My Travel Philosophy

In travel and life I aim for -- new experiences, a lot good food, some movement, and time to unwind and relax (travel is great because this happens without worrying about bills, the future, and everyday responsibilities).


Whether heading out on an annual beach vacation,

touring European cities, 

or safari-ing in Africa, 

there are new experiences to be had, local food to be eaten, opportunities to swim, hike, walk, bike, and time for relaxing and taking it easy. The type of travel influences whether there is more of some activities than others, but I always include them all.

New Experiences...
It might be difficult to imagine how to experience something new on the annual beach trip, but maybe you try out a new recipe, or explore a "new to me" part of the town. It's a bit easier to imagine a new experience ordering Pain au chocolat in a Parisian bakery. The point is to push bounds, learn, and experience something new. Travel is healthy not just because it allows us to take a mental break from the day to day, but it also promotes internal growth and learning.

A Lot of Good Food...

Good food is essential to any travel experience (see Pain au chocolat and cooking above). Local food should be tested at least once, even if you are picky, because its probably amazing or now you really know you don't like it. I have a soft spot for dessert and indulge while traveling in the local dessert offerings. Of course, it's also important to be well-balanced and try to eat on a relatively normal schedule and include some fruits and veggies every day - your digestive system will thank you. 

Some Movement...

Movement actually comes easier on travel than it does at home (especially if you work a desk job). What I try to keep in mind while traveling is variety. Walking is super healthy and low impact, but if you are carrying a heavier bag (even just a bag weighted down with water, a guidebook, and a camera), its important to stretch and unwind those muscles after a full day. Also helpful is changing up movement by including a bike tour, swimming or even a bus tour to work different muscles or give them a break.

Relaxation...
It's easy to imagine relaxing for hours on the beach, reading a book, watching the water, and just being. It's also easy to get caught up and overbook in places that you've wanted to go forever, like Paris. While traveling I try to set aside unplanned time to relax. This can mean spending a couple hours over a coffee and dessert, or going to the local swimming hole and people watching. For those of us with limited travel time it's important to not overbook your travel time, even though its tempting!