There are two levels of answers to the question of why people travel. The first is the obvious one, and probably the reason we give ourselves and quote to others. We travel so that we can see sights, experience other cultures, attend events and learn more about the world.

These are exciting reasons. But there are deeper reasons for traveling that have less to do with what we do when we travel, and more to do with what traveling does to us. These five sets of changes to ourselves are at the heart of what makes travel so compelling.

Travel Enriches You, Before, During & After

The anticipation of a trip is almost as stimulating as the trip itself and the memories afterwards. Knowing what you have ahead, and imagining it in detail, lends excitement to life, and relieves the tendency to fall into a workaday rut. The more detailed the image of the trip, the more a future trip will excite you in advance.

During the trip itself, daily life can be intense. Living in these moments fully, and noting everything around you, makes for heightened living. Clearly, this kind of intensified experience is a quality of a style of travel that takes you beyond the bus and out into the streets and squares, landscapes and waterways, of the places you are visiting. Independent travel is a world apart from “contained” travel.

Travel Broadens Your View of the World

Through travel you gain a framework for the history and significant touchstones that brought you to your current life and point in time. Now you are standing in the evil Borgia pope’s office, surrounded by the very walls that contained the man with sufficient power to write a Papal Bull-a mandate-that claimed all the wealth of the Western Hemisphere for Spain and Portugal, and secured it for the next 200 years. As you pause in the spot where that happened, the events and significance come alive with new meaning.

Now you are looking down at the stairs that lead to a tunnel connecting the home of Leonardo da Vinci with the royal palace across street. It was through this tunnel that King Françoise traveled to sit and talk with his genius friend. And now you are in Bayeux, where the French William the Conqueror built his naval vessels to cross the English Channel and claim the throne of England.

Taking a long bus journey with children in tow can be challenging, but with some planning, you and your child can enjoy a bus ride with a minimum of fuss and muss. When planning your trip, try to avoid traveling on weekends or during peak tourist seasons. This will help prevent having to wait for the next bus when one is full, and give your child a chance to stretch out across seats when the bus is not crowded. For trips lasting less than half a day, consider going overnight so that your child will sleep through the majority of the ride.

Children up to age two can ride for free; however, if the bus is full, the child must be seated on your lap– which can get uncomfortable for parent and child as the hours pass. It is worth the investment to purchase tickets for all children (usually offered at a discount). Even in the slowest seasons, one broken-down bus can mean doubling up of passengers on the next, and seats may not be available for everyone. With a ticket, even on a crowded bus, your child will be entitled to his/her own seat.

For young children, child seats or harnesses with manufacturer-approved strapping or webbing is recommended, to ensure your child will be safe and stay put for the ride. Greyhound does not provide child seats or restraining devices for children, and it is the parent’s responsibility to install and remove them in seats. Make a “goody bag” for each child that contain a variety of activities and a few non-perishable snacks and beverages. Include toys that are inexpensive and would not be missed if lost, crayons, activity booklets, etc.For young ones who need milk for their bottles, purchase brands such as Parmalot in serving-size packages, which, due to special packaging, don’t require refrigeration. If a child is still on formula, it is best to invest in the ready-to-feed 6/8 oz cans to avoid mixing, or the single-serving powder packets. Always keep your children close at hand and in sight when changing buses, checking or reclaiming luggage, or at stop overs. For younger ones, a harness with a strap is recommended so they don’t wander off in a crowd. At any stops, point out a “meeting place” your child will recognize and tell them to go there immediately if they can’t find you. Keep a recent photo of each child in your carryon bag for emergencies. Immediately seek out an employee if you believe your child is lost, and don’t be afraid to call for them– loudly.

