Some travelers have discovered that having a purpose or goal associated with their adventures makes the experience all the sweeter. Combining a love of travel with another interest can not only be loads of fun, but it can help you learn more about yourself and develop deeper friendships. Be inspired by these travelers who have discovered that purposeful traveling is the way to go.
Purpose: Literary Pursuits
In 2018, Denver resident Marilyn Robbins, 63, became involved with Divine Destinations, a book club that reads books about a certain location for a year and then visits that location. “We pick our own books, reading one a month for a year, until we set off on the trip,” Marilyn says.
In May 2024, members of Divine Destinations came to Kentucky for the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby. They got to see firsthand a “rolling hill,” a concept they couldn’t fully imagine given their homebase near the Rocky Mountains. “We were thrilled to see Lexington’s skeleton at the Kentucky Horse Park and Lincoln’s birthplace in Hodgenville,” Marilyn says. “Our hidden gem we stumbled on was Nettie Jarvis Antiques in Bloomfield.”
Divine Destinations has made an effort to travel in a different direction each year. They’ve been to the east (Charleston, South Carolina), to the west (Pacific Grove, California), and to the far south (Key West, Florida). In 2025, Marilyn says the group will head to Mackinac Island in Michigan. To prepare for the trip, they have read a biography on Betty Ford, as well as Mary Doria Russell’s novel The Women of Copper County. In 2026, Marilyn and the Divine Destinations will head to Rhode Island.
Through books, travel becomes even more meaningful because the members of Divine Destinations learn so much about where they are heading — and they get to do it together as friends. “The best thing about intentional travel is immersing ourselves in books that explore the past and define Americans that have truly made a difference,” Marilyn says.
By Carrie Vittitoe
P.S. Check out some of these local April events…with purpose.
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