The Joys of Slow Travel

I've realized over the years that I'm not someone who enjoys travelling with every minute planned.

I know some people love having a detailed itinerary. Every attraction is booked, every restaurant is chosen ahead of time, and every day has a schedule. There's nothing wrong with that.  For me, however, it just isn't how I like to travel.

Our recent trip to Newfoundland reminded me why.

Before we left home, we knew where we'd be staying each night, and we had a list of places we wanted to see. But beyond that, we kept our plans pretty flexible.

Each morning we'd look at the weather, decide what we felt like doing, and head out. Sometimes we'd stick to the plan. Other times we'd change our minds completely. If we saw a scenic lookout, we'd pull over and enjoy the view a while. If a little museum looked interesting, we'd go in. If a small shop caught our eye, we'd wander through it.

Those little stops often became some of the best parts of the day.

I like travelling this way because it never feels rushed. We have time to sit with a cup of coffee and enjoy the view instead of watching the clock. We can stop to take another picture, walk down a trail that wasn't on our list, or spend a little longer in a town because we're enjoying ourselves.

Newfoundland felt like the perfect place for this kind of travel.

As we drove from one community to the next, there always seemed to be something worth stopping for. A quiet fishing harbour. Colourful houses overlooking the water. A winding coastal road with another beautiful view around the next corner. Sometimes we'd pull over just because someone spotted something or because the ocean looked especially beautiful from where we were.

Those weren't the places we'd circled on the map before we left home, but they're some of the moments I remember most.

I also think travelling more slowly lets you experience a place differently. Instead of checking off attractions, you notice the little things like the conversations with locals, the fishing boats coming into the harbour, the sound of the waves, or simply sitting on the rocks for a while because it's too beautiful to leave.

That's the part of travel I enjoy the most.

Slow travel doesn't mean you need weeks or months away. Even on a weekend trip, leaving a little room in your schedule can make a difference. Not every hour has to be planned.

Looking back on our time in Newfoundland, of course I remember the must-see places we visited. But I also remember the unexpected stops, the quiet moments, the laughter between sisters over a leisurely lunch.

Those are the memories that have stayed with me.

Sometimes all you need is a loose plan, an open schedule, and the willingness to see what you discover along the way.