21 Signs You Became a Traveler Before Turning 21

Posted: December 2, 2020

Ah, 21. It’s that magic number people seek as proof of adulthood. Gone are the days of innocence.

Now that you’re an adult and have entered your prime, have you considered traveling somewhere for fun?

Better yet, maybe you already became a traveler long before adulthood. After all, it would be a bummer having to wait until you turned 21 to relish the joys of travel — eating unusual foods, seeing the magnificent sights, meeting new people, and witnessing a world you never knew existed.

I’ve just turned 21. I still have many years (I hope!) and travels ahead of me. I know I can count on my travels during childhood and adolescence to inspire even more of them in my adult years.

If you’re a young adult in the same boat as me, let’s ensure we’re all on the same page!

Here are 21 signs that you became a traveler in your childhood and adolescence:

You get annoyed when someone asks, “Are we there yet?”

You already have an expired passport (or two).

As a child, you enjoyed playing with vehicular toys, such as trains, cars, buses, and airplanes.

You don’t think twice when your parents suggest a family trip.

You volunteer to oversee planning the family trip.

You wake up before anyone else on a traveling day.

You groan and whine when it’s time to go home.

Your family photobook has a bunch of pictures of you standing in front of famous landmarks.

Your siblings and cousins ask you for trip ideas.

You remember your schoolfriends and teachers based on the places they’ve traveled to.

You get excited when a travel question appears in a classroom icebreaker.

You wonder why your school doesn’t schedule field trips as an all-schoolyear-long activity.

You take advantage of all your school’s summer and winter breaks to travel somewhere.

Your bedroom has a neat collection of ticket stubs, souvenirs, or maps.

You like to examine objects to see in which country they were made (and wonder why most products were “Made in China”).

You’ve hosted at least one of your birthday parties at your city’s local tourist attraction.

You obtained your driver’s license later than the starting age because you always explore public transportation or ridesharing options.

You date people who like to travel.

You studied abroad while in college.

(For anyone who lives where the minimum drinking age is 21, such as the United States): You’re not too excited when you’re finally allowed to drink; you’ve already had a beer or wine in another country where the minimum drinking age is lower!

You’ve traveled solo at least once — it’s your ideal coming of age ritual!

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If you can relate to most of these signs, chances are you became a traveler before turning 21. You didn’t let your age hinder you from traveling. Instead, you solidified your love of travel and sense of independence.

Here’s to your prime years packed with even more travel experiences! I hope to run into you next time on the road.

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