A Teen Travel Blogger on What It's Like to Travel the World

The writer in Italy with his brother. (Photo: Brandon Lewis)

I recently attended the White House Travel Bloggers Summit on Study Abroad and Global Citizenship. The purpose of the event was to spread awareness about the importance of student travel and the lack of U.S. students choosing to study abroad. The room was filled with more than 100 of the most influential travel bloggers, along with other impressive individuals who have devoted their lives to travel.

Right about now you may be asking yourself why I, a high school student, was at such a significant event. And to be honest, at some points I was wondering the same thing.

I was lucky enough to attend the event because my mom works at the Travel Channel and thought it would be a great opportunity to help get a head start as a travel blogger. I had a very official-looking name tag, which caused a few awkward encounters when people came over to talk to me, only to realize I wasn’t an important CEO, but only a junior in high school!

At the end of the day, the entire experience got me thinking about travel in general, and what teens my age would be interested in reading about when it comes to travel. One thing I know for sure is that teens have very different “needs and expectations” before going on a trip. Speaking from personal experience, I often feel I’m being forced into seeing or doing something that sounds boring, but as much as I hate to admit it, the experience usually turns out much better than I expected.

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Brandon and his family enjoying a little dogsledding in Ketchikan, Alaska. (Photo: Brandon Lewis)

Personally, I enjoy traveling because it adds perspective to my life. In school, we study the literature and history of these far-off lands, and actually being able to go to these places in person is an experience that words cannot even describe. Some of the places I’ve visited that really exemplify this fact are countries like Italy and China. Being able to see the ruins of ancient Rome, one of the greatest empires to date, is something that really gets me excited about travel. Personally, there is no better feeling than going to a place and recounting what happened thousands of years ago on that very spot. In some places it’s easier to visualize than others, like in Alaska, where there are signs that mark where glaciers once stood.

Even though I do enjoy travel by looking through the historical lens and taking a step back in time, I still like to keep one foot in the present. When I travel, I try to stay connected with my friends at all costs, and it seems that in today’s society, most teens feel the same way I do, ultimately limiting travel destinations to where the Wi-Fi reaches. With things like “glamping” on the rise, it is obvious that people want to experience new things without leaving the luxuries of home. Teenagers are seeking ways to get away while never really leaving, and social media outlets like Facebook or Snapchat make it pretty easy. With this being said, there are the few who wish to venture outside the 5-inch display of their phone and truly experience something new — whether that’s a different culture or a beautiful beach (most likely it being the latter).

Sometimes it can feel like teens aren’t paying attention on vacation. (Photo: Thinkstock)

During my travels, I’ve found that depending on the destination, not using technology is sometimes easier than anticipated. In places like Paris, it is more rewarding to have your head up taking in every sight rather than trying to capture it for the sake of Snapchat. On the other hand, when we were traveling through the uncomfortable heat in China, I used my smartphone as a way to escape.

Also, I have found that the places that appeal to me, and maybe to other teenagers, are countries where people predominantly speak English. In places like France, where there are not as many English speakers, I found myself intimidated and less likely to enjoy my time there.

Aside from the language-barrier issue, there are some perks to traveling as a teen. First of all, you most likely have no responsibility when it comes to finding the best tour or making reservations, which allows you to focus on one thing: having fun wherever you go! Adults may be stressed out on a trip as they focus on the logistics, but a teenager’s sole purpose is to be a sponge and soak in as much as possible.

Related: An Open Briefing for President Obama: How to Travel With Teen Daughters

Traveling can be an eye-opening experience for teens. (Photo: Thinkstock)

Ultimately, though, traveling as a teen can have some lifelong influences. If there’s one thing I took away from the summit, it would be that traveling not only adds to your knowledge but also strengthens your character. Being exposed to new things at a young age only gives you advantages in the future. But, in the end, it is still up to us, the teens, to do our part on a trip and be there not only physically but mentally. This may mean ditching that next level of Candy Crush in order to see something as boring as the Louvre (I’m looking at you, past self). So do yourself a favor and dive into your travels rather than document it for the sake of “likes,” because in the end, it will be you who benefits the most.

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