It can be argued that we’re losing the sense of the need for slowing down and enjoying life. You may have heard of mindfulness. It’s a kind of being aware of and embracing the moment. It also applies to lifestyle issues, especially food. Slow food, for example, is a direct challenge to the concept of fast food –savouring every chew of every meal. Even our holidays are becoming hectic and rushed. Have you ever returned from a holiday feeling even more exhausted? Perhaps you and your family need a slow travel holiday?
What is a Slow Travel Holiday?
The idea is simple – take the time out to enjoy all the holiday.
- Don’t take the car; cycle instead
- If abroad, get a hire car to explore areas off the beaten track
- Ban yourself from familiar chain restaurants. Focus on quirky or local eateries instead
- Plan a multi-stage journey, stop along the way, building anticipation of the final destination
All it requires is that you open your mind to experiencing everything. Focus, create and make time for experiences to happen. It’s just as good for the parent(s) as it is for the kids because everyone ends up enjoying the break a lot more.
Four Benefits of a Slow Travel Holiday
Educational
Whether your family takes a domestic or a foreign holiday, there is always something to learn by immersing yourself in the place. Let’s say you’re based in Birmingham and going on holiday to Cornwall. Instead of driving straight there, why not avoid the motorways, drive through historic towns like Wells or across striking landscapes like Dartmoor. Even have a night over in central Devon and wake up to striking landscape. You might even want to stay in Portreath for something a little different.
Experience New Foods
Full board hotels ensnare us with the lure of unlimited food and drink. While the food is good value for money, it’s not adventurous and focuses on a fast food ethos. Choosing self-catering apartments or room & breakfast when on a foreign holiday encourages us to look further. We seek and find our own favourite places. Some of best local food is found at restaurants away from the tourist centres.
Relaxation
Not forgetting the most important point of a holiday – a break for the parents and for the kids. Taking life slowly helps us appreciate the holiday. We feel rested and refreshed during the holiday and recharged when we return home ready to dive back into life’s routine. It also helps us appreciate and focus on the family and mutual enjoyment of each other’s company. Don’t forget that holidays are for the whole family.
Good For Local Economies
If ethical travel is your thing as a family, then slow travel is definitely for you. Because slow travel encourages travellers to be aware of their surroundings, you’ll notice more. When you notice more, you want to experience more. Slow travel is about encouraging and celebrating wanderlust. That means you’ll point to a map and think “that sounds like an interesting place”. That interesting place might not be in any of the tourist guides yet it might be the best day our you have on your holiday.