Nothing beats dropping your feet on new ground in a new place but sometimes you just can’t travel at the moment. Whether the reason is financial, time-related, or due to difficult circumstances, there are alternative ways to scratch that itch until you’re able to travel.
Travel Locally
Traveling doesn’t always mean you have to get up on a plane and travel halfway across the globe. On the contrary, traveling can be just walking out your door and taking an alternative path you rarely go. My urban architecture professor taught us to use our feet to travel to new places. It forces you to move slower taking in everything around you. To engage your 5 senses (separate post on this coming soon). There’s nothing wrong with driving but when you’re in a car, you tend to zip through just to get to your destination.
While you’re out there, try a new restaurant, visit a new park, museum or even bring a friend along! This can start a new tradition. Maybe once a month you can grab some buddies to walk around a new part of town. I used to go on walks around my college campus exploring areas I’ve never been. My favorite memory on one of my mystery walks was when I found a beautiful pond next to a garden. I loved it so much I would come back there often to write, read and reflect. It was my own place of peace and quiet and it was right around the corner! I would of never known about this if I didn’t get up and venture out.
This is one of the reasons I enjoy this is because it forces you to appreciate what’s already around you. Sometimes I’m so preoccupied with going to a new state or country I don’t take in everything that is right here. I’d hate to neglect the immediate world around me. So go out and walk and let me know the places you go!
Google Earth
Drop into any part of the world. While yes, this doesn’t beat actual travel but it can serve as a nice precursor by providing you with ideas of places you want to travel to in the future. And you never know, you may find somewhere you love and make it a goal to step foot there in person some day.
Extra tip: For added effect, use Google Earth VR with your VR headset for better immersion like this. This actually seems like a lot of fun.
Not being able to travel can be a bummer. But there are alternatives to scratch that itch for the time being that allow you to appreciate what you have around you and get you prepared for the bigger trips. Be satisfied in the present and keep moving forward!
Until Next time,
TBG
