Travel doesn’t have to mean planes and packed bags. Since experiencing anxiety, I’ve found joy in shorter, simpler adventures—like day trips to hidden cafés, local flea markets, or peaceful garden strolls. These little escapes help me reconnect with the world, one calm step at a time.
“A journey is best measured in friends, not in miles.” – Tim Cahill
Small Adventures, Big Joys:
Finding Travel Moments Close to Home.
I’ve traveled a bit during my younger years—back when planning a spontaneous trip or hopping on a plane with barely a second thought felt completely doable. But things have changed for me since I started experiencing anxiety a few years ago. It came slowly at first, like a soft static in the background. But over time, it started to shape how I move through the world.
So my travel now looks a little different than most. It’s shorter. Closer. More predictable. And definitely not as often. I’m no longer chasing distant landscapes or checking off bucket list countries. These days, I’m finding peace in weekend getaways just a few towns over. I find comfort in knowing the route, the weather, and that I can be home by Sunday afternoon.
And you know what? That’s okay. I used to feel guilty—like I wasn’t “really traveling” if it didn’t involve a passport or a packed itinerary. But I’ve come to appreciate the quiet beauty of the simpler kind of travel. A drive along the coast. A few nights in a cozy cabin. An afternoon spent wandering a local garden I’ve never visited before.
Lately, I’ve also started planning day trips—mini adventures that don’t require a suitcase or too much mental prep. They’re just long enough to feel like a little getaway, but close enough to be easy on the nerves.
Sometimes I give the day a theme.
- A “Café Crawl” to find the most photo-worthy lattes in town.
- A mission to seek out tucked-away bookstores or quiet walking trails I’ve never explored.
- A stop at the flea market that only pops up once a month, just to see what odd treasures are waiting.
- A self-guided mural tour, camera in hand.
- A “coastal town hop” if you’re lucky to live near the water—grab lunch, stroll the shops, then head to the next dot on the map.
- Or even a “library crawl,” visiting old historic libraries and soaking in the calm.
Sometimes, the adventure is just choosing one area of the city I don’t know well and giving myself a few hours to wander.
The truth is, I’m still figuring out what travel means to me now. But what I’ve learned is this: you don’t have to go far to feel refreshed. Sometimes a small shift in scenery is all it takes to feel like you stepped into something new.
– Kate
Real life, real experiences. Share your wisdom, your wins, or even the mess — because life after 50 is worth talking about.
