Best way to travel! My wife and I try to book one “thing” (breakfast, sight, etc.) per day when traveling and then spend the rest of wondering around and getting lost and we always have more fun!
Whenever I find a cool small shop or boutique I like to ask the employees for their recommendations on where to eat and things to see. They always know what's up and sometimes you even get invited to a locals party or event!
Good timing... I'm flying tomorrow from London to Mallorca with my wife to stay with some very good friends in the northern part of the island - they've recently moved there from the Cotswolds for 12 months and, knowing that we love the island, have asked us if we have any special places/restaurants that we wish to visit while there. Our response was 'NO'. After 20 years of visiting and exploring the island, as much as we loved it, I can now think of nothing better than to sit on their terrace, drink wine, play bridge, cigar in hand and catch up with our very dear friends and put the world to rights... are we getting old.. or just realising the true value of things?
With you 100% about the "best X in Y" being both misleading (there is no human who has tried all the ramen shops in Osaka, let along the galaxy that is Tokyo) and a recipe for disaster (once it gets that label, the place becomes an overcrowded selfie magnet). Maybe the answer for us all is to read (or write) about how to appreciate ramen in Tokyo, or fishing in Maine, rather than listing and describing special venues. I learn a lot more about clothing from reading about what to look for in a Chelsea book than I do from seeing "three must have boots for the fall" articles. Maybe it can work the same way with travel writing. "What to look for in a Loire valley gîte" or "Get the most out of Swiss raclette" vs. "best small towns in France."
I once read that William Gibson would walk cities on Google maps for research when writing and before travel. It feels like that could be a way to plan within a sphere of distance and time. One that would set an expectation similar to social media hyped posts, but off the beaten tropes.
It feels selfish at times, but as I've found places that I really like, I make it a point not to share them. If people find those spots on their own, great, but I've started just keeping it to myself when I come across a gem.
Hot lists often feel like a wasted experience. As you stated, they draw crowds of tourists more interested in snapping photos than in actually being present, which takes away from the authenticity of travel. In Tokyo, I’ve tried many of the so-called must-visit spots, and while the food was good, I was always surrounded by other tourists. The irony is that Tokyo is the kind of city where you can step into almost any restaurant and enjoy an incredible meal while connecting with locals—no instagram or tik tok recommendation needed.
This piece conveys an excellent and earnest perspective on the art of travel. It’s anachronistic in the very best way, and I certainly mean that as a compliment. I used to chase the best of this and that, and it got to feeling unfulfilling and left me feeling a bit of a fake one upsmanship. I go slower and more low key these days. As Rogey wrote below, ask the locals where they like to go and you’ll rarely get steered the wrong direction.
I completely agree. I just traveled to Italy and didn't research restaurants, figuring that Italy is a place where you should be able to just walk down the street and find good food. Also, we asked the woman at the hotel front desk where to go and she recommended two places right around the block. This could be iffy--the person could recommend the Italian equivalent of Olive Garden--but both places were home runs.
Reading this right now in a pub in Glencoe, Scotland waiting out a heavy rain really hits home!
Best way to travel! My wife and I try to book one “thing” (breakfast, sight, etc.) per day when traveling and then spend the rest of wondering around and getting lost and we always have more fun!
Whenever I find a cool small shop or boutique I like to ask the employees for their recommendations on where to eat and things to see. They always know what's up and sometimes you even get invited to a locals party or event!
Good timing... I'm flying tomorrow from London to Mallorca with my wife to stay with some very good friends in the northern part of the island - they've recently moved there from the Cotswolds for 12 months and, knowing that we love the island, have asked us if we have any special places/restaurants that we wish to visit while there. Our response was 'NO'. After 20 years of visiting and exploring the island, as much as we loved it, I can now think of nothing better than to sit on their terrace, drink wine, play bridge, cigar in hand and catch up with our very dear friends and put the world to rights... are we getting old.. or just realising the true value of things?
I think the rise of comparative social media sharing has really made this problem worse.
Thanks for the encouragement to try new things!
Sold! Headed into small town Ohio and the autumn woods next week, and inspired to do so with purpose now!
With you 100% about the "best X in Y" being both misleading (there is no human who has tried all the ramen shops in Osaka, let along the galaxy that is Tokyo) and a recipe for disaster (once it gets that label, the place becomes an overcrowded selfie magnet). Maybe the answer for us all is to read (or write) about how to appreciate ramen in Tokyo, or fishing in Maine, rather than listing and describing special venues. I learn a lot more about clothing from reading about what to look for in a Chelsea book than I do from seeing "three must have boots for the fall" articles. Maybe it can work the same way with travel writing. "What to look for in a Loire valley gîte" or "Get the most out of Swiss raclette" vs. "best small towns in France."
Amen
I once read that William Gibson would walk cities on Google maps for research when writing and before travel. It feels like that could be a way to plan within a sphere of distance and time. One that would set an expectation similar to social media hyped posts, but off the beaten tropes.
Spot on. Preach, Brother Coggins!
It feels selfish at times, but as I've found places that I really like, I make it a point not to share them. If people find those spots on their own, great, but I've started just keeping it to myself when I come across a gem.
It's a hard balance to keep. Depends on your job, following, if you want to share, etc.
What is this image? Beautiful!
I prefer an infamous martini
Hot lists often feel like a wasted experience. As you stated, they draw crowds of tourists more interested in snapping photos than in actually being present, which takes away from the authenticity of travel. In Tokyo, I’ve tried many of the so-called must-visit spots, and while the food was good, I was always surrounded by other tourists. The irony is that Tokyo is the kind of city where you can step into almost any restaurant and enjoy an incredible meal while connecting with locals—no instagram or tik tok recommendation needed.
This piece conveys an excellent and earnest perspective on the art of travel. It’s anachronistic in the very best way, and I certainly mean that as a compliment. I used to chase the best of this and that, and it got to feeling unfulfilling and left me feeling a bit of a fake one upsmanship. I go slower and more low key these days. As Rogey wrote below, ask the locals where they like to go and you’ll rarely get steered the wrong direction.
I completely agree. I just traveled to Italy and didn't research restaurants, figuring that Italy is a place where you should be able to just walk down the street and find good food. Also, we asked the woman at the hotel front desk where to go and she recommended two places right around the block. This could be iffy--the person could recommend the Italian equivalent of Olive Garden--but both places were home runs.