Although my plane leaves in two days, I am not even slightly prepared. I can’t even say that I’m mentally prepared because my mind cannot seem to weigh any feelings of excitement/nervousness/readiness/fear. I’m hoping it will hit me all at once in the airport.

While it will be okay to mentally prepare myself at the last minute, I should probably work on my physical preparation (i.e. packing) pretty soon. I recently purchased a set of luggage that my mom describes as being put in the store just for me to buy it. It’s true, these lime green, rugged, High Sierra pieces just scream my name. Along with luggage, I also bought an R.E.I Ventruri Backpack to use as my carry-on as well as on weekend trips and tramping. I’m hoping they will contend with my tendencies to over-pack.

The only thing that I have successfully packed is my iTunes. I’m satisfied that my updated playlist with keep me entertained with new material during my 20+ hour trip. I’ve also picked through my music to create a “Travel” playlist with songs to get me in the mood to [for lack of a better word] GO!

Here are my Top 15 Travel Songs:

 1. Ramble On – Led Zeppelin

  I may not be “goin’ round the world to find my girl” but the song represents a sense of freedom, spontaneity oh and, rock and roll.

 2. New World Man – Rush

After following some friend's obsession with 'Tom Sawyer,' I have grown to love Rush's greatest hits. This is such a perfect song for being young and traveling while choosing to make mistakes and to learn from them.

 3. Don’t Stay Home – 311

 311 will always represent summertime in Manassas and while the song reminds me of home, it encourages you to never say no and sit at home when the world is waiting.

4. The Adventure – Angels & Airwaves

"Here I am and here we go, life’s waiting to begin."

5. Taste – Animal Collective

Animal Collective is one of my more recent obsessions. This song on their newest album, Merriweather Post Pavilion, deals with someone still remaining to be themselves without having everything (music, posessions, clothes) that make them who they are.

6. The Long and Winding Road - The Beatles

This is such a typical travel song, but it's The Beatles and it's about being on the road, so it's perfect.

7. Time Turns Elastic – Phish

This is a new piece from Phish that moves through segments exploring each part of the world and nature while being out on his own.

8. The World at Large – Modest Mouse

 The song is about drifting and getting to a new, unfamiliar place. “If the world’s at large, why should I remain?”

 9. My Love Goes With You – Mishka

I learned of Mishka after writing an album review for The Appalachian. This peaceful, reggae song from 'Above the Bones' encourages you to find love, truth and free time for yourself within everything you do, wherever you are.

10. Road Trippin – Red Hot Chili Peppers

This is such a cliche travel song, but I definitely needed some Chili Peppers in the mix. And there is nothing wrong with wanting to "go get lost."

 11. Godspeed – Jenny Lewis

While the girl in this song is encouraged to leave because of the abuse she is receiving, I still just love the encouragement to keep going but to “keep the lighthouse in sight.”

 12. Such Great Heights – Iron & Wine

This song is a cover of The Postal Service, but Iron & Wine’s version kicks its ass. No one can tell you to quit your adventure when you want to keep going: “They will see us waving from such great heights ‘Come down now,’ they'll say. But everything looks perfect from far away…”

13. Movin’ On Down the Line – The Black Crowes

This song is about keepin' on while letting go and moving on.

14. Wagon Wheel – Old Crow Medicine Show

This song travels up and down the east coast and just reminds of North Carolina.

15. How Bizarre - OMC

This hilarious 90's hit is by OMC, a one-hit-wonder Maori group from Auckland, New Zealand. So, it was obviously necessary to include this in the list.