What The Heck Is Slow Travel?
and how to find joy in the journey
Are you ready to slow down and create a gentle, fulfilling life aligned with your true values and desires? I currently have a couple of openings for 1:1 coaching. Together, we can work on breaking free from overwhelm and creating a life you love.
Welcome to Postcards in the Mail! My monthly-ish newsletter devoted to all things Slow Travel.
Now, let’s get into it….
When we travel, we often get caught up in the idea that we need to see and do everything. It’s as if we’re racing to check off every landmark, activity, and hidden gem.
But what if we didn’t?
What if we slowed down, let go of that frantic energy, and enjoy the moments we have with our families?
Traveling can be exhausting, not just for us but for everyone we're traveling with.
The constant go-go-go mentality, packed itineraries, and early wake-ups leave us more tired than when we left. It becomes more about checking things off a list than actually being present and enjoying where we are.
Whether it’s a weekend getaway or a month-long adventure, the magic of travel isn’t about how much we can fit in, but rather how deeply we experience each place.
It’s about slowing down, soaking in the moments, and making memories with our loved ones that go beyond selfies at popular spots.
There’s often this underlying pressure to see and do it all as if it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
But this mentality leaves little room for relaxation and reflection. Instead of savoring the journey, we’re constantly thinking about the next destination, the next attraction, the next must-see.
But here’s the thing—travel doesn’t have to be a one-time-only event.
We can always return to the same place if there’s more we want to explore.
In fact, returning to a familiar destination often opens up new possibilities we may have overlooked the first time around.
My family does this regularly when we travel along Highway 395 in the California Eastern Sierras. It’s one of our favorite routes, and no matter how many times we go, there’s always something new to discover.
By not feeling pressured to see everything at once, we can take our time and truly appreciate what’s in front of us, knowing that we can come back and pick up where we left off.
By embracing slow travel, we also give our families a break from the stress of constant movement. Kids, in particular, thrive when they have time to explore at their own pace, to rest, and to just be.
We can create meaningful experiences that don’t revolve around ticking boxes but instead are rooted in togetherness and exploration.
Slow travel is about letting go of the pressure to do it all.
It’s about understanding that it’s okay not to visit every museum, every monument, or every popular restaurant.
It’s about realizing that sometimes, the best part of travel is the unplanned moments—the quiet walk through a small town, the lazy afternoon at a café, or the long conversation with a stranger who becomes a friend.
So, the next time you plan a trip, resist the urge to overbook yourself.
Let the journey unfold naturally.
Take the scenic route, linger in places that feel right, and most importantly, allow yourself to rest and truly enjoy the moments as they come.
Slow travel isn’t just a different way to experience new places; it’s a way to reclaim your time and energy.
It’s a reminder that travel, like life, is not about how much you do but how deeply you connect with the moments you’re in.
And if you miss something, you can always come back.
Sometimes, those return trips hold the richest experiences.
See you next week!
Xuan
P.S. If you made it this far, welcome to the end of the newsletter club! I wanted to share a secret with you…I’m creating a new YouTube channel devoted to family-friendly, slow travel that you can subscribe to here.
