Traveling is a beautiful sensory experience. During a getaway, the traveler’s senses are stimulated with the sounds of the sea, countryside, or city streets. They smell the distinct aromas of the environment and food. Then savor the taste of foods from the new land. Lastly the traveler takes snapshots of all the attractions that the travel destination has to offer. The culmination of these things help to create unforgettable memories to last a lifetime. This glorious sensory experience is what I miss most during this season of safety. However, I have found ways to scratch the travel itch, mostly from the comfort of home. Today, I wanted to share a few of my ideas on how to experience the joy induced by travel without actually traveling using the five senses.
See.
Watch a movie or documentary set in the city or country you would like to visit. You can also watch travel vlogs on YouTube.
Explore the destination you are yearning to visit via Google Earth: Did you know that you could do guided tours of travel destinations on Google Earth? It’s super cool. 10/10 would highly recommend. I love that you can explore all the US National Parks in less than an hour from the comfort of your bed.
Search the destination hashtag on Instagram and make a list of places you would like to visit once it is safer to travel. Your future self will thank you.
Take virtual tours of famous museums from around the globe.
Hear.
Listen to music from a different culture. Amazon Music is my go to app for exploring new music. I am currently loving my afrobeats playlist. If you haven’t heard Away by Oxlade, I would highly recommend.
Learn a popular dance from the travel destination so you can tear up the dance floor with the locals when you arrive. You’ll be able to salsa and bachata with the best of them or join in on that cool new line dance.
Missing the beach? Take a warm bath with Epsom salts and the sounds of waves crashing in the background. Bonus points for making your favorite tropical cocktail or cocktail in advance to sip while you soak.
You could also find local water features in your area and make a plan to visit during non peak hours to experience the peace and serenity brought on by the sound of cleansing water.
Taste.
Make a dish from a different culture or a local favorite. This one is my favorite ways to spark joy. You can find recipes online or purchase a cookbook with ethnic cuisines that you would like to try. I recently tried my hand at cooking Italian food. I made a pasta with Alfredo sauce from scratch and it was chef’s kiss! I have made it so many times now, I have the recipe memorized. Next, I plan to try a Spanish style paella.
Order a meal from a local restaurant that serves a dish you could find in your local or international travel destination. Enjoy a Philly cheesesteak from a local vendor. You will be able to compare the taste to the original sandwich once it is safe to visit Philadelphia. Order those oxtails or curry goat from the popular Jamaican restaurant in your neighborhood. Once you finally make it to Jamaica, you can order the same dish and decide who made it best.
Find an international foods store in your area and try some snacks from different parts of the world. My mom and I tried this idea with cookies during the 2020 Christmas season. It was pretty fun and some were even tasty.
Smell.
Let’s be honest, there are some smells from a place that you’d much rather forget like the smell of trash lining the streets of NYC or the smell of sulphur from the geysers in Yellowstone. Let’s focus primarily on the good aromas.
Candles, candles, and more candles. Candles are a great way to revive old memories of places that you visited in the past. Every time I burn my pineapple mango candle from White Barn, I remember visiting the Dole Plantation in Hawaii with my loved ones. Anytime I diffuse citrus essential oils in my space, I reminisce on the times I would travel to Florida during the summer with my family. We would always stop at the Florida Welcome Center to get fresh squeezed orange juice.
Bakeries! I visit a bakery in every city or country that I travel to. How can you pass up a chance to get a whiff of freshly baked cookies and cake? Find a local bakery that makes baked goods reminiscent of past travels and have them delivered to your home. It will be like heaven in a box.
Touch.
It’s challenging to use your sense of touch without traveling. However, I discovered 2 ways one may be able to invoke the feeling of travel through touch.
Purchase souvenirs from artisans around the globe. Etsy is a great marketplace for buying unique pieces made by people in different cities and countries. You can daydream about visiting Mexico City every time you snuggle up in that blanket created by a designer in Mexico. You can think of the warmth of India every time you put on that beautiful scarf from India to go outdoors to shovel the snow.
Create a scrapbook, shadow box, or collage from past travels. This activity is guaranteed to be a conversation starter and allows the creator to reminisce on simpler times.
Although nothing can replace the excitement of visiting a new destination, I hope these ideas at least help pacify your urge to travel at the moment.
