Slowing Down, Letting Go, and Finding What You Didn’t Know You Needed
I love a good plan — but sometimes, the best plan is no plan at all. Sometimes, you have to get a little lost to find what you’re truly looking for.
Happy accidents. Lucky chances. God shots. Karmic rewards. Serendipity.
We have a lot of words for that mysterious magic that shows up when we stop gripping the wheel so tightly — when the exact right thing (or person, or moment) appears in our path, uninvited and utterly perfect.
You might be wondering: is this a travel story, or a reflection on letting go in sobriety? Well, dear reader — it’s both.
Because mindful travel, much like sober living, means balancing intention with surrender. It’s about setting a course, then releasing the need for control. When you let a place show you what it has to offer — without overplanning or overthinking — the world has a funny way of rewarding you with delicious surprises.
The Joy of the Detour: Lessons from a Covered Bridge in Minnesota
Road trips are one of my favorite ways to travel — partly because they leave so much room for serendipity. See something ridiculous, beautiful, or intriguing? Careen wildly off the highway and go find out what it is.
That impulse has led me down some strange and wonderful paths — including the one that brought me to the last historic covered bridge in Minnesota. It’s also how I stumbled on the best meal I had while crossing rural Canada, discovered a little Wisconsin creamery that ages its Colby for a full year, and wandered into a tiny Vermont store selling the most divine local treats.
Scenic overlook ahead? You better believe I’m taking the hard left turn. Mystery spot? Of course I’m stopping — I know it’s not actually mysterious, but stretching my legs and indulging my curiosity always pays off.
And don’t even get me started on food. The number of detours I’ve made for a bite borders on heroic: boudin in Louisiana, fudge in Missouri, blueberries in Maine, cheese basically everywhere. If a town is proud enough of something to put it on a billboard? Don’t ask questions — take the exit.
Because a long drive can be one of two things: inexpensive transportation between Point A and Point B, or a rolling invitation to practice mindful travel — to slow down, stay curious, and discover beautiful things you never saw coming.
Organized Chaos: How I Make a Plan, Then Wander Away in Tokyo
Cities are my favorite places for a good random wander — mostly because they make getting lost feel productive. My method might seem contradictory: I make a ridiculously organized list of everything I might want to see, do, and eat… specifically so I can ignore it later.
When I’m researching a city I’ll be in for a while, I fall down every rabbit hole — guidebooks, YouTube reels, TikToks, foodie blogs — gathering all the potential magic. Then my ADD monkey brain hands the reins to its OCD octopus friend, and together they build a glorious color-coded spreadsheet. Everything is sorted by neighborhood or tiny pocket of the city.
Each section starts with the main sights that might draw me there, followed by side notes: interesting cafés, tucked-away shops, bakeries locals rave about, random photo ops, and “cool/weird things.” So when I find myself in one area, I already have a mini map for spontaneous discovery — a roadmap to randomness.
Feeling snacky? Head to the bakery you flagged weeks ago. Need a break? You already know which nearby parks are perfect for people-watching. And while you’re following the route Siri lays out, keep your eyes (and heart) open — because that’s when the real magic happens.
That’s how I found myself strolling down a quiet shopping street in suburban Tokyo, en route to the famous Maneki-Neko (waving cat) Shrine, when I spotted a tiny pasta-and-seafood joint. No English menu, no tourists, just locals slurping blissfully. I wandered in and had one of the best meals of my life.
A few blocks later, carb-drunk and happy, I discovered a small window café where I could sip good coffee and smoke outside — both rarities in Tokyo — while watching the world glide by.
So yes, make your lists, color-code your spreadsheets, plan your heart out. Then close the tab, step outside, and let the city lead you somewhere you never meant to go.
The Slow Lane: Discoveries from the Ferry to the Black Sea
Sometimes, the idea of wandering aimlessly through a city is just… exhausting. Things are too far apart, or too uphill, or your feet have filed for divorce. But that doesn’t mean the adventure has to stop — it just means it’s time to let public transportation do the wandering for you.
When I was in Istanbul this fall, I took the public ferry up the Bosporus to the Black Sea. It was a gorgeous ride — sea breeze, seagulls, skyline — and while I soaked in the views, I kept an eye out for interesting neighborhoods along the way. One little hamlet caught my attention: colorful streets, bustling cafés, locals chatting over tea. On the way back down, I hopped off to explore.
