alive for me.  This was especially true when I read The Princes of Ireland and then the continuing story: The Rebels of Ireland.  So much so, that it helped inspire my 10 year wedding anniversary to Ireland.  

When my husband and I got off the plane in Dublin and started exploring that amazing city, I felt like I already knew it.  Visiting Trinity College and strolling along the River Liffy brought back characters and events and totally enriched my experience.  

So what about you?  Do you have an inspirational book that lead to a great adventure?  Here are some links to get you started. 

17 TRAVEL BOOKS FOR EXPLORERS, DRIFTERS, AND PEOPLE WHO DON'T MIND GETTING LOST
http://www.bustle.com/articles/35071-17-travel-books-for-explorers-drifters-and-people-who-dont-mind-getting-lost/page/17

20 Books That Will Inspire You to Travel
http://www.more.com/books-that-inspire-travel

And what about the kids?  This infographic makes me so happy because it allows children to see that even fantasy and fairy tale comes from the beauty of real places.  Click on the picture to see the full graphic with many kid's stories.

Kids Are a Trip is a blog that has book picks for Ireland, Spain, France, and Italy for kids and parents alike.
http://kidsareatrip.com/

Tell me about your inspirational books and let us help you plan your next adventure!

Happy roving (and reading!),

Kyleen

I'm starting out the launch of the Faith and Family Travel blog by letting you get to know me a little bit and peek into the travel side of my life!

I'm Kyleen!  Mommy, wife, teacher, and daughter to the boss.  I love travel and have been doing it for a while now.  This blog allows me to have a crazy, cyclical travel rationale: write about travel -> need to travel -> so I can write about travel -> so I can travel some more!  You get the idea.  

"Certainly, travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living."

I love this quote by Mary Ritter Beard.  Whether a long term relocation or a weekend jaunt, traveling changes how we view the world and ourselves.  Its one thing to watch elephants in their herds on television while a fantastic British voice narrates facts and trivia, but to experience these glorious beasts from a Land Rover rooftop a hundred feet away will change the way you see yourself in the world forever.  

My husband and I did the long term relocation when we were first married.  We moved to Togo, West Africa to work with a missionary team there.  During that time we immersed ourselves in the Ewe culture, experienced the beauty (and some ugly) of the land, and went on two safaris, one of which included a lion.  That was 10 years ago, but sometimes I will feel a hot, dry wind or catch a tribal beat from a song and I'm carried back to the bush villages.

But back to reality of life now.  Travel is full of Children's Museums and swimming pools, Disney and go carts.  I love it!  The adaptability of travel is what makes it so fun.  My family of four travels every day my husband is off work (and sometimes we have to make our own fun without him.  Sorry, honey, its a tough life, but someone's got to make some money!).  We may not go far.  Usually its a nature hike in a nearby state park or the aquarium.  But we get out and see our little corner of the world.

We also travel extensively with my extended family.  The Rogers clan includes my parents, my family, and my sister's family.  We've done Yellowstone with a four month old, and a cruise to Mexico with a one and four year old.  Our most recent multigenerational trip to Charleston, SC included a visit to the Patriot's Point aircraft carrier.  The awe of the my six year old son balanced with the honored respect from my sixty year old father was a joy to witness.  The travel experience at any age can enrich the traveler.

The the next adventure is just around the bend.  Whether it's across town or across the country, come join my roving romp and maybe we can help you experience your own wandering experience!

Kyleen