How to Travel the World Without Leaving Your Couch
Sometimes when I have the urge to travel, but can't, I bring the travel to me! Though it’s not the same, I find that these methods scratch a similar itch. Here are a few ways that you can have the travel experience without going anywhere at all.
Plan a trip
Sometimes, just the act of planning a trip can make us feel a sense of already being there. Lay out your itinerary, look at photos of your destination, and plan everything so that when you’re finally ready to go, you’re prepared! If you need help with planning and laying out your itinerary, sign up for the Roam & Gather weekly newsletter, and you’ll receive a free itinerary planner workbook with tips and tricks to help you plan an amazing adventure!
Spend the day listening to music
If you haven't noticed, one of my favorite things is to discover and listen to artists from around the world. Spotify is great for this but YouTube is another great place to find videos featuring artists from your country of interest. If you don't know where to start, you can always listen to a Roam & Gather playlist for ideas.
Find and make a traditional recipe
Few things can give you a deeper sense of travel than food. Find a recipe online that you can make that will connect you to the spirit of a place. As you eat, take time to truly appreciate the unique aromas and flavors of the dish. Want to take it up a notch? Set your table, light a candle, and listen to music from your chosen country while you eat.
Watch a movie or TV show
There's incredible cinema and television being produced by countries near and far that’s now more easily accessible thanks to streaming services. You can always count on Netflix and Amazon Prime to have a wide array of choices, but don't forget to check lesser known services that specialize in particular areas. For example, I watch a lot of Korean and Japanese shows on Viki, which specializes in television from East Asia.
Read a book or travelogue
Reading can really immerse you in a place and teach you more about life there. If you're looking for suggestions of what to pick up next, check out the Roam & Gather Goodreads page which features recommended reads from around the world.
Check out another view with Windowswap
I've watched the sun set over Alicante, Spain, sat by a river in Saiyok, Thailand and watched cars cross the Bosphorus in Istanbul, Turkey, all through Windowswap. Windowswap volunteers record a scene from their window, and you can spend a couple of hours jumping from window to window, exploring what life looks like in another place in the world. It’s oddly fascinating, and soothing.
Book an online AirBnb Experience
If you're looking for something more interactive, you can book an online experience through AirBnb or another service. One of my favorite AirBnb experiences is this wine class hosted by Argentian sommalier Diego. He led our group through a fun, relaxed wine tour of Argentina. If wine isn’t your thing, there are a ton of other offerings ranging from cooking classes to virtual walks around various sites and cities.
Use Google Earth to tour Unesco World Heritage sites
If you’ve never used Google Earth before, this is a great way to see some of the world's most culturally and historically important destinations. You can use Google Earth to walk around places like Angor Wat, the Sagrada Famiglia, or the Dolomite Mountains. It's a fun way to "get out there" and see a part of the world you may have only dreamt of seeing.
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hi there, I’m angi the founder of roam & gather. My mission is to curate joy-centered, small group journeys that are relaxed, intimate, and rooted in culture, community and slowness.
Roam & Gather is a small travel company offering soul-nourishing, curated travel experiences that help connect people with global communities, like-minded travelers and themselves.
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