The Power of Local Travel in Today’s World

As many of you know, I’m really into local travel – I know, shocking. I was reading an article the other day on the decline of social face-to-face interactions in America, the reasons behind it, and the impacts of that phenomenon (because I am a nerd). The whole time I couldn’t help thinking about the power of local travel and the role it can play. This might be a little more in-depth than most of my posts, but bear with me; this is something I feel really strongly about: using local travel to help with life stuff :))

My favorite study – “Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation,” (at least skim it – it’s so good) cites that in 2018, just 16% of Americans said they felt very attached to their local community. That’s crazy!! Community encompasses so much: where you live, the groups you’re a part of, the people you hang out with and more. I think it’s so important to feel engaged with the people around you and invested in the things you do/the places you live. I would miss out on so many experiences by feeling apathetic about my community. Obviously it’s easier said than done (as with most things), but the first step is taking action.

So Why the Decline?

Similar to the mental health crisis, it is possible that the perceived increase in isolation is due to the recent attention being given to this topic. The more we talk about it (e.g. this blog post), the bigger the problem seems. However, there are a lot of real reasons behind why meaningful face-to-face interactions are not what they were. And I would argue it’s not all bad, just different. After all, aloneness does not equal loneliness. Caveat: the way we’re alone has changed too.

• Smartphones are (of course) a big one since we now have digital communities and can communicate with friends and family without having to see them in person
• There’s also the rise of single person households
• And the simultaneous decline in volunteerism, associations, and religious affiliations
• The pandemic changed how we can and do interact with others
• The cost of living increasing = taking on anther job or having to help out at home = less time for socializing

The goal should not be to revert to the social fabric of the mid 1900s, but rather to bring awareness to a situation and work to create solutions. One of my favorite lines from the study above is, “Awareness can help individuals consider these impacts and cultivate ways to foster sufficient social connection outside of chosen traditional means and structures,” which sums that up nicely. Just as there are many reasons for the decline, there are also many ways to combat it.

Where Does Local Travel Come into Play?

Community is at the heart of why I love local travel. And even when I solo travel, I never consider myself alone because of my sense of community. Your community, whatever community that is, is a huge part of who you are. Traveling locally is a great way to discover your community.

My love of local travel happened by accident – it was the pandemic so traditional travel wasn’t happening. With all the limits on what we could do, it narrowed down the scope of where I could go. The more I traveled locally, the more it grew on me. I love that my local coffee shop knows my order and that I help maintain our local garden and the fact that I am in a bowling league. But above all, I love the security that comes with knowing I can depend on the people around me.

*I understand some areas are not where you want to be or not safe. Even more reason to invest in our communities.

Community Building 101

So how do you relearn the art of building community? That’s where local travel comes into play. The article describes, “an erosion of social infrastructure” and I think that’s a great way of putting it. Third places are a great example. In it’s most basic definition, a third place is a location outside of school or work or home where you can go. When there’s too much friction, these third places fall off the radar, despite being an important part of a community’s fabric.

Adding social capital to your identity by exploring places that contribute to your sense of community’s identify is incredibly rewarding. Call me crazy, but I feel strongly about getting together with people and immersing yourself in your community. It might sound simple, but hey, isn’t that the beauty of it? Attend local events, support local businesses, volunteer, get your friends together in person.

It’s a positive reinforcement cycle – investing in your community through local travel (visiting nearby attractions, investing time or money in businesses, engaging in activities, etc.) makes you more invested in your community. When you feel a part of your community, you’re more likely to feel like there is something at stake.

The Power of Local Travel

That sense of community ownership means you’re less likely to let things happen in your area and be more involved in the decision process. Fostering those connections and habits creates an environment where you feel you belong and have people to lean on. And the benefits of engaged communities are local knowledge, more trust, and more transparency around local issues.

If you’re in the Philadelphia (ish) area here are some of my favorite local destinations:

• Rosenbach Museum & Library
• Woodmere Art Museum
• Valley Forge National Historic Park
• Tyler Arboretum
• Columcille Megalith Park

Hope you enjoyed this little rant and that it inspired you to visit your local coffee shop, park, library, or even bowling alley :))