{"id":52066,"date":"2017-04-20T10:37:39","date_gmt":"2017-04-20T14:37:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nomadicmatt.com\/?p=52066"},"modified":"2024-10-21T13:09:05","modified_gmt":"2024-10-21T17:09:05","slug":"how-to-travel-with-a-theme","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nomadicmatt.com\/travel-blogs\/how-to-travel-with-a-theme\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Travel with a Theme"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"The<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve become a \u201ctypical tourist.\u201d You know, the kind that hits the major tourist sites, a few off-the-path attractions, Yelps a few local restaurants<\/a>, and moves on to the next destination. <\/p>\n

I get my basic overview, learn how to save some money<\/a>, and continue onward.<\/p>\n

And that\u2019s left me feeling that my travels have become too vanilla lately. <\/p>\n

There\u2019s a spark missing. <\/p>\n

I mean, I don\u2019t think I go to boring places but there\u2019s just a part of me that feels there\u2019s been less adventure and pizzazz in my travels, that I haven\u2019t done anything really cool, interesting, or off-beat for a long time.<\/p>\n

I needed to spice up my travels again.<\/p>\n

So, I had an idea:<\/p>\n

What if I traveled with a theme?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Instead of just trying to see the usual well-known sites, what if I went with a specific focus in mind?<\/p>\n

What if I went to see only<\/em> the jazz clubs of a city or the modern art museums? <\/p>\n

Or only<\/em> hiked trails that begin with the letter M? <\/p>\n

Or went to learn about a destination\u2019s wine industry? <\/p>\n

Or decided I\u2019d only eat at Japanese restaurants with a local food expert?<\/p>\n

Really, it could be anything, as long as it hyper-focused my travels around one idea that forced me to look at a destination in a different light.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m sure I\u2019m not the first person to think about this but it\u2019s something I\u2019ve never done before.<\/p>\n

For example, I\u2019ve been to Paris<\/a> countless times. I\u2019ve hit all the big sites multiple times over. When I returned to Paris, I wanted something different and new. I wanted a purpose. <\/p>\n

I decided to experience Jazz Age Paris<\/a>. I wanted my own private Midnight in Paris<\/a><\/em> experience.<\/p>\n

As a result, I spent time in Montmartre, ate at Les Deux Magots, enjoyed jazz in the Latin Quarter, drank in speakeasies and wine caves, wandered the bookshelves of Shakespeare and Company, took a ’20s themed walking tour, and got lost in the streets of the Left Bank. <\/p>\n

It might not have been the \u201920s exactly, but I ate at restaurants I\u2019d never been to, went to music venues I\u2019d never heard of, and saw parts of Paris I didn\u2019t know existed.<\/p>\n

It was the most fun I had had in the City of Lights in a long time \u2014 because it was different. Designing my travels around one theme forced me to plan \u2014 and sightsee \u2014 differently.<\/p>\n

It’s easy to develop a routine when you travel constantly. Like everything else, you fall into a certain complacency. You know what you like and develop a rhythm. You land, check into your accommodation, and make your way down your list. <\/p>\n

Sure, you\u2019re in cool destinations doing cool things \u2014 but it\u2019s often the same type<\/em> of things.<\/p>\n

So from now on, instead of just going to places and ticking off the list of typical things to see and do, go with a purpose. <\/p>\n

If you\u2019re in a destination for the first time, of course by all means see all the main sites and attractions \u2014 but try to add a little theme to your trip that forces you off the beaten path toward some different or unusual attractions, sights, and events.
\n <\/p>\n

How to Travel with a Theme (in 5 Easy Steps)<\/h3>\n

\"The
\nSo how do you do this? It requires a bit more research than opening up a guidebook but here’s my process:<\/p>\n

Step 1 \u2013 Pick a Theme<\/strong>
\nThis is an obvious first step. You can\u2019t do any of the other steps without it. For me, I had 1920s Paris on my mind, so I decided I\u2019d try to relive that era. But it could be anything: learning about cheese or wine production, the vegan food scene, jazz culture, the modern art scene \u2014 whatever suits your fancy! <\/p>\n

And, if you\u2019re not sure what theme to pick, think of things that interest you the most and see that destination has stuff related to it or just Google \u201cWhat is (x) famous for?\u201d and see what comes up!<\/p>\n

Step 2 \u2013 Research Online (use multiple keywords)<\/strong>
\nAfter picking your theme, go more in depth on your search. Local blogs, general travel blogs, Lonely Planet<\/a>, Time Out<\/a><\/em> \u2014 these are all websites I use in my research. Then I go to Google and type in a number of keywords to cover all my bases. <\/p>\n

For my \u201920s trip, for example, I typed in \u201cbooks on 1920s Paris,\u201d \u201chow to see 1920s Paris,\u201d \u201c1920s Paris sights,\u201d \u201cParis speakeasies,\u201d and \u201cbest jazz clubs in Paris\u201d and found a number of references to consult and various places where I could experience that \u201920s vibe. This allowed me to compile a list of potential places to visit.<\/p>\n

Cast your net wide and see what you discover.<\/p>\n

Step 3 \u2013 Plan Your Itinerary<\/strong>
\nThere was a lot to see in Paris and I didn\u2019t have much time, so I prioritized what appealed the most. First came the food, then the bars, then the sights. This allowed me to come up with a general framework for my trip. Tagging sites on a Google Map can help you see how far apart things are and then plan your optimal route.<\/p>\n

Once you know all the things you want to see and do, you can then book accommodation in a location that’s convenient and close by to some (or all) of your activities.<\/p>\n

Step 4 \u2013 Contact Locals and Experts<\/strong>
\nCouchsurfing<\/a> groups and Meetup.com<\/a> are incredible places to find locals who share your interest. They are going to know the ins and outs of the city and probably have lots of suggestions. <\/p>\n

Additionally, the group meetups are a fun way to meet locals who share a similar passion, making conversation easier and breaking down that awkward language barrier. <\/p>\n

You can also reach out on social media. You might not know someone where you’re going, but chances are a friend or friend of a friend does. Let people know you’re looking for contacts in a destination. Chances are you’ll be able to get in touch with someone through your existing social network<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Step 5 \u2013 Read a Book (or Three)<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>
\nTo get context, read a book on the subject. While I already knew a lot about the \u201920s Jazz Age, I ended up picking a few more books on the subject:<\/p>\n