I always love seeing someone pick up this magazine. As the person most intimate with each issue, it’s fascinating what makes someone linger. So welcome! Thanks for lingering. But if you’re onboard, do me a favor. Tuck this baby into your bag for later (they’re complimentary) and enjoy the view. They can’t be beat and they’re never quite the same.
Because if you ask me, the beauty of travel is about new experiences — those big and small. It doesn’t necessarily equate to globetrotting a la “Eat Pray Love.” While yes, I wholeheartedly support exploring new continents, I would contend that exploring closer to home can offer even more for your heart and soul.
Afterall, sometimes it’s the simple act of getting out of the house that lets you see with fresh eyes and learn something new. This is true whether you’re exploring your own city or traveling a bit farther. Did you know Seattle has an underground city? Think about that for a second, a city beneath the city. Wild, right? But it does! Remnants of Seattle’s first streets, shops, and bathrooms which were built at sea level still exist.
And in Tacoma, there’s one-acre garden dedicated completely to roses. Just image the perfume of walking through those flowerbeds. The best part about exploring close to home is you don’t have to be so rigid with your timeline because getting there isn’t such a Herculean effort. You can go slow, see and sample what you can, and then plan your next trip.
Fewer destinations is this sense of slow, present travel more felt than in the San Juan Islands. Whether you’re visiting Lopez (fondly dubbed by locals as ‘Slowpez’ for its extremely laidback approach to time) or Orcas Island, you’ll find there’s plenty to do and even more reasons to take it slow. Linger at a vista. Let yourself stop and savor freshly baked goods. Afterall, there’s no reason to rush when you’re slurping oyster by the sea.
Should you be looking for some romance and relaxation, I can personally attest that Victoria offers it up in spades. The pedestrian-friendly city invites you to walk (or bike) at your own pace. Farm-to-table restaurants, award winning cocktail bars, and luxurious spas are but a sampling of the B.C. capital.
So go ahead. Let yourself explore and linger. Let yourself be ever present, without rushing for one activity to the next. You won’t be disappointed.
