Over the last few years, I've found myself growing an increasing obsession for everything revolving around Scotland, specifically the Scottish Highlands.

I guess it all started when I watched the first season of Outlander (which comes on Starz) and then it grew from there once I started reading the books.

I always thought that Paris was the place that I really wanted to go, as I have extensive ancestors from France, but now that I've been to Paris, I don't think its that great. Sure, its beautiful and the people speak to each other in such a romantic tongue, but it wasn't what I expected. Now I find that the feelings I once had about going to Paris, I now have towards Scotland.

I'm not sure what percentage exactly, but a large percentage of my bloodline comes from Scottish ancestry. My great grandmother on my mom's side, her family came from Scotland. In fact, I'm a descendant of Clan MacLellan. Pretty cool, huh?

I've done a little bit of mild research over the last year or so and I found out some pretty interesting things. For example, I was able to track down my family's clan castle. It still stands in Kirkcudbright, Scotland.

Eventually, I plan to visit this castle but for now, I'm going on a bit of a different adventure.

As CofC's spring break looms on the horizon, a dear friend of mine has decided to travel all the way to England to visit me, and of course, we planned a bit of a vacation. My two lovely travel partners, Madi and Nick, have been so kind and have truly let me plan everything about this trip. For that, I'm beyond grateful because this is a trip that I have been dreaming of.

We are going to Inverness, Scotland, for five days in March.

Maybe some of you have never even heard of Inverness, so let me explain to you why it is that I have always wanted to go (besides the fact that it sits in the Highlands and appears many times throughout Outlander).

Ever heard of the Loch Ness monster, Nessie? Well, Loch Ness is right outside of Inverness.

Beautiful, right? That's Urquhart Castle that sits on one of the banks of Loch Ness. It's known as one of the best locations for Nessie sightings, so you best believe I will be looking out of one of those windows in the hopes of catching a glimpse of Nessie for myself.

Another reason I want to visit Inverness is due to the Battlefield of Culloden.

On this moor, there are many gravestones representing the clansmen that fell there, fighting for the Jacobite cause in 1746. This was the last battle to ever be fought on British soil and it was the last of the Jacobite Risings (an attempt to restore a Stuart Monarch to the British throne).

It's actually really sad to think about. Nearly 2,000 Highlander men were killed in this battle and it only lasted about an hour. This battle was responsible for putting an end to Scottish clans and shortly after, the Gaelic language was outlawed, as was wearing tartans and clan colors. Even if I didn't have distant ties with these clansmen, I'm sure I would still feel the emotion that thinking about this battle brings to me.

I have a feeling that setting foot here and actually being able to see and envision the desolation that was brought to these men, I will be awestruck and overcome with emotion.

A final place I am beyond intrigued to visit while in Inverness is Clava Cairns, which is just a short walk from Culloden Moor.

This place is sometimes looked at as being the Stonehenge of Scotland. No one is sure who it was that put these stones here or why, but it has been assumed up to this point that this is a cemetery, most likely for important people, possibly chieftains of the Scottish clans.

In Outlander, the entire story begins with Claire (the main character) seemingly traversing through time by means of standing stones, which were called Craigh na Dun is the books and TV series. It is said that the author, Diana Gabaldon, used this place as inspiration when she was writing Outlander.

Never in my life have I been so excited to visit somewhere. I'm not sure whether its just in my blood or if its because I'm a big history buff and also a lover of Outlander, but regardless, my trip to the Scottish Highlands is a trip that I'm beyond ecstatic for, and it is one that I'm sure I will never forget.