Where to Find Inspiration
Newsletter #7: February 2026
The logistics and planning aspect of travel can be overwhelming sometimes, and I am often asked what method I use to narrow down where to go when planning travel. In fact, I recently did a poll on YouTube to ask people what they found the hardest and here is what they said!
Narrowing down where to go is hard, and is even harder still now that we have such a wealth of information on the internet. Wherever we turn there are people telling us to go here or there and do this or that. Like anything, the information is only as good as the person delivering it, and what if that person’s preferences do not align with your own?
I am not going to pretend that my advice is any better, or that my preferences align with your own, but I will tell you that one thing I do get inspiration from are books. If you are not a reader, you can do the same from TV shows, podcasts, music, art, or whatever floats your boat. I definitely use these as a starting point for many adventures! Here are a few examples.
BOOKS
If you like trying new foods and traveling, you may enjoy Cook’s Tour by Anthony Bourdain. Although he was a bit crass, he loved trying new foods and learning about different cultures, which is something I can totally relate to as well. As a side note, although they can often be pricey or touristy, I have never had a bad meal at any of the restaurants he has suggested.
TELEVISION
I am kind of hesitant to say this, because I feel like this movie started a craze, but the movie that inspired my first major travel destination was The Beach (2000). The craziness of Bangkok, the beautiful blue water and white sand of the islands…after seeing them on the big screen, I had to experience Thailand for myself. What I discovered was much more than snake’s blood and full moon parties though!
PODCAST
Whether you are looking for active travel adventures or wanting to learn more about history, you can find a podcast that covers it. Or there are always classics like the Rick Steves podcast, which is a good place to start!
MUSIC
If you are a fan of The Doors, you can go to Paris and see Jim Morrison’s grave at Père Lachaise Cemetery (along with others like Chopin, Edith Piaf and many, many more). If you like Oasis (or any of these bands), go to Manchester, England and see where they got their start. If you enjoy The Beatles, you can go to London and walk across the same iconic crosswalk!
ART
If you are a fan of Van Gough, perhaps you would enjoy Arles, France, where you can feel not only his presence, but also the mistral on your face.
Obviously there are other things like sports events, gastronomy, seasons for flowers, natural occurrences, hiking etc. that can bring you to a place. Perhaps you want to see every baseball stadium in the world, or eat at McDonalds in every country. Whatever floats your boat, there are so many ways to get ideas! Just pick something you love, and go from there!
I would love to hear from you: what inspires you toward your next destination?
JUST THE FACTS, MA’AM
(1) TRAVEL:
Packing news! I just did a packing video and if you haven’t seen it yet, you can do so here! My new favorite item is my black PrAna pants! They are lightweight, they dry fast, they are nice enough to wear to dinner but sturdy enough to hike in, they have zip pockets and best of all, they have an elastic waist!
(2) FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE:
This year, I decided that one of the things I want to try to do is spend more! It sounds funny, I know, but as a natural saver and frugal person, I have a hard time sometimes not trying to optimize each dollar spent. This year I am going to be more frivolous! Do you have trouble spending sometimes?
(3) EARLY RETIREMENT:
I was thinking about productivity the other day. I was and still am a goal setter, and one thing I struggle with is still wanting to have a list and check things off of it. However, I am often doing this rather than enjoying the moment. One goal I have this year is to try to enjoy where I am and what I am doing now rather than thinking of the things that are coming next.
TRAVEL TIP OF THE MONTH
I always say that you can get anything anywhere, so you should avoid overpacking, and that is still mostly true. However, sometimes a few small “comforts from home” can be, well, comforting! Two of my comforts are ChapStick brand ChapStick and ibuprofen. Normally I carry the ibuprofen around unused (luckily!) but this year I have already used up my stash! What is your comfort item when traveling?
Also, it’s not all about me! If you feel comfortable, please click the comment button below and share with us: what travel related book, TV show, movie or podcast do you recommend?
In case you missed the last few videos, you can find them here, but if you only have time for one, here is one of my recent favorites!
What I Spent for 369 Days of Full-Time Travel