You read about the importance of eyes-wide-open travel in Travel With Your Eyes Wide Open, Part 1.
Now for the practical side of making travel memories that last!
TAKE A WALK—Sometimes walking will take you to those famous landmarks and monuments you came to see, but you will also discover many other wonderful things along the way. Interesting architecture, displays of food and goods in shop windows, flower gardens, sights along riverbanks and canals . . . . . All can be savored to the fullest when walking.
Strolling along a canal in England.
© Deborah Erickson
Give yourself time while you walk to take pleasure in every person, place and thing along the way. When walking, you can venture off the tourist map and discover how and where the locals really live. Stroll down back streets, away from the town center and away from the places where busloads of tourists stop.
Walk away from the crowds.
(Photo courtesy of walkinginfrance.com)
Certainly, a brisk morning walk for the sake of exercise is a wonderful way to begin your day. But this tip–“Take a Walk”– suggests that you plan time in each day’s itinerary where walking is the way you get around. Here are some things to consider as you think about walking:
Rest for a bit on a park bench.
© Deborah Erickson
- Stop and rest frequently. It not only rejuvenates, but one can see and hear wonderful things while sitting on a park bench or enjoying a beverage at a sidewalk café.
- If you see something interesting, explore.
- Join a walking tour. Walking tours are entertaining, generally inexpensive (or free) and can provide valuable insight.
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Since you get to set the pace when you walk, you have time to capture sights, smells, and sounds that will become cherished memories. The following account is a good example . . .
Anne Hathaway’s cottage in Stratford-upon-Avon, England
© Deborah Erickson
Most tourists who visit Anne Hathaway’s cottage in Stratford-Upon-Avon arrive by tour bus, automobile or taxi. Since we had taken the train from London and had no transportation apart from our feet, we chose to walk down a wooded path from the town’s center to the cottage. It was uncrowded, lovely, and altogether memorable.
Before our walk, we picked up some picnic goodies at a nearby deli and followed street signs and our map away from bustle of the town’s main streets. After wandering through some interesting residential neighborhoods, we were soon by ourselves on a peaceful walkway. After a brief rest and lunch in a tranquil park, we were off again, though never in much of a hurry. Our destination—Anne Hathaway’s cottage—is a very interesting English landmark, but we agreed that getting there was the best part of the day.
Pathway to the cottage
© Deborah Erickson
WHERE AM I?—Getting lost is probably something most travelers would not intentionally do, but who knows where a bit of route-confusion might lead. Here are some ways to get memorably lost as you walk:
- Turn off your usually reliable sense of direction.
- Allow yourself to turn left when both your maps and your instinct direct you to turn right.
- Never be afraid to ask for directions.
A walk in the Cotswolds
© Deborah Erickson
An afternoon stroll out of Moreton-in-Marsh in the English countryside known as the Cotswolds was hopefully going to lead to another town where we could relax with a refreshing beverage. This was something I had seen on a television travel show and I was positive we could duplicate this trek.
Instead, not fully understanding the directions we were given and apparently missing a turn someplace, we ended up walking some distance across a pasture inhabited by a herd of what we hoped were friendly cattle. (You can walk across private land in England, if you close the gates.)
Our walk took us to a small gathering of typical Cotswold homes, where unfortunately, there was neither a tearoom nor a pub. However, the afternoon’s unplanned adventure more than made up for being a bit thirsty.
Lovely homes, but not a pub in sight!
© Deborah Erickson
So, occasionally, leave your guidebook, map and cell phone GPS behind and spend some time being blissfully lost. When you get off the map, you might have an opportunity to dance with the locals or play soccer with the neighborhood boys . . . . . or walk amongst the cows.
TIP: If you are walking by yourself or in an unfamiliar area, carry your hotel’s business card with you. It might come in handy if you get really turned around. Also, never sacrifice personal safety in the name of off-the-beaten path exploration.
SEEK OUT THE UNEXPECTED—Guidebooks describe what most tourists want to see, so keep your eyes open for things off-the-beaten path that are easily missed. You will experience rather than just observe.
- Signs say a lot about a culture and even if you aren’t familiar with the language, the pictures often tell the story for you.
© Deborah Erickson
© Deborah Erickson
- Architecture varies greatly from place to place. Keep an eye out for unique homes and buildings on the backstreets that might be missed while you are focused on the biggie landmarks.
Discover a variety of architecture when you travel.
© Deborah Erickson
- The unexpected is often found in nature’s beauty. Sometimes you must be looking down to see it. Sometimes you must be silent to hear it. Sometimes you must stop for a minute or you will miss it.
Patterns on an Oregon pond
© Deborah Erickson
- The unexpected and memorable can be discovered in local entertainment.
During our trip to England, my friends and I visited an historic home and noticed a flyer announcing a play to be held that evening in the home’s backyard. For only a few pounds, we were treated to a wonderful production in a lovely garden, complete with a glass of wine at intermission. A typically British production, beautiful surroundings, non-touristy . . . . . perfect!
A beautiful setting for an outdoor performance.
© Deborah Erickson
- During the day, churches can be quite crowded with tourists. Plan your visit during service times, usually on a Sunday morning or in the evening. Make time in your schedule to sit in a pew and worship with others. If you aren’t quite sure what to do in an unfamiliar church, just follow the lead of those sitting around you.
We attended an evensong service in England and had hoped to quietly sit in a back pew, but it was not to be for that was where the choir sat; we were ushered instead to the very front row the small church. After the worship service, we were invited to join the congregation for refreshments on the patio.
The Guild Chapel in Stratford-upon-Avon
(Photo courtesy of WikiMedia Commons)
- Look around for the richness that awaits travelers in our own country, from east to west and north to south. You can seek out memorable travel experiences on a back street in San Francisco’s China Town or on a back road in Kansas just as easily as on a bench in a London park or a French cafe.
Move away from the crowds and see what you can find.
(Photo by William Garrett)
More tips on how to travel with your eyes wide open will be posted soon.
