3 Ways to Make the Most of Your Travels (+ your hometown!)

It’s official. I miss traveling. It’s crazy to think that I’ve made it through 2020 thus far without getting on a plane. While I appreciate the rest + home time, I’m starting to get that wanderlust-y feeling. How about you?

So in lieu of actually jumping on a plane to … anywhere, I thought I’d fiiiiinally share a few fun pictures from my trip to Portugal last year + tell you my favorite things to do when traveling to a new destination.

Bookmark this for when you go on your next trip. There’s nothing wrong with a little hopeful planning. Fingers crossed we’ll be a world safer for travel again soon.

1) Have a plan + let it go

I may be a planner BUT when I travel somewhere new I like to have a bit more of a relaxed pace. I’ll have a list of a few places I’d for sure like to visit but I leave lots of space in the daily schedule to explore. One of my all time favorite things to do is wander around a neighborhood. Of course, you have to be smart about this + it’s probably not recommended everywhere BUT my point is that there’s a lot of beauty + magic you will discover when you loosen your grip on how things HAVE to go + allow space for spontaneity + curiosity. Wandering can lead you off the beaten + touristy path + bring you to the heart of a place. Grab a cup of something yummy + watch people go about their daily routines. In my opinion, it’s a great way to get to know somewhere new.

If you can set the intention to remain flexible at the beginning of your trip + stay open you never know what might happen. It could lead you to run into long lost friends on a cobblestone street in Capri (true story!) or to the best gelato spot in town.

I know the temptation can be to slip into the mindset that says, “I have to see it because this is a once-in-a-lifetime chance”. The truth is, you never know where life might take you + this mindset of lack will lead you to stress out as you run through an exhaustive to-do list on your trip. Abundance says there is more than enough time for what truly matters. Life is a wonderful adventure + you never know what twists + turns that might come to bring you back again. You might not see everything, but you’ll experience what was meant for you.

Stay open to the possibilities… after all there may be gelato.

2) Try new things

Traveling is a great time to get outside of your comfort zone + try new things. Your routine is messed up anyways, you might as well go all in. That’s my philosophy at least :-)

I love Airbnb experiences for this. There’s so many great options for everything from a cooking lesson from a local home chef to sunset sailboat rides + just about everything in between.

Also… try new foods. The only downside might be finding a new favorite that you won’t have regular access to. That’s what inspired me to make these during quarantine. I had first discovered them on a trip to Stockholm + was hooked.

Still dreaming about that tandoori chicken I had in India though.

3) Shop local + collect memories

While you may feel like you HAVE to have the T-shirt or the commemorate shot glass just remember, tourist traps are just that… traps. Prices are inflated + 9/10 the item wasn’t even made locally. If you wander off the beaten path however you might stumble across the local artist or shop offering the truly memorable keepsake. One of my favorite things to do is collect a local print or piece of art from the places I’ve been blessed to travel. They’re a much better reminder of the new world I had the pleasure of exploring + last far longer than a cheap trinket.

Another favorite thing I love to do is create a sound track (aka Spotify playlist) that will forever remind you of that trip. Sometimes when I’m feeling wistful I will play it again + be instantly transported.

At this point, you’re probably thinking, “Why is she talking about travel? My biggest trip of 2020 has been from my bed to the couch.” So here’s the deal… I think there’s a mindset we can adopt when traveling that would serve us well at home too. Instead of planning to do these the next time you travel, what if you took your next free day to do them in your own city? We’re all creatures of habit. It’s easy, especially in a year like 2020, to get stuck in a rut. What if you adopted these three ideas into your next free day.

Wander through a new neighborhood in your city…

Try a new restaurant, takeout or if you’re feeling adventurous, a new recipe…

Let go of your schedule for a bit + be spontaneous…

Indulge your curiosity on a new topic at your local library or on Youtube. It’s amazing what you can learn about. Underwater basket weaving, anyone?

Above all, keep the dream alive + foster the sense of wonder in your own hometown. You don’t have to go someplace else to experience something new. Stay open to the possibilities. You never know where they might take you.

So tell me, any good travel stories or tips to share?