Ideally, travel broadens our perspectives personally, culturally, and politically. Suddenly, the palette with which we paint the story of our lives has more colors.

If you don't like a place, maybe you don't know enough about it... Give a culture the benefit of your open mind.

By day, Venice is a city of museums and churches, packed with great art. Linger over lunch, trying to crack a crustacean with weird legs and antennae. At night, when the hordes of day-trippers have gone, another Venice appears. Dance across a floodlit square. Glide in a gondola through quiet canals while music echoes across the water. Pretend it's Carnevale time, don a mask - or just a fresh shirt - and become someone else for a night.

I have a New Year's tradition. I lay all my travel dreams on the table, sort them out, prioritize, and begin the process of turning those dreams into reality.

There's a huge difference between the more progressive and more regressive parts of America. That's just the way it is.

I travel around the world in a way that tries to open my mind and give me empathy and inspire me to come home and make this world a better place.

I shutter to think how many people are underexposed and lacking depth in this field.