We’ve all heard the stories about people packing up their entire lives and moving across the planet to experience something brand new, sometimes in a country they’ve never set foot in before. And then we all know those people that would be terrified at the thought of that. Those people that have lived in the same house their entire lives and vacation in the same spot every year. So, what makes one person itch to get away while others are content staying in the same spot for all of their lives? Science may have finally figured out the obsession behind it: the wanderlust gene.

1. What is Wanderlust?

Wanderlust. This German word, which means “a strong desire to travel”, has a lot more to it than a silly name. It’s the urge you get to whisk off somewhere new every few months. It’s the desire to feel the wind in your hair and the sand in your toes. It’s what drives you to research new destinations and maybe keep the TV set to the Travel Channel at all times. If you have wanderlust, you want to see every part of the world before you leave it. You want to explore cities and beaches, experience new and exciting cultures and meet friends you haven’t met yet. And it’s not just a mere desire. It’s a compulsion to travel and a thirst that can’t be quenched no matter how many spots on the globe you visit. No, wanderlust is not just a silly word. It’s a way of life.

There is no better continent for history buffs to visit than Europe. There are countless historical treasures peppered throughout all of the countries, each with its own charm and mesmerizing backstory. If you’re planning a visit to Europe, you should add a educational element and be mentally transported back in time with these top seven historical sites!

1. Ruins of Pompeii, Province of Naples, Italy

If you’re headed to Italy, you have to plan a visit to one of the most intriguing historical sites to ever exist. The famously doomed city of Pompeii was covered in lava and ash almost 2000 years ago when Mount Vesuvius suddenly erupted. This resulted in an almost instant death for Pompeii’s unfortunate residents but created a perfectly preserved city. Today you can visit to get a glimpse of daily life as it was in 79 A.D. when Pompeii was a bustling Roman empire. The buildings still contain preserved people as they were going about their day as well as all of their belongings such as furniture, gold, and tools. Seeing a city frozen in time almost 2000 years ago makes for an enlightening historical trip!

You might be stuck in the office for the next month until spring break, but that doesn’t mean you can’t take a mental vacation. Travel (virtually) with us to Iceland, where the landscape is as diverse as it is breathtaking. Off we go…

Stapafell Mountain is located on the Reykjanes Peninsula in southern Iceland. Urban legend is that giants used to habitate this area.

Photo by Joey Zanotti / CC BY

Street art is a widely debated topic for many cities across the world. Some cities see it as graffiti and do their best to keep it to a minimum. But then there are the cities that embrace the local artistic community and become a hot spot for art-loving tourists. Talk to any art historian and they’ll say it’s imperative to visit some of the better known “street art” sections of a city if you’re looking for the best symbolic and cultural art. Art lovers from all walks of life will appreciate these fabulous 7 cities where you can immerse yourself in vivid landscapes, realistic portraits or hysterical self-expression.

Trends are certainly nothing new in the fashion industry or the technology sector, but I bet you didn’t know they extend to the travel industry, as well. Travel itself is pretty trendy, so make it even more on point by following these 5 travel trends of 2016.

1.) Bleisure Travel (Business + Leisure)

Take advantage of your business trips, Photo by mxmstryo / CC BY

With more corporations putting emphasis on healthy work-life balances, business trips have become quite more exciting. It’s a mini vacation on your employer’s dime, so it’s really no wonder this is a trend right now! Many companies now allow families to join employees for trips over long weekends and give employees the flexibility to roam. Thanks to modern-day technology and our ability to be constantly connected, workers spend less time chained to desks and conference centers and more time exploring new destinations.