Usually when I travel, I prefer to do it in an “off the beaten path” sort of way. I like to experience new places in a way that I might experience them if I lived there, if that makes sense. I like hole in the wall spots, and things that I would enjoy if I were a local. I LOVE being able to make friends with people and learn about things to do from them, rather than from a guidebook.
I think this stems from having a bit of an aversion to tourists in my own city. I love Seattle, and I totally get why people like to come here for vacations. However, I sort of dislike dealing with the touristy parts of town, or with people that maybe have less respect for things than I think they should. I feel like since the Pacific Northwest became a hashtag (OMG #PNWLIFEEE!!), we have seen an influx of tourists that were never here when I was growing up. While its an attitude problem, plain and simple, and I really need to get over it, it definitely affects how I do my own traveling.
While I generally take an “experience it like a local” approach to traveling, I do have to admit that it is super fun to be able to play tourist sometimes.
I was lucky enough to be able to set up a shoot with the amazing Bailey Makaimoku while I was in Hawaii. She is local to the area (well, now local to the Big Island), and she was such an amazing tour guide while we were shooting together! She took me through the big resorts in Waikiki, and a bunch of the more touristy areas, that I might not have seen if I were just wandering by myself. We ducked in to a bunch of the big resorts to see their pools, and even got kicked off the lounge chairs on Waikiki beach!
Waikiki is tourist central, but it was still really enjoyable. The area is absolutely gorgeous (of course, its in Hawaii), and it has some amazing people watching. Seattle is a city on the water too, but definitely not in the same way. It was so cool to see people in the water and enjoying a beach that was smack in the middle of a busy city. The juxtaposition of the whole area is just really cool, and unique.
So here’s to traveling “on the beaten path”, its beaten for a reason! I think there is a lot of pressure to travel in a certain way, and to make sure that your experience is unique from what other people might have experienced, and honestly, I think that’s exhausting. The goal should just be to travel in a way that makes you happy, and if playing tourist is what makes you happy, then you be the best damn tourist you can be!
This got ranty, sorry guys!