Becoming an Experiential Traveler

While perusing the magazine racks at the bookstore yesterday, I came across the premiere issue of brand-new (as of three days ago) travel magazine Afar. As a subscriber to Budget Travel and National Geographic Traveler (and occasional purchaser of such shamelessly affluent-centric publications as Travel + Leisure and Condé Nast Traveler), I don't really need another travel magazine in my mailbox or on my coffee table--especially one that costs $20 for six issues. But considering I read almost the entire first issue with a big smile on my face, I think this one just might be worth the extra clutter and the relatively hefty price tag.

Afar's tagline is "where travel can take you," and its target audience is the "experiential traveler"--the one who "travel[s] the world seeking to connect with its people, experience their culture, and understand their perspectives." The first issue contains a poignant editor's note, in which co-founder and CEO Greg Sullivan talks about the purpose of travel being more than just to "acquire" a place, like we acquire so many other things in life. This struck a real chord with me. As Zach can confirm, I often become manic when I travel, trying to cram as much doing and seeing into as short a period of time as possible. I am also obsessive about taking photographs, as if capturing enough images of a place will somehow make it mine. But is this really why I travel--simply to check a destination off of a list and bring back proof that I was there?

As some of you already know, I am heading to Europe in a few weeks for a somewhat spur-of-the-moment 20-day trip. I will be traveling to London (and hopefully a few other places in England) for the first time and Paris for the second time. Though I know I will spend a good amount of time visiting and taking snapshots of the major tourist sites in London (and to a lesser extent in Paris), I hope that I will also slow down and try to feel these places. This will mean putting my camera down once in a while and picking up a pen. It will mean overcoming my fear of people and striking up conversations with locals. It might also mean going to one less museum and participating in the creation of art instead. Though it probably won't be easy for me, I know that letting go of my check-list mentality will, in the end, make for a much more meaningful and memorable trip.

Afar is on newsstands now, so check it out--and have a great weekend!