For your child’s safety, point out the employees in uniform at the beginning of the trip. Tell them that, should you be separated from them at any time, they should seek out someone dressed like that, or a uniformed police officer. Tell them if they don’t see anyone in uniform or can’t find a counter, to seek out a mother with children (their safest bet with strangers) and ask for help. Explain to them that they are NOT to leave the terminal or go outside of the bus station for any reason– make sure they understand that you would never leave without them and will be inside looking for them. Also make sure they understand not to play near, behind, or– especially– under the buses. Rehearse them to make sure they know their phone number, address, and your full name before you leave. If your child has been recently potty trained or still has occasional “accidents,” make sure to equip them with Pull Ups, Goodnites, or even Depends, to avoid an uncomfortable situation. Encourage them to go to the bathroom periodically, especially after meals or having a drink, rather than waiting until the last minute, so they won’t get stuck waiting for the lavatory to be free. Always escort young children to the lavatory in the back of the bus, and make sure they wash their hands with sanitizing gel or baby wipes when finished.

A roll of quarters in your pocket is convenient to have during stops so you can use vending machines, coin-operated televisions, let your child play video games, or make phone calls without dragging your child around the terminal looking for change. Even for short stops, escort your child off the bus to take advantage of a few moments of fresh air and leg-stretching. If you stop for a transfer and have a couple of hours or more to spare, and if it is early enough, secure your luggage in lockers and take your child for a stroll around the neighborhood or a bit of sight-seeing.

There’s something “zen” about long bus trips; being an anonymous face in the sea of travelers, being away from all the stresses and distractions of your every day life, losing yourself in a good book or allowing yourself to kick back and “zone out” as mile after mile rolls by you– sometimes for days– demanding patience and affording leisure time that you will rarely find elsewhere. Bus travel is inexpensive, flexible, and widely available throughout the continental US, parts of Canada and Mexico. With a bit of knowledge aforehand, your itch to wander can be satisfied on a motor coach.

Before purchasing a ticket, look into all possible options for the best deal. Students, seniors, persons in the military and children can usually ride at discounts. Companion fares offer a discount on one fare with the purchase of a full fare ticket. Advanced purchase tickets are usually cheaper than last minute. For the more free-spirited adventurer, Greyhound Discovery Passes can be purchase for virtually unlimited traveling freedom within your chosen region for anywhere from four to sixty days. Be sure to inquire about limited time specials that might be running; even if you are making a round trip, sometimes taking advantage of sale prices on two one-way tickets can save you money. Keep in mind, however, that tickets purchased for limited sales usually have traveling limitations, such as blackout dates during which the ticket will not be honored.

Rules regarding baggage are very strict, so it is to your benefit to make certain that the amount, size and weight of your luggage are within required limits to avoid hold ups at the terminal or additional fees (contact the bus company before departure to ensure your luggage is within restrictions and get details on insurance and reimbursement policies). Carry on bags must fit in the overhead rack or under your seat. Special rules apply to such items as skis and bicycles; contact the bus company for specifications before your trip. Remember that, when transferring buses, your bags are not handled for you by employees. You are responsible for claiming your baggage when you leave one bus, keeping it with you and checking it when you board another bus.

Greyhound suggests arriving at the terminal at least an hour before departure; get there even earlier, especially when traveling during busy seasons. Seats are not assigned, and boarding is usually on a first-come-first-serve basis. The earlier you arrive, the more choice the seating options will likely be. When choosing a seat, remember for your own comfort: the back row does not recline, and, if you plan to read while traveling at night, the very front seats do not have working overhead lights. If you like to get up and down a lot, you might want to choose an isle seat to avoid bothering any passenger that might sit next to you. If you don’t like to get up and down a lot, you might prefer a window seat to avoid being bothered. In my experience, if you want to try to get two seats all to yourself so you can really stretch out, sitting on the isle seat seems to discourage others from squeezing into the window seat next to you (unless the bus fills up and they have no other options). Also remember that in coaches equipped with lavatories, the bathrooms can sometimes get– well, rank!– and getting stuck sitting near them can be unpleasant, to say the least.