A question has resonated in me lately and I seek to give words to my own answer. So I ask…When you plan a trip, what inspires you? 

There are so many possibilities: stories of others’ travels? Pictures? Something special that draws you?

What is the “why” behind your choices of place, time and activities? Do you go with a purpose? A focus? For a tour? To see all that can be seen, and do all that can be done? 

I really think the question is valuable, especially to those of us who don’t get to travel the world on a regular basis. When we do get to travel, what drives our direction? 

Maybe the answer changes with time. Now? My own personal travel muse comes in the shape of my 14 year-old son, Caleb. 

Well, he’s 14 now but our family traveling itch started when he was about eight. And it started because Caleb liked birds. 

The Resplendent Quetzal

Not just birds, mind you…rare, endangered birds. The first was the Quetzal. I think he learned about them because there aren’t many animal names that start with Q, and quail was just too common for my kiddo. 

I’ve always enjoyed traveling, but for much of my life it was an extremely rare occurrence. As a kid my family didn’t often have the opportunity. I grew up in a small resort town on the coast of Florida though, so growing where planted wasn’t such a bad break. 

Once married my husband and I went to some really wonderful places, including Alaska, Hawaii, Belgium and Germany. We went because my husband won trips or we got good deals or decided to splurge,and when we went we just wanted to experience what we could…we had no real focus. 

Then, Caleb was born, and we took advantage of the fly-free-before-two deal as much as we could, mostly to visit family, then we didn’t do a whole lot until he turned eight…when he discovered birds that start with Q. 

It began with Costa Rica. I didn’t know much about Costa Rica, but had heard it was beautiful and exotic. But when Caleb became…focused, let’s say…on quetzals, Costa Rica became a pilgrimage. 

There were many beautiful places to see, and engaging, interesting animals to encounter. I spent hours researching and planning, and ended up using Zicasso to help me create the best trip possible for our family. They are a wonderful source for those who want to put the details in the hands of a local expert. Hotels, transfers, volcano, rainforest, beach…all so fun and cool to consider. But the focal point of the entire itinerary was creating an opportunity for Caleb to see a Quetzal. 

Now, that might sound like a small matter. I mean how hard can it be to find one bird in a country where it lives? Ha! I found out just how difficult tracking down a single bird – a rare, near-threatened creature that flies as it pleases – is. 

On the Destinations and Resources page please find links to places we stayed and enjoyed in Costa Rica. This, though, is about just what it means to take a vacation – even one that in and of itself is incredible – and make it personally, deeply meaningful. What it is to create unique and beautiful moments inside a larger experience. 

We were in the cloud forest. We arrived in Monteverde, with only two nights planned. We stayed at El Establo, a hotel built into a steep hill with a beautiful view. Our entire intention for this leg of our trip was to visit the Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve, and find the Resplendent Quetzal. Believe me, I was very very nervous. I had planned an entire vacation, the biggest of my child’s life up to that point, around this one experience. If we didn’t see the elusive bird…well, if any of you have children who have ever had their hearts set on something…you know. 

Regardless, there was more to Costa Rica, of course, than the Quetzal, much I loved. But for my son it was all wrapped up in this moment. 

When we reached the Reserve we met our guide Esteban for our 7am tour. There were only five in our group, including my family of three, so it was a small and personal opportunity. We took a two hour walk through the forest, listening to the calls of distant birds, spotting wings of many colors  and learning much about the wildlife thick in the trees. But, no Quetzal. 

I had shared with Esteban my son’s fascination with the Maya’s once sacred bird. He was kind and tried so hard to make this small stretch of time a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Though he warned us the percentage is low for those who actually see a Quetzal. 

We were walking back to the entrance, to end our tour. My heart pounding, so sad for my son. 

I should pause here to explain something else. My dad died when I was 18 and my mom when I was 30. My mom was so scared of birds. I think it had something to do with the movie Birds from when she was younger. I’m not really sure. But I found it ironic that I had this smart, quirky kid who loved them fiercely, while the grandmother he’d never met had had such an aversion. Funny how birds have played such a big role in the lives of those I’ve loved. I’ll have to ponder that some more. 

And so, as I walked behind my family and Esteban, toward the forest exit, I found myself talking to my mom in my mind. Telling her about Caleb. Asking. Pleading, quite honestly…if she had any influence, to send us a Quetzal. 

I, of course, cannot say for sure why what happened next, happened. 

Just before we met the exit another tour guide came running up to Esteban. I don’t speak Spanish so I couldn’t understand what was said, but after a moment, Esteban returned and said we needed to run, not walk, down another path, because two Quetzals had been spotted. 

And so, we ran. And ran. And then we saw…monkeys. Spider monkeys. I was thrilled and excited. I love monkeys. Caleb, on the other hand, broke out in tears. He was not excited about monkeys. They are much too common. 

It was difficult to get a great picture of the beautiful bird…the best we could do.

Then, we were told to slow down. To be quiet. And there they were. They. Not just one, but two. A pair of Resplendent Quetzals low in the trees. We stood in awe and watched, my son in tears again, but this time of joy. 

The rest of our trip had an air of magic about it. As though we’d been touched by something incredibly special. I know I was. 

And during that trip something else sprouted in me…a passion for travel – for planning trips around magical moments. Not just for traveling more, but for inspired, meaningful travel. Inspired by a mom’s love for her son, and his love for the rare and unusual, and for all things with wings.