I know what you're probably thinking. It's 2018, who reads a map anymore? That's what a GPS is for. And yes, I hear you. But even though we all rely on Google Maps for directions, there's still something about looking at a physical map that stands out to me.

In my opinion, holding a map in my hand has only strengthened my curiosity about the world. There's so many sights to see and places to visit, and I'm always amazed by how big the planet truly is. But most of all, it's so interesting to me that people were able to build roads, buildings, and other structures to make cities and nations navigable in the first place. Then, people were able to put it all together in a map. If that's not fascinating, I don't know what is.

Whether I'm looking at a map of my small town, the state of New Jersey, or the whole world, the detail embedded within it is unbelievable, and I just want to follow the map and see where it leads me.

Now, I understand that I'm probably one of the few people who has this much of an appreciate for something that most of us take for granted, but those of us who love to travel should realize that no adventure would be possible without the creation of a map. It literally lets us get from one place to another, and I have quite a few of them in my desk drawer at home from whenever I go to a new place. I think they're fun to collect, and every time I look at one, I just can't stop thinking about where I'd like to visit next.