The wanderlust is real right now.
I’ve taken about half a dozen Buzzfeed quizzes telling me about my next travel destination or the type of traveler I am. I’ve talked to friends about potential trips to New Zealand, Iceland, and Canada. I’ve looked up flights to Cuba for Spring Break.
But I also don’t have the time or money to travel.
I know, excuses, excuses. But every once in a while, it is true. I need time to get a degree and for my wallet to recuperate. So instead, I’ve come up with a few ways to cope with the undying sense of wanderlust.
Visit the Different Neighborhoods of Your City
Since I’m only a short drive out of Los Angeles, it’s pretty easy for me to find a neighborhood from an unfamiliar culture. I can head to Sawtelle for some Korean BBQ and boba or to Olvera street for some fantastic Mexican food. I love being thrown into a situation when I can no longer understand what the people around me are saying. It’s as if I’m transported across country borders to experience a brand new culture.
Go on a Hike
Sometimes all it takes is a long walk to clear your head, and why not make this walk a bit of an adventure? Remember that hike to Manoa Falls I took a year ago? Definitely an adventure I don’t regret. So look up a couple of new hikes that you haven’t been on yet, and just take some time to enjoy nature.
Read a Book
Books are a great way to “travel” to another place without leaving the comfort of your bed. Go on daring journeys with pirates or knights, travel to other realms with angels or aliens, or experience a whole new perspective on life with an interesting biography.
Read Some Travel Blog Posts
Honestly, this is my go to option. When the wanderlust is overwhelming, I go through and read dozens of travel blog posts (I wrote about my favorite blogs in a previous post). So feel free to search around “Borders & Bucket Lists” or enjoy another travel blog out there. Whatever satisfies your wanderlust for a bit.
Make an Artsy Project with Your Old Travel Pictures and Souvenirs
I’m all about artsy projects. Sometimes I’ll paint some of the pictures I took while I travelled. Once I made a scrapbook of a summer trip. I am currently in the process of making an “adventure wall”. Basically, every time I do something slightly adventurous, whether it’s a festival or a new restaurant, I’ll try to grab a ticket or a business card to stick up on my wall. I actually really enjoy it, because it reminds me that there are always adventures waiting to be had.
Go to a Service for a Different Religion
I’ve never actually done this, but I think this would be very interesting. I’ve been to many denominations of Christian churches, but I’ve never been to a Buddhist Temple or a Jewish synagogue during a service. I think this would give a lot of insight into the beliefs and values of a religion and the cultures that they are associated with. Just be sure that, if you decide to do this, you are culturally sensitive. Don’t show up to a mosque in a mini skirt and an off the shoulder top. Be respectful please.
Find Cultural Festivals
I love cultural festivals! I’ve written about the Greek Festival in Hawaii before, because it is such a great way to get to know the Greek culture. Some other festivals that I think would be cool to experience are the Japanese Obon festival and the Mexican Day of the Dead. If you are looking for ideas of festivals in your area, a quick google search should do the trick!
Ask Your Friends About Their Cultures
Perhaps you have some friends who are of different cultural or ethnic backgrounds than you are. Odds are they probably know the best places to go to grab some Indian dosa or Thai Pad See Ew. Maybe they’ll even tell you some stories about when they would eat these foods at home with their families. Definitely an awesome culture experience.
So I guess you don’t have to travel all the time to keep that wanderlust at bay. But, you know, if you can travelling is always a good option.
Disclosure: I may use referral links in this post, and I might make a commission on my recommendations at no extra cost to you.
