James A. Michener traveled extensively throughout his life. His appreciation for exploring was sparked by childhood experiences hitchhiking across the United States. As a college student, he studied abroad in Scotland and visited Italy, France, and Portugal as well. While serving in the Navy, Michener deployed to the South Pacific and had the opportunity to explore the countless islands in the region. After leaving the military, he continued to travel, eventually visiting over 100 countries and every continent in the world.