We all go through hard times in our lives. Whether it’s a tough breakup, losing a job, or losing someone you love, these are experiences that change our paths in unexpected ways. 

When you pair those changes with a little thirst for adventure, then what we do to mark these changes can become an event in itself. 

Pilgrimage offers us a literal path through the hard times. It’s a rare time-out that allows us to take space, process our feelings, and shift into the next phase of who we’re becoming. 

Today, Angie Orth welcomes actor, director, and award-winning travel writer Andrew McCarthy.

You might remember him from the “brat pack” hits Pretty in Pink and St. Elmo’s Fire. These days, he’s equally acclaimed for his travel writing in publications like The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Los Angeles Times, The Atlantic, Time, and Travel+Leisure. He joins us today, live from the Dallas Travel Show, to share his experiences walking the Camino de Santiago, recounted in his most recent book Walking with Sam: A Father, a Son, and Five Hundred Miles Across Spain

You’ll learn what defines a pilgrimage, and what makes these experiences so transformative for people. You’ll hear about McCarthy’s first solo journey on the Camino, and what it was like for him to share the same path with his son decades later. You’ll also learn how to plan and what to pack if you’re ready to embark on your own pilgrimage of self-discovery. 

What You’ll Learn:

• The art of pilgrimage and the history of the Camino  (1:43)
• Why he embarked on his first pilgrimage (4:31)
• How the journey changed his relationship with his son (10:25)
• Why he wants to do the Camino again (14:54)
• The most profound thing he experienced on the trail (17:29)

Resources:

AAA Interview: https://www.ace.aaa.com/publications/travel/international-destinations/andrew-mccarthy-spain.html?zip=90266

Connect with Andrew McCarthy:

Website: https://andrewmccarthy.com/

Insta: https://www.instagram.com/andrewtmccarthy

X: https://twitter.com/andrewtmccarthy

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AndrewTMcCarthy

Connect with AAA:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aaa-auto-club-enterprises

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/AAAAutoClubEnterprises

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AAAAutoClubEnterprises