I’ve turned into a “typical tourist.” You know, the sort that raises a ruckus around town vacationer destinations, a couple of off-the-way attractions, Cries a couple of neighborhood cafés and continues toward the following location.
I get the fundamentals, learn how to save money, and move on.
Furthermore, that left me feeling that my movements have become too vanilla recently.
There is a lack of fire.
I don’t think I go to boring places, but there is a part of me that thinks my travels are less exciting and less exciting because I haven’t done anything cool, interesting, or out of the ordinary in a long time.
I had to spice up my travels once more.
I, therefore, had an idea:
What if I went on vacation with a theme?
What if I went with a specific goal in mind rather than just trying to see the usual famous places?
Consider the possibility that I went to see just the jazz clubs of a city or the cutting-edge craftsmanship galleries.
Or did you only go on hikes on trails that start with the letter M?
Or did you go to learn about the wine industry of a destination?
Or decided that I would only dine at Japanese eateries with a local food expert?
It could be anything, as long as it forced me to reconsider a destination and focused my travels on a single concept.
(I’m sure I’m not the only one who has considered this, but I’ve never done it.)
I have, for instance, visited Paris numerous times. I have visited each of the major sites multiple times. When I recently went back to Paris, I wanted something new and different. I desired a goal.
As a result, I went to Montmartre, ate at Les Deux Magots, listened to jazz in the Latin Quarter, drank in speakeasies and wine caves, browsed Shakespeare and Company’s shelves, took a walking tour with a 1920s theme, and got lost in the Left Bank’s streets.
Although it wasn’t exactly the 1920s, I saw parts of Paris I’d never seen before, dined at restaurants I’d never been to and attended music venues I’d never heard of.
Because it was different, it was the most fun I had in the City of Lights in a very long time. My travels were organized around a single theme, which forced me to plan and see things differently.
When you travel a lot, it’s easy to get into a routine. Like all the other things, you fall into a specific carelessness. You establish a rhythm and discover what you enjoy. You land, settle into your lodging, and move down your list.
Even though you’re in cool places doing cool things, many of them are the same.
Therefore, from now on, go with a purpose rather than just going to places and checking off the usual things to see and do.
If you are visiting a place for the first time, you should visit all of the major sites and attractions. However, you should try to incorporate a little bit of a theme into your trip so that you are forced off the beaten path and toward some different or unusual events, sights, and attractions.
How to Travel with a Theme in Five Easy Steps So, how exactly do you go about doing this? My method, which requires a little more research than opening a guidebook, is as follows:
Step 1: Selecting a Theme This is a straightforward first step. Without it, you can’t do any of the other steps. I decided to attempt to relive the 1920s because I was thinking about Paris in that era. However, it may be anything: whatever interests you, you can learn about the making of cheese or wine, the vegan food scene, jazz culture, or modern art!
Additionally, if you are unsure of the theme to choose, you can simply Google “What is (x) famous for?” or think of the things that most pique your interest. and observe what appears!
Stage 2 – Exploration On the web (utilize different catchphrases)
After picking your subject, go more top to bottom on your hunt. I research local blogs, general travel blogs, our forums, Lonely Planet, and Time Out. To make sure I’m covered, I go to Google and type in a few keywords.
For my ’20s trip, for instance, I composed “books on 1920s Paris,” “How to see 1920s Paris,” “1920s Paris sights,” “Paris speakeasies,” and “best jazz clubs in Paris” and tracked down various references to counsel and different spots where I could encounter that ’20s vibe. This permitted me to gather a rundown of possible spots to visit.
Step 3: Make a Plan for Your Trip There was a lot to see in Paris, but I didn’t have much time, so I put the things that were most appealing first. First came the food, then, at that point, the bars, then, at that point, the sights. I was able to develop a general plan for my trip as a result of this. If you tag places on a Google Map, you can see how far apart things are and plan the best route.
Step 4: Get in Touch with Locals and Experts Couchsurfing groups and Meetup.com are fantastic resources for connecting with locals who are interested in the same things you are. They will know the intricate details of the city and likely have heaps of ideas.
In addition, group meetups are a fun way to meet locals who are interested in the same things, making it easier to talk to them and overcome the awkward language barrier.
Step 5: Read a Book (or Three) To get a sense of the situation, read a book about it. While I realized a ton about the ’20s Jazz Age, I wound up picking a couple of additional books regarding the matter:
Mary McAuliffe’s When Paris Sizzled, Amanda Vaill’s Everybody Was So Young, Sylvia Beach’s Shakespeare and Company, and The Crazy Years: William Wiser’s Paris in the Twenties books might also tell you about some other places to go.
It has become too simple because I am so familiar with travel. I’ll be traveling with a theme a lot more often, so more of my upcoming posts will try to find cool and unique things about destinations, like this Paris post.
Even though I adore the most well-known attractions—which are well-known for a reason—it is beneficial to add some variety and excitement to your trip. A trip with a theme can help you see a place in a new light and create a one-of-a-kind experience.
