For anyone who has experienced a stroke of wanderlust or anyone who finds their own family heritage interesting, this travel challenge is for you.

Go to all the places where your ancestors came from. And by ancestors, I don't mean centuries upon centuries ago (unless you can find that out, go for it!), but start with the first generation of your family that was not born in the United States. Start from there then work your way back on both sides of the family, as far into the past as you can. Let's dive into mine, as an example.

Disclaimer: Have I traveled to these places? No. Do I want to? Yes. And do I plan to? Also yes, when time and money allow.

First stop on the tour: Montemaggiore, Italy.

My great-grandfather, Arnold Philip Talevi, was born and raised in the mountaintop village of Montemaggiore, which is located in Sicily, Italy. For those who don't know, Sicily is what the boot of Italy is kicking, when viewing a map (see below).

Montemaggiore (pronounced "Mohn-teh-ma-JOHR-ray) means "well-situated, great mountain." The agricultural village is known for producing olives, grapes, and wines. It sits 1,700 feet above ground, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, and is populated by less than 4,000 people.

Second Stop: Melilli, Sicily.

Roughly 150 miles north of Montemaggiore lies the city of Melilli, also located in Sicily. This is where my great-great-grandfather (father of my great-grandmother, who gave birth to my grandmother) lived. Melilli is known for its Saint Sebastian's Church, pictured above. In the late 1890s, a few people from Melilli immigrated to my hometown of Middletown, Connecticut.

After establishing themselves here, and enjoying the better working and living conditions, these immigrants wrote home to their family and friends and Melilli and told them how wonderful Middletown was, and how America truly was the land of opportunity. Encouraged, many people of Melilli followed along, immigrating to Middletown, Connecticut, which became a Little Italy all its own. The town is still widely Italian today.

Missing their beloved Saint Sebastian's Church, and the celebrations they had there, these immigrants from Melilli decided to build a replica of the famous church in Middletown! They did, and still today, it is used for church services, marriages, and Saint Sebastian's festivals (pictured below). They did a pretty good job, don't you think?

Next Stop: Pietracatella, Italy.

This is where my great-great grandparents come from. This couple gave birth to my great grandmother (my grandfather's mother), Mary Cardone, after they immigrated to the United States. This village, located in Southern Italy, but above Sicily, has a population of roughly 1,500 thousand, and measures around 19 square miles. It is characterized by its hills and ancient churches.

Last stop: Rhodes, Greece.

Rhodes is the largest of the Greek islands, located in the Aegean Sea. It was the birthplace of my great-grandfather, Michael Fronas. And on the island of Rhodes, you don't introduce yourself by your first and last name. Instead, you say your first name, son or daughter of *insert first name of your father*. So, when Michael Fronas immigrated from Rhodes to Ellis Island, and was asked his name, he said, "Michael, son of Nicholas," seeing Nicholas was his father's first name. Immigration, not understanding the cultural difference, listed his name as Michael Nicholas. Ever since then, the last name has run in the family, and is still in use today!

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So take the challenge. Interview your parents, grandparents, and other relatives to gather as many facts, names, and places as you can. Plot the places where your family hails from, and book a flight! Take a family member or two with you, and try to find relatives in those places. Remember, this is a country of immigrants, so almost everyone should have a different country to explore!