“The principal motive of the wander-spirit is curiosity—the desire to know what is beyond the next turning of the woods” (Stephen Graham).

I think of curiosity when remembering the walks of my boyhood. In those days my buddies and I followed few marked trails, and most of our hikes began with curiosity. “Is that a cave below the bluff?” “What’s the best way to get to that ridge?” “Someone said there’s a hidden falls in that canyon; have you been there?” And so we bushwhacked—taking the most direct path to our destination regardless of the terrain. Later, we would learn the value of indirect but improved trails.

As an older teen curiosity came with pictures and maps and resulted in planned excursions, still exploratory in nature, which might lead to multiday journeys and some overnight camping.

In retirement, I’ve been curious about new regions. I’ve often hiked the Rockies of New Mexico and Colorado, but in retirement, I’ve explored the Black Hills of South Dakota, the Sierras around Lake Tahoe and some trails originating at the south rim of the Grand Canyon. I still want to check out the less visited north rim, and I want to see fall foliage in New England.

What destinations spike your curiosity? I’d like to know.