Whether you venture to the closest big city to you or across the country or across the globe, travel is one of the best experiences of life. You get to see new places. You get to experience something different such as a strange food or a kooky building. You get to talk to strangers. So many great things occur when you travel.

My mum just got back from a short trip. She spent four days just a couple hours north of her actual home. It wasn't some international trip with glamour and sightseeing. It wasn't a crazy cultural experience. It was simply a time to get away and enjoy something new.

Upon her arrival back home, she told me what she had concluded about travel. According to my mum, here are the essentials of travel, regardless of where you go.

Do the basics, then do something funky


1. Do the basics - It's only fair that you experience what tourists do in your specific location. Do the usual sightseeing, whether it's a bridge or a building or a museum. Knock out the obvious things first. Check it out online before you head out so you have some ideas. 

2. Do something funky - Okay now that you did "the usual," it's time to mix it up. Do something different. Ask a local what their favorite restaurant is or something underrated to do in the area. Nobody knows a city better than someone who lives there year round. As I mentioned earlier, do your research beforehand. Create a list of possible things to do or places to visit. That will help you when you finally want to do something funky!

3. Be lazy - I've found that travel is absolutely no fun if you've got a complete agenda.

8:00 a.m. - breakfast at  Harriet's Bistro
9:00 - 11:00 a.m. - sightsee the Golden Gate Bridge &  Lombard Street
12 p.m. - lunch at the Fisherman's Wharf
1 - 5 p.m. - check out the San Francisco Museum of Art, The Exploratorium, & Alcatraz.
6 p.m. - dinner at Chateau Farrow

If you have your life planned out, it doesn't leave much room for spontaneity. Leave some wiggle room. Eat a nice breakfast at a local cafe then do whatever you want. Go into that really neat looking bookstore. Check out the local park. Sit and enjoy a coffee. You don't need to be busy busy busy.

4. Enjoy the weather - Weather and temperature add to the experience. Winter in Paris is a completely different dynamic than spring in Paris. Sometimes the rain or the clouds or the snow or the sun create a particular vibe. Go with it.

5. Walk / enjoy the scenery - Obviously, there's the "go to" sights to view. You already did that. Now just walk. Trek across the town and see what it truly has to offer. If you're driving everywhere you may not get the opportunity to look at everything.

It's almost summer. Let's soak up the sun and have some fun! Where do you want to travel? What are your travel tips?

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