Sure enough, there were excellent snacks (always the priority) and perfect people-watching by the water. I didn’t “discover” anything world-shaking — just a quiet, happy corner of life I’d never have found otherwise.
The same logic applies anywhere. I love a good hop-on-hop-off bus, not just for the narration and skyline views, but because it’s a moving buffet of possibilities. See a side street that calls your name? Jump off. Hungry? Spot where the locals are eating and follow your nose. Big attraction ahead? Hop off, wander the side alleys, and see what’s hiding behind the souvenir stands.
Really, any bus, ferry, or above-ground train can become your best travel guide — if you let it. Pick a scenic route, stay curious, and be ready to jump off when the spirit moves you. That’s mindful travel in motion.
The Art of Asking Google: A Field Guide to Digital Serendipity
When you know how to frame your question the right way, a simple search can lead you straight to the soul of a city. Mindful travel isn’t just about showing up without a plan — it’s about asking better questions before you go wandering.
These are some of my favorite search phrases when I want to find the kind of places that don’t always make it onto “Top 10” lists — the tucked-away gems that locals love and tourists rarely see.
Search for These Phrases
(and tweak them to the city you’re visiting!)
- “Where do the locals shop?”
For quieter markets and authentic neighborhoods — a peek into everyday life. - “Best area to explore on foot”
These are often compact, charming centers designed for discovery. - “Biggest public market”
Markets are cultural gold mines. Explore the side streets, too — that’s where you’ll find cafés and shops that feed the vendors and regulars. - “Best second-hand stores”
Vintage treasure hunts almost always lead to artsy, counter-culture districts. - “Immigrant cultural centers”
Little Italys, Chinatowns, and beyond — where food, history, and adaptation collide. - “Oldest area of the city”
Older districts hold the deepest roots — layered architecture, quirky storefronts, and more small surprises than big-box chains.
🌿 Practicing the Art: Mindful Travel in Everyday Moments
Mindful travel isn’t just about where you go — it’s about how you move through each moment once you’re there. Whether you’re strolling city streets or sitting still on a train, every bit of the journey can become an invitation to slow down, notice more, and connect more deeply.
- Follow the local rhythm. Visit business districts at lunchtime (they buzz with local energy) but skip them after hours.
- Honor local timing. Independent shops may open late, close early, or observe traditions like siesta — let that guide your pace.
- Spot the hotspots. See a café or market packed with locals? Save it and circle back when it’s quieter.
- Learn a few key phrases and use your translation app boldly — people appreciate the effort. Even a simple “hello” or “thank you” in the local language can open doors.
- Stay curious. Don’t be afraid to look a little lost. Most locals are delighted to help a curious traveler.
- Stay present. Look up, slow down, notice the tiny details — a carved doorframe, a tiled wall, the scent of bread on the wind.
- Keep a running list as you go. Screenshot, drop a pin, or snap a street-sign photo so you can return to your discoveries later.
- Be patient with the process. Not every wander yields gold — but when it does, it’s solid treasure.
There really is an art to getting lost — not the panicked kind, where your fight-or-flight kicks in and you want to both punch the lost-ness in the face and sit down and cry about it, but the kind that tickles your inner child’s sense of wonder. It’s a mindset as much as a method — a chance to surrender a little control, slow down, and trust that the world is full of delightful surprises just waiting to be stumbled upon.
Mindful travel isn’t about tossing your plans out the window; it’s about being fully present for whatever unfolds. It’s the quiet joy of a bridge you never meant to cross, a ferry stop you hadn’t planned to take, or a conversation that changes your whole perspective.
Getting lost means being fearless — asking a stranger where to eat, stepping into a café that smells amazing even if you can’t read the menu, hopping off a bus because something outside the window caught your eye. It’s the thrill of curiosity outweighing the fear of looking foolish.
The best stories don’t come from perfectly executed itineraries; they come from the moments you were brave enough to follow a hunch. Perfection doesn’t exist anyway — and chasing it will only leave you banging your head against a wall while life (and all its unexpected magic) passes you by.
You’ll take a few wrong turns. You’ll end up in places you can’t pronounce. But with practice, patience, and a little courage, the world will start to open itself up to you — one unplanned adventure at a time.
So stay curious, stay open, and be brave enough to wander off the map.
And, of course — don’t forget the snacks.
Looking for More?
Get lost in more stories about where I’ve been on my Destinations Page
or
Wander through more tips for Mindful Travel and Cultural Connection
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