“A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving.” ~Lao Tzu

As much as I have traveled, there are some places I’ve never been: Disney World, Disneyland, Six Flags, Busch Gardens….I don’t go to theme parks or amusement parks—no more than I play video games, sit for hours in front of a TV set, or watch mindless movies. Partly because they are incongruent with my Christian faith. Partly because they are vain amusement. The first word I learned in Latin was amuse. Muse means “think.” But if you put an a- in front of a word, it negates it. Amuse means “not think.” Not a change of pace, as when a lawyer goes for a walk—he can still muse or think while he’s walking—but a change of concentration, as when a physician plays handball—the game is so intense he loses his train of thought. Some amusements, like physical exercise, going out for fresh air—even travel—are good for mind and body, because they help us readjust our center, tone up mentally and physically, regain our perspective, and sometimes teach us things we didn‘t know before. My usual points of interest, because they are educational, are natural and historical sites….the thinking person’s escape.

“The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.” ~St. Augustine

I saw a biographical piece the other day on Gloria Steinem, where, describing her earlier years, she talked about how fatigued she was from traveling. I’m not as active as she was in those days, but I have the same general complaint. What is it about traveling that is so exhausting?

Now that I am old, you could say it’s my age, but I’ve been this way all my life. One time, years ago, I came home from a 10-day trip, fell into bed, and didn’t wake for over 48 hours. I arose thinking it was the next day and learned it was the day after. How could I have been so tired?

“Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.” ~Mark Twain

Evidently there is no firm rule for how roads are named. A parkway may be merely a nice stretch of good road, a street or drag, but better, a major scenic getaway, like the Garden State Parkway. Same with drive—who knows what it means? One would think a trail would be a walking or hiking route, like the Appalachian Trail; but some trails are paved and carry cars. Some nice drives have no special name, just a route number. Whatever the designation, here are some nice places to visit.