That California Girl

Lately, I’ve noticed a new type of “traveler”- the self-proclaimed kind eager to cross off as many countries as possible, like the “visit 30 countries before I turn 30!” trend. While there’s nothing wrong with big travel goals, I’m left wondering when the focus shifted toward competition and status rather than the meaningful experiences that make travel so rewarding.

I recently asked two expat acquaintances in the U.S. if they had traveled to any of the other 49 states nearby, and their answers surprised me: no. Even though they’ve been living there for over three years, they only traveled if a friend or relative lived in that destination. Despite not needing to use their vacation days to travel to their surrounding states (trips that can be accomplished over a weekend), these folks did not seem to have an interest in visiting. Perhaps for some it’s not as unique or exotic, thus taken for granted? Although it’s one country, the United States is culturally diverse and rich in different natural ecosystems, so I found the lackluster interest strange because, as an expat myself based in Berlin, Germany, it’s in my nature to also check out spots just outside my doorstep, in addition to traveling around the world when I can. It made me wonder- if we ignore the places right outside our doorstep, what does that say about how we define being a “traveler?”

In my opinion, to truly be a traveler includes having that explorative energy within your own surroundings. Having a traveler’s mindset means consistently being curious, open-minded, and interested in discovering new things, regardless of how far or near that place is. With our peers’, friends’, and families’ social media posts and trends subconsciously influencing the need to focus on tourism for the sake of “keeping up” socially, FOMO, or desiring to increase the quantities of visiting only new countries, I understand it’s easy to lose focus on actually enjoying our travels with intentions rather than subconsciously go into a performative role. Thankfully, it’s never too late to shift perspective- here are three easy ways to truly practice a traveler’s mindset.

1. Explore your surroundings

Today, many of us have access to travel for leisure, but let’s not forget that it still takes some form of privilege to do it. Thankfully, you don’t necessarily need to travel to still exercise a traveler’s mindset- you can do this from wherever you are! Growing up in a suburban Southern California city in a middle-class family with immigrant parents, my friends and I would take every chance we could get to explore within our city, the neighboring cities, and so on. Once we had a car, we’d “travel” deep into the deserts of Death Valley, Salton Sea, and “Wild Wild West” ghost towns, all reachable within one to three hours by car, depending on where we went. Within my city, we’d take advantage of what we did have- a historical downtown center, and food + museum spots enriched in Mexican influence. We had many accessible hiking trails and well-preserved recreational parks full of history and culture right in my backyard.

Don’t underestimate the potential of exploring whatever’s in front of you- be a traveler in your own space. Start small, then build.

Relating to your surroundings, explore whatever’s right outside your doorstep. For instance, if you live near a trail leading to any natural point, such as a beach, hill, mountain, or park, hike it! If you’re driving distance or a bus ride away from your local downtown, explore there. Oftentimes, you’ll find a gem of history, no matter how old or young your hometown is. Got a cultural establishment in your city that you might’ve overlooked, such as a local gallery, museum, or mom-and-pop shop? Go check it out! Are there any diverse communities hosting local events to share their culture, like a food festival, folk concert, or local market? Attend, mingle, and learn more! Even though I try to explore my own town as much as possible, I find that there’s always something new to see. Sometimes we take things in proximity to us for granted, as we tend to yearn for something further away.

Whether by foot, train, car, or plane, don’t think, just go.

2. Stay curious and observe

I’m a curious person who has a lot of interests, especially in learning about different cultures, customs, and history, so naturally that applies to my mindset when I travel. I engage by being open-minded in trying new foods, immersive activities, or taking up some reading in museums or local tours. When I’m checking out new (or old) spots in my surroundings, I sometimes like to hang out in the different neighborhoods of my city, for instance, the artsy side of town, the chic, historical, modern, and so forth. At bars, cafes, and even out on the streets, I try to actively read through flyers and posters because that’s an easy and effortless way to discover new things in your surroundings to explore. The more places you visit, the more open you become to naturally want to discover and learn more about new things.

If you happen to meet someone new, especially at a local bookstore, street fair, restaurant, or shop, don’t be shy to ask for recommendations or even context about the place you’re visiting. People are kinder and more open than you think, and would gladly (and maybe even proudly) share their special spots if you asked. When you genuinely connect and show interest in the places and spaces you’re visiting, you’ll have even more access to discovering new things.

Channel your inner Indiana Jones and pursue those quests for knowledge about history and culture- stay curious, stay open-minded.

3. Use digital tools like Google Maps

Whether I’m traveling to another country, exploring within the same state, or in the mood to discover something new in my city, I often blend my approach of spontaneously finding places by walking through and sometimes leveraging Google Maps (and occasionally Instagram/Facebook) as my support to validate spots I’m curious about. Google Maps is a great tool to not only help assess checking out a space, but it’s also a great way to discover what’s in your proximity. Social media is a great way to expose desirable places to see, but I encourage you to try and block the FOMO feeling- remember, we often post about our highest of the high highlights, so while it’s great to use as inspiration for your next adventure, take it with a grain of salt and make it work for you.

Pro tip* after I’ve found a place while strolling or searching on Google Maps, I normally look at the recent reviews and visitor images to help me determine whether or not I want to check that place out. I also enjoy the bookmarking function, where you can star places and create lists for different cities, countries, and so on. You can even organize and categorize your places by restaurants, attractions, museums, etc., to share with your friends or reference for future visits. With Instagram, I mostly use it to search for an actual business or place’s profile to see how they promote themselves or if there’s a special event happening. Channels like Instagram and Facebook are a great place to find local, community-driven events and recommendations, so don’t sleep on that!

Truly having a traveler’s mindset isn’t always about counting how many new places you’ve explored or visited- to me, it’s about the attitude and curious perspective of approaching your surroundings, both near and far, as if it’s an adventure. Sometimes we take places physically close to us for granted, so I encourage you to start small by traveling to a new city, state, or place that you can reach in under three hours by any mode of transportation. You’d be surprised by what gems you can discover, just around your corner.