This concept is not new though it has always appealed to us and to many of you.
A while back, I read a book by Penny Watson called Slow Travel, showcasing enticing places in the world. More importantly, it outlines the benefits of connecting with people and nature, stories from other slow travellers. These companies offer slow travel experiences and ways to travel slowly, i.e. train, bicycling, canoeing, walking.
How can we practice slowing down when we aren’t travelling overseas?
Firstly, slow travel is about resetting, it’s about connecting to yourself, others and nature, it’s about being present and open to life, magnifying joy and of course slowing down.
Life in the modern world seems for many to be extremely busy. Perversely there appears to be a particular pride in rushing through our daily lives, in being “crazy busy”. But are we really coping? Mental health and anxiety are on the rise, and we are more disconnected from nature than ever.
Have you ever come back from a holiday and said: “I need a holiday from my holiday!” Once an upon a time that used to be our mantra. Nowadays, we live a relatively quieter life and have even included camping in our repertoire. A favourite haunt for doing this is in the Coromandel. That trip really got us away from it all with bush and beach walks. We really got into simple pleasures and slow living, and we came home feeling relaxed and refreshed. Having said that we haven’t ventured away in the tent since then. Funny, how things work out!
Now we get to the nitty-gritty of creating “mini” adventures and just slowing down.
Essentials for slow “mini” adventures:
A curious mind.
The courage to slow down and breathe.
A willingness to create/set aside some time. The recommended minimum time is half an hour,
If you like to capture those special moments then take your camera.
Try putting your phone on silent.
A paper map.
A picnic- Cake Crumbs and Beach Sand
A pad and pen.
Here are some slow “mini” adventures suggestions to try:
Walking in nature with your lovely self or others. Modern terminology for this activity is “forest bathing”.
On the water activities such as boats without engines or for the more adventurous paddleboarding.
Walking up a mountain just because you can, and you love a good view.
A cycle ride around the many trails in your community.
Go tramping [hiking]
Go camping for the weekend.
If it’s wet, build an inside tent just for your furry family member.
Walk to a local park or beach and have a picnic.
Spend some time with a child as they are amazing at finding creative ways to explore.
Yoga or mediation class.
A leisurely slow-cooked meal during the weekend.
Get a blanket and do some stargazing.
Twilight fishing.
To get you in the mood–
- Read Slow Travel by Penny Watson, Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert, Succulent Wild Woman by SARK, Wreck this book by Keri Smith.
- Watch: Eat, Pray, Love [movie]
- Listen: WOMAD compilations on Spotify, Happy Place podcast by Fearne Cotton, Wild Ideas Worth Living podcast, The Slow Home podcast
It’s just about re-connecting with nature and realising that we are all interconnected and not separate. Slow adventuring in your “backyard” is a great place to start.
Life at No. 22 
Thanks for recommending my Slow Travel book Suzanne. It’s prime armchair travel reading at the moment but hopefully good for isolation inspiration. Take care. Penny Watson
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You are welcome Penny and all the best for future travels around our own backyards.
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Such great words Suz and a fabulous concept to promote. Thanks also for Spotify recommendation, I always look for new playlists to listen to during my days. You live in a beautiful part of the world.
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Great post and great pictures! Thanks for sharing!
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Great post, Suz! I can’t wait to slow down, after driving for days and look forward to a primitive campsite in the woods for a few days. Crazy times. As long as we have a home, food, and good health, we are happy. I guess that part hasn’t changed much for us. Now everyone’s priorities are similar. 🙂 Slowing down is important but not always easy…
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Thanks Liesbet, as long as we stay healthy and have the basics we can ride this out. The must have is a really good sense of humour 🙂 Stay safe and healthy.
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What a timely post. We need to take a long slow breath at the moment. Travel always used to be slow. I remember family trips when we had to stop to let the car cool down and us kids played in a stream while dad refilled the radiator. Used up lots of energy and restored peace to the back seat. Electric cars like ours ensure slow travel. We stop about every hour to charge and check out the area while we’re waiting. We’ve found some gems on our travels.
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Hahaha at the restored peace in the back seat. Oh yes, I remember those days very vividly 🙂 the hot place was the one in front which was given to the child who experienced car sickness the most. The trips to Gisborne via the gorge would have us all feeling queasy.
It sounds like you are enjoying your electric car Wendy. Brilliant. Forward-thinking to those that have installed recharging in places.
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Great post Suzanne, anything said about keeping moving (for all ages) is wonderful, and as you say, there are many many ways in which to move and enjoy the outdoors 🙂
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Sam, I would lose the plot if I couldn’t get outside to exercise 🙂
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Just give me walking shoes and a few nibbles and I’m outdoors whenever I can.. 😉
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Absolutely though at the moment I am walking too fast to eat nibbles. That pleasure has to wait until I get home 🙂
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I love the idea of slow travel. It’s amazing to see the changes this disease is making. Yesterday, I saw fathers walking with their children. Amazing…lol. Seriously, it’s usually the kids out by themselves, but now either the fathers are going stir crazy and need to get out of the house too, or they are making sure their kids don’t mingle with other kids. I guess the parents are having an enforced slow vacation.
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I don’t know if this counts as slow travel or not, but I’m really enjoying looking at things on my run route in a large park. Usually it’s trees, squirrels and crows, but last week I saw a woodpecker and this morning a rabbit. I’m not sure where the rabbit came from, because I’ve never seen one there before. I’m looking forward to watching the trees bud and blossom.
