My Favorite Destinations, Part II

When small talk gives way to deeper conversations, a world of thoughtful insight reveals itself. Penetrating through questions about where one works and lives, opportunities to know someone more deeply start with simple, but profound questions.

“What travel destination changed the course of your life?”

Nine little words strung together with a real chance to know someone. At the best dinner parties or conversations over drinks at a bar, questions such as this have been served. It is one of my favorite questions to answer and it is something I am always happy to investigate in a new way.

Traveling to New York City has changed my life. My first trip was shortly after finishing my undergraduate degree. With a tax refund burning a hole in my pocket, my roommate and best friend created an itinerary we called “The Epic Journey.”

From Oklahoma City, we would drive east toward the Smoky Mountains. Once there, we would camp, hike, and commune with nature. From Tennessee, we would drive to Washington, D.C. In our nation’s capital, we would take in the sights and brush up on our American history. From there, we would take a train to NYC.

Of course, the best laid plans often go awry. So much of that trip did not go as expected, but the last roadblock soured my mood. Stuck in Washington, D.C.’s…