The Art of Creative Travel by Carol Wood

Creativity is the name of the game when planning any type of trip.  That should also be expanded to “thinking out of the box” and always having at least one Bucket List.

To begin the planning process think about what you want to experience, what inspires you, what will give you an “ah ha” moment, what you want to cross off one or more of your Bucket Lists, what places you dream of seeing, what sights you missed visiting or what you missed experiencing the first time if this is a repeat destination, what places you think will give you special memories, and what you want to focus on—scenery and nature or the culture of an urban area, or both.

After the thinking cap comes off, it’s time to map out a tentative itinerary.  Then comes the fun part—exploring the world virtually doing research and more research and even more research on what it is you want to see and do.  Travel, visitor centers, and the actual sites are some of the ones to pursue.  Don’t forget to pick the brains of those who have traveled to these destinations before you.  You may want to focus on the foods to eat, the best architectural sites, the most scenic routes, the coolest museums, etc. at your potential destinations. 

Once your itinerary is finalized, it’s time to slog through making all of the necessary reservations, booking tour guides, etc.  Make lists of the top things to see and do at each stop with pertinent information about opening times, fees, reservations, etc. so that you can maximize your time and experience as much as possible.

As the day of departure gets closer, check local weather forecasts and pack accordingly—also, don’t forget to pack conservatively utilizing lots of mix and match items.  Last, but not least, don’t forget to get excited about your upcoming voyage! 

Enjoy your trip!  But, remember these “final pearls of wisdom”—No matter how much you plan, your trip will not be perfect.  Be flexible and make creative changes as necessary.  Be on the lookout for new vistas that you may not have thought about that will open up before you.  Experience every minute and try new things!