I’m posting this on the second day of the new year, and it’s got me thinking about all the rituals of the holidays and goal setting exercises of the new year. There’s a sense of comfort in common practices and I think that can apply to travel as well. The newness of travel is what makes it exciting for most of us. We often crave novelty when it comes to travel, but a ritual while on a trip can help you feel even more connected to the experience. Here are four ideas for travel traditions to start this year.
Similar Souvenirs
Personally, I don’t buy a lot of stuff when I travel. But I am that person that gets a magnet from every place I visit. They’re small, easy to pack, and I can put them in a place in my home that doesn’t distract from my home decor. I put them on the fridge in our garage, and whenever I pass by it’s a nice reminder of all my memories. My cousin collects postcards in all different design formats, and created a photo shelf where she displays them. Other ideas include bringing home a book or cookbook, an article of clothing, a Christmas ornament, a food or coffee item, or a local craft from every new place you visit. Buying the same type of item from every location not only keeps you from buying unnecessary items you may never use or display, but it also adds a sense of ritual to your travel experiences.
Hobby Related Experiences
I love to workout and move my body. Physical experiences help me to feel engaged and connected to a place. Even on trips that are not centered around something like hiking, I like to try out at least one physical experience that encourages me to push myself in a new place. Some of my favorites have been going running in every new city on a road trip through the Pacific Northwest, a canyoneering tour in Lake Bled, Slovenia, a hanging bridges hike in the cloudland forest in Boquete, Panama, a beach side yoga class in Tulum, Mexico, and trekking across a glacier in Banff, Canada. Thanks to things like Get Your Guide, Viator, and Fever, you can find all kinds of travel experiences that relate to activities you also enjoy at home. Are you a music lover? Go to a local concert. A movie buff? Head to a theater even if the move is in another language. Food connoisseur? Take a cooking class making a traditional cuisine. There’s nothing that says travel has to be completely different from the experiences you like to do at home. You can still enjoy the newness of travel with a familiar experience.
Start and/or End Your Trip in the Same Way
I start every single trip to a new city with a walking tour. It’s the first thing I schedule once I’ve paid for my plane ticket. Sometimes this walking tour is a food tour which is also a great way to learn about the city and be introduced to a new culture. A walking tour helps orient me to the destination and allows me to talk with an expert guide at the start of the trip. I like following this pattern as it’s like a signal that puts me in vacation mode. There are all kinds of ways to kick off your journey. Maybe you are someone who needs to relax from the jetlag, so you schedule a massage at the start of every trip. Or you could always start with sipping champagne at a rooftop bar on your first night. Maybe make the last night of your trip when you make a reservation at a fancy restaurant. Or research the best coffee spot and make that your first stop every morning. Creating a common practice for every trip can add to the ambiance.
Take the Same Photo in a New Place
You know those pictures adult siblings take recreating a scene from when they were younger? Sometimes they are hilarious, but they also create a feeling of nostalgia which can be really pleasant. You can create a similar sense of nostalgia when traveling by taking the same type of pic in every new place you visit. You could take the same pic in front of every new town sign. Or you could use a signature pose in at least one pic wherever you go. My fiance and I always take that pic where he is behind the camera but reaching out to hold my hand. When you line these photos up (whether that’s in a social media post or in a physical photo album), it’s a great way to look back and reminisce about all your beautiful travel memories from the past as well as those to come.