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There is now a campaign going on in NZ called #backyourbackyard and that is exactly what you’re doing 🙂 We loved finding squirrels in the UK parks. The woodpeckers were another treat. Rabbits on the other hand are destroying farmland and are a real pest. Enjoy your park runs.
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Great post. I think now it’s important to appreciate what we have, and what we can do, rather than focus on things being taken away. Tough times for everyone, and staying positive is important.
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I think one of the positive consequences of this terrible coronavirus could be that we travel less, and less hectically, and enjoy the local scenery and nature more. So this is a very apposite post Suzanne. Health and safety to you!
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Thanks Denzil. I totally agree with your sentiments, so very true.
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What a lovely post Suzanne – it made my heart calmer just reading it and looking at those gorgeous photos. I think we’ve all been sooo caught up in what the Corona virus is taking away from us that we forget to see what still remains – savouring the quiet is one of those things.
Thanks for linking up with us at MLSTL and I’ve shared on my SM 😊
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Thanks Leanne and wonderful to know that it resonated with you. An anxious time for many. Take care.
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A timely piece! We often live at a frenetic place so slowing down at home can indeed be a blessing.
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Good point it is a blessing to be able to slow down. Especially for those that are so busy and frantic.
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Hi, Suzanne – Your post offers brilliant gems — especialy since we are all being reminded to “SLOW DOWN” right now. Thank you for sharing this. Very inspiring!
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Hi Donna, funnily enough I yelled “Slow Down” to a manic driver as he drove out of a carpark. Hoping the manic panic starts to decline sooner than later.
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Hi Suzanne, What a wonderful list of the essentials. I love walking or hiking and make time for it wherever I am. Cycling is such a freeing activity, too. Thanks for sharing this. #MLSTL
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Hi Natalie
Thanks. Yes, I am really enjoying cycling and just got back from one. Though had to use a polite gesture when one car decided to cut in front of me. I usually only ride on cycle ways/trails now I know why!
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Something that I am trying to do these days. Thanks for sharing this. #MLSTL
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Great post Suzanne. Yes, we push ourselves emotionally and financially to go on big overseas trips and come back home exhausted and often unwell. Slow travel sounds perfect to me. I actually made no plans for overseas travel this year and I am feeling quite smug about it. I will be very content to enjoy my own backyard. Lyn
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Thanks Lyn.
Many people were caught out including a few family members. Though perhaps booking a cruise when they knew people were getting sick wasn’t the most clever idea they’ve had! I’m glad you chose to stay at home. A very hard lesson for many who have booked holidays. Enjoy exploring around your lovely part of Australia.
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We are hoping we can still travel – we just cancelled our easter break in Byron tho as we were going for Bluesfest…#MLSTL
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Suzanne, we are on the same page here. Spending lots of time outside, appreciating simple things and feeling grateful that life is good. Weird right now, but good.
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Thanks for this. This is just what I needed. I have been having a bit of a wallow this week after the cancellation of our Nepal trip. I need to kick myself in the backside and get outdoors! Have a great day. Melx
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You are welcome Mel, and hope you also have a great day. It’s sunny here and hardly any wind, a good day for a cycle ride x
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Just back from a sortie to the supermarket! Is it too early for a red wine??
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If it makes you smile, then a small glass surely can’t be too bad? 🙂
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I have resisted the call so far! I just need to stay busy! 🙂
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Good decision 😎
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Agreed, Suzanne. I love to spend a morning in the Australian bush, fortunately not too hard living on the outskirts of Perth. Also love to sit and gaze at the Indian Ocean, takeaway coffee in hand. Or stroll along the banks of the beautiful Swan River. All so soul-refreshing and they don’t cost a thing.
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Hi Kate, I love Perth and the surrounding areas, from north to south. Then there is the outback another fascinating place. Yes, you do have some wonderful places to refresh your soul.
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HI Suzanne, I love the idea of slow travelling. You are so right that there are times when we come home from travel and feel exhausted rather than invigorated. Thanks for sharing your ideas at #MLSTL and found your post very calming amid the anxiety of the moment. xx
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Hi Sue, yes the general population and especially the elderly are being over saturated with what to do and not to do.
If I didn’t have my training I think I would not be so relaxed! Have a good week training 🙂 xx
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I’d like to grab a blanket and go stargazing. When it stops raining 🙂 🙂
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Jo, stop hogging the blanket I am alongside you 🙂 Yes, stargazing is very relaxing and I love doing it, though not for a while. Too much light pollution around here. Though the council has now placed lights to face downwards. Perhaps wise to wait for the rain to stop.
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Very timely.
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You think 🙂 🙂
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For som reason, I do!
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Luckily you and your husband love to travel close to home.
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My husband and I enjoy slow travel… maybe that’s why we are taking to this new normal so well. We don’t need – nor do we want – constant noise and stimulation. We are happy sheltering in place and going out for a long walk now and then. There is still much to enjoy!
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Absolutely, our world seems to have developed into a overly stimulating environment. Even though we live in a small city, our abode is still a reasonably quiet place to be. Ironically living in the country was more noisier with so much horticultural and farming activities. I do love walking around the trails or the beach. Our beaches are never that crowded so peace and quiet is always achievable.
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