It IS important, even if just for a short time. My husband and I just got back from a short pilgrimage to the San Antonio Missions....combined with a birthday gift certificate for one night at the St. Anthony Hotel!  Yes, it wasn't very contemplative, but we set ourselves the goal of visiting each of the four missions and their churches, saying part of the rosary at each.  I like that the timing worked out to go just before Lent; this might just turn into a tradition :-).