The Importance of Local Travel

Travel is a chance to try new places, meet new people, and experience different ways of life. What a lot of us overlook is that traveling does not always require a lot of the time, money, planning, or some far out destination to be considered traveling. Having that kind of mindset can make the concept of traveling unattainable and shoehorn it into something that you only do a couple times a year. I am a strong advocate of local travel for many reasons. Adding local or hyperlocal spots to your list of travel destinations will not only save you time and money, but it also benefit your local economy and community members.

You’ll support you’re local community
I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase, “be a tourist in your own town.” There’s always something new to explore. Try that local coffee shop, hit the thrift store for some cute finds, or visit a local park. There are plenty of businesses that make your community totally unique that you might drive by day after day. Use traveling as a reason to check all of them out. We spend so much time romanticizing faraway places, we forget that the places we already are can be extraordinary.

You’ll save money and time
Big trips are fun. But local trips are less expensive and are quicker to put together. Traveling on weekends or for day trips means you can travel more frequently. And the money spent on travel insurance, flight tickets, etc. can go toward your local economy. Although you will still have to pay for fuel and accommodations, it will likely be lower than traveling abroad. Mini breaks mean you can be refreshed and motivated for your week.

You’ll reduce your carbon footprint
Traveling locally is better for the environment. While many companies in the travel industry have begun to take steps to limit carbon emissions, it doesn’t change the fact that a lot of the industry are big contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. In today’s society, everyone is in such a rush to get from one thing to another. Take a break, slow down, enjoy where you are. Traveling locally means you won’t have to hop in an airplane to get to your destination, saving time, money, and the environment. Sustainable tourism for the win.

You’ll be able to be more spontaneous
With work-from-home looking like it’s going to stick around, local trips are easy to organize and can also fit right into extended weekends. They’re great for those who like more spontaneity. Trips out of the country or even longer road trips require a lot of planning, especially now with all the COVID restrictions/precautions. You have to book lodging, get travel insurance, make reservations and usually way far in advance. For people who like to fly by the seat of their pants, it can be very restrictive. Local travel is great for this because you can get in your car and go.

I encourage you to expand what your definition of traveling is. If you drive 5 minutes to your local park and take a walk and see some wild life, that’s traveling. If you take a train into the city and try a new restaurant, that’s traveling. It’s about switching your mindset. After all, isn’t the whole point of travel to discover something new?