Have you done a hard thing recently? Something that really scared you. Something that while you were doing it, you were unsure if you could finish. No? Then do whatever popped into your head. Do the hard thing you’ve been putting off or the thing you want but don’t think you’re ready for. Why? Because you can do hard things, much harder things than you realize. Even when you’re scared or not prepared for them. For me, that was hiking Acatenango. I was not physically ready and throughout it, I had doubts I’d finish. After this hike, I’ve done things I didn’t think I’d make it out of, but that’s not what this story is about. This is about my experience hiking Acatenango.

If you have anxiety, you need to travel. And I’m so serious (to an extent). Travel is exposure therapy, which will be uncomfortable in the moment, but helpful later. Nothing in my life has helped more with my confidence, and my anxiety than travel. Breath work can only go so far. Of course, talk to someone before embarking on a trip and make sure it is right for you. I can only speak from my experience and my anxiety is not extreme. I’m able to function in my daily life with minimal interference, I got good grades, I do well at work, I have close relationships. I don’t think I’m generally viewed as a person with anxiety until people really know me. People can’t hear my racing heart as I press unmute, they can’t see repeating thoughts after a conversation, or feel the sticky sweat under my arms. They see my output, and that’s enough. Luckily for me! Travel helps reduce the toll unexpected situations take on me. It’s helped me to know I can handle stress, it’s built confidence. Travel is not only exposure therapy, sometimes it’s just therapy.

Ah, the warm travel air of fear and excitement.

Sometimes I catch a glimpse of it when I think about the past, a flash of memory, or when I imagine future plans. I picture stepping off the plane for the first time, walking the streets of a new city. That is what it feels like to me.

I can smell the travel in the air. It is both familiar and new. Each place has its own scent, its own story, and yet there is always something the same. And there is something that I always get a taste of. Maybe it’s excitement. Maybe it’s fear. Maybe it’s freedom.

We pulled over at a picturesque lake near Mount Cook, and I remember seeing a group of young people camping and swimming at the lake early in the morning. This surprised me in the moment. Why is that surprising? It was a beautiful morning and a beautiful lake. Lake Pukaki looked untouched by humanity. It was nothing like the brown, opaque water in New Jersey and New York. That lake should be swam in by everyone that comes across its shores. 

But, I didn’t swim. And I regret it. I feared being cold, and I probably would have been cold. Is that really a good reason to not do it? I also would have been swimming in the most beautiful lake I’ve never seen, on a random Tuesday, laughing with Ash about “how crazy this is.” We’re freezing in a crystal clear lake, in New Zealand! How many people get to do that? Not me, because I said no. Stop saying no.

We rarely spend more than $300 night and stay in places rated less than 8.0 on booking.com. Ash and I have kept nearly every trip under $2,000 per person, including a safari + resort experience in Tanzania, 2-weeks in Salta, Argentina, and a southern New Zealand road trip. Travel is and can be affordable with research and intention. But you still need to be able to afford to travel, even cheaply.

November is an amazing month to travel in, there’s less crowds, cheaper flights, and mild weather. Off-peak is, in my opinion, the best time to fully explore a destination. No more pushing through hoards of tourists or scavenging for reasonable lodging. Many destinations around the world offer pleasant weather in November from California to Tanzania. And being from the Northeast, we take (almost) every chance we can to escape the cold. Sunny and warm instead of snowy and cold? We’re in. No questions asked. However, some exceptions are made if the destination is enticing enough, looking at you Iceland. Even if you’re not from the Northeast, there’s plenty of reasons to travel in November!

Travel is different once you reach a new stage in life. Maybe the kids are grown, the career pressures have eased, or you’ve simply decided it’s your time. Instead of rushing from place to place, you want experiences that feel meaningful, comfortable, and inspiring.

At Novem, we design trips that fit this season of life—intentional journeys that balance discovery with comfort. If you’re wondering how to choose your next adventure after 50 or 20, here’s a guide to help you decide.

Travel for Empty Nesters and Older Adventurers

There’s a moment in life when the house gets a little quieter. Kids are off charting their own paths, careers shift into a slower rhythm, and suddenly, you have space. Space to breathe, to explore, and to ask: What’s next for me? Or where to next?