Everybody has a passion for something. A passion for painting, photography, cooking, helping people – or travel! Yet with all the restraints on our lives, travel is a hard one to fulfill. Work, school, family, finances and plainly just not enough time – you name it, there are many things weighing down the opportunity to support our appetite for all the many flavors of travel.

So we all love traveling, but we only have the time and flexibility to travel when our lives permit. Why can't we enjoy the unique experience of travel in our everyday lives, in our own hometowns, even? The answer... We can!

What is it about traveling that we all love so much? The newness, adventure, the culture, new people, the unknown, the food, sharing the experience with friends or fellow travelers... There are all these things in your hometown too, but perhaps you have overlooked them. After all, it's only where you live. But what if you try to overcome this notion of bland over-familiarity with your own town? What if you looked at where you live, as another travel destination, as a trip that didn't ever have to stop?

I'm Élan Schmitt, and I will be writing on all the ingredients you need and things you can do to fulfill and support your passion for traveling – without ever leaving your town. You'll find ideas on seeking new adventures and discovering your town as you've never experienced it before. Each week I will report on different ways in which you can travel within your town, everything from general tips to specific ways of enhancing a burst of flavor for your place of inhabitance.

People come to experience the richness of your town for many reasons. Your town is unique, and it's your turn to enjoy what others come to enjoy. So let's venture out of your "hometown view" and experience your town as visitors and travelers do.

This is geared to be interactive, so I'm also hoping you'll give me suggestions on "How to travel without leaving your town". I have a few ideas of my own, but I'm always looking for more – usually the zanier the better. So click here to send me suggestions as to things that you would like to see me do (and I'm willing to do almost anything), or ways in which you have enjoyed the various flavors of your town!

The allure of seeking new adventures and experiencing new places fuels us as travelers. Let us all embark on a journey together of traveling where we live. Here is a link to general successful tips on saucing up your hometown travel experience, and be on the lookout for what I get up to next, traveling in my own town.

Click here to send Élan ideas, suggestions or comments on ways to fire up the local hometown traveler experience. Discovery awaits you!