Slow Travel
Many of us and our friends have started to downshift our lives and explore the world near and far as we've sought to reconnect with family, friends, food and life. Some of us stayed home and simplified life with bicycle commuting and trips to the local farmer's market. Others traveled to new destinations, but chose to stay in one location, rather than dart from place to place, so they could know shopkeepers, frequent the same cafes and live like locals. By taking it easy and enjoying the ride we've all now come to know that it is as much about the journey as it is the destination.
Slow Travel is an off-shoot of the slow food movement which began in Italy in the '80s to counteract fast food, fast life and the disappearance of local food traditions. In the same manner that we enjoy discovering the flavors of regional cooking, slow travel gives us the chance to form a stronger connection with the place we're exploring by becoming part of the local life.
So, Slow travel is more of a mindset than a particular type of transportation. It's about living, rather than simply 'staying' somewhere. It's about moving through a place, rather than over it. And it doesn't have to be an exotic locale -- it can be right outside your door.