Are you tired of being at home? Are you sick of the same routine day after day? Do you sometimes get this overwhelming feeling that you just want to buy a one-way ticket and escape your “normal life”?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, but still can’t leave your hometown for reasons outside of your control, then I have the perfect solutions for you!
There are many ways you can satisfy the explorer in you without having to leave your town.
Keep on reading to discover multiple ways to cure your wanderlusting aching heart from home.
1. Watch Travel Documentaries
A good way to dive into a culture from the comfort of your own home is through travel documentaries.
There are various documentaries or docuseries out there that vividly take you through country sides and vibrant cities. This type of cinematography can explain history, show unique cuisines and the everyday activities of the local people.
Some of my current favorites on Netflix are; Down To Earth, Our Planet and Tales By Light.
2. Watch YouTube Travel Videos
I can easily get lost in a sea of travel videos on YouTube. It has everything from packing tips, to full on city guides from famous travel vloggers.
Just start by looking up a destination you find interesting and tons of videos will appear.
They can be quite informative and helpful when trying to plan for your next vacation.
3. Plan A Trip Early
Speaking of planning a trip why not start to plan a trip way in advance!
Planning a trip can be almost as thrilling as actually being on one. With ample time on your hands, you are able to do tons of research and really discovery where you want to go and what you want to do when you arrive.
You might even find great deals for flights and lodging.
4. Watch Foreign Films
Similar to documentaries, foreign films take you to new landscapes and iconic cities but with an added dose of scripted drama.
Watching foreign films can be fun entertainment, helping you escape into another world for a moment. With the help of subtitles, it is even possible to pick up on these foreign languages, helping you communicate better when you eventually do visit abroad.
5. Do Virtual Museum Tours
If you’re interested in culture and education but aren’t able to leave your home try taking a virtual tour of some of the most famous museums from around the world.
Some include the Guggenheim Museum in New York, British Museum in London and the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, where it actually feels as if you are walking the halls.
6. Read A Book
Books come in an array of genres. Some have a magical way of taking you out of your element and bringing you somewhere new. Some can also be motivational and informative.
I suggest reading travel guides that can help you plan for your next trip. Two worth mentioning are Lonely Plant and Nomadic Matt.
If you haven’t already read them, I suggest reading The Four Hour Work Week and Vagabonding. These books might just inspire you to sell everything you have and embark on a wild journey around the world.
7. Meditate On Your Dream Destination
I tend to talk about meditation a lot, but it really is the key to curing so many aspects of your life.
Curing your wanderlust is just another one of them!
If you are bummed about not being able to travel but you really want to change that in the future, I recommend listening to a future self meditation. Like this one found on YouTube.
This will help you to clearly see where you want to end up in the future and if that means exploring the world, then you will form a deeper understanding of that.
You will be able to visualize yourself in that location and determine why your life is meant to go in that direction.
8. Read Travel Blogs
I love discovering a new travel blog!
Travel blogs can provide you with whole hearted stories and valuable information to fill those wanderlusting hearts.
An easy way to discover new travel blogs is by browsing Pinterest. Search a destination and tons of pins with show up taking you to various travel blog websites.
Every travel blog has a unique voice so find one you most connect with and they’ll be sure to inspire you for years to come.
9. Listen To Travel Podcasts
Podcasts are great because you can listen to them while you’re driving or doing chores around the house.
They have a way of inspiring you through passionate storytelling and fun-loving interviews.
I suggest checking out Extra Pack of Peanuts, the Off Beat Life and Radio Lab; even though Radio Lab isn’t technically about travel, it is filled with mind blowing information that takes you around the world and even outside of our galaxy at times.
10. Plan A Trip Early
Just because you can’t leave tomorrow doesn’t mean you can’t start planning for next year’s travel.
With all this new found information and inspiration you have gathered from the above suggestions, start making some moves.
You might be able to find cheaper accommodation and flight deals by booking in advance.
Besides planning a trip is super fun! Well maybe not as fun as actually being on vacay but you get the idea.
11. Learn A New Language
If you’re not traveling at the moment but have an idea of what country you want to visit, then now is the perfect time to start picking up on the local language.
Did you know that in order to have 95% fluency of a language you only have to know 3,000 words? Sure, there might be some struggles but you can defiantly get by in a new country.
To help you learn vital vocabulary and common phrases I recommend using the apps Pimsleur and Memrise.
Even if you don’t have travel plans learning a new language is always a plus and can help further your career or everyday life.
12. Take Ethnic Dance Classes
Another of the great way to dive into a culture is through dance.
Dancing can be exhilarating, sexy and fun! The best part is you don’t have to go to Cuba or Puerto Rico to take salsa lessons.
There are many dance studios around the United States that specialize in a multitude of ethnic dances.
This can be a fun alternative for those looking to get out of their comfort zone and are looking to add a little spice of culture in their lives.
13. Make A Travel Music Playlist
Whether you’re going on a road trip or an 8-hour flight music will help get you through any long journey.
So, start creating an ultimate traveling playlist now. Add all your favorite songs and even discover new songs from around the world.
Spotify is my favorite music app. You can search top songs by country, making it really easy to discover hits from around the world.
14. Try A New Restaurant
What’s travel without eating new foods? Am I right!? The best part is that, you don’t have to fly half way across the world to experience new cuisines. New and exciting dishes can be found right in your city.
Just yesterday I was craving Indian food and with a 5 second search I was able to discover a new amazing Indian restaurant in my neighborhood.
Experiencing new flavors are sure to satisfy your nomadic tastebuds.
15. Cook An International Meal
If your tastebuds are begging for some international cuisines, and you’re thrifty in the kitchen look up some international recipes.
You’ll have fun bringing these worldly dishes right into your home.
Even if you’re not an advanced cook, the best advice I can give is to go in with an open mind.
Best outcome, you can add a unique dish to your repertoire and worse outcome you just order take out.
16. Be A Tourist In Your Own City
If you’ve grown up in the same city your entire life you probably think you’ve seen it all, but chances are you really haven’t.
Take this opportunity to discover new parts of your city. Research the “top tourist attractions in ____” or “unique things to do in ____”.
You might be pleasantly surprised at what you discover!
17. Stay At A Fancy Hotel
If you want to take being a tourist in your own town up a notch, why not spend a night in a fancy hotel.
If you have the extra money to spare or, even better, credit card points use. Use them to escape for the weekend.
Maybe order room service or treat yourself to a spa day. Give yourself the feeling of a luxury vacation but without the added expense of the plane ticket.
18. Camp In Your Own Backyard
If you have a house and want to experience a more rustic style of escapism why not dust off some camping gear that’s been sitting in your basement and camp in your own backyard.
This is a good opportunity for those who are thinking of solo traveling and camping but want to test it out before committing to a week or multi month camping excursion.
Pitch a tent, start a campfire and have a personal cacao ceremony underneath the night stars.
19. Wake Up Early To Watch The Sunrise
One if the best parts about traveling is being able to see gorgeous sunrises from different parts of the world.
There’s just a different energy that early in the morning, and you can experience this similar energy right in your hometown.
20. Take The Scenic Route To Work
If you drive to work, you’re probably used to the same old route day after day.
To give your life a little sparkle and twist try taking a scenic route instead.
This might require you to wake up extra early but if it allows you to experience different scenery it should be worth it!
Sometimes all we need a small change from our routine to make a huge positive impact on the rest of the day.
21. Reconnect With Old Travel Friends
If your soul is filled with wanderlust try reaching out to some past travel friends.
It’s always nice to reconnect with old buddies. You can chat about wild experiences you had together, you know those “you just had to be there to understand” type moments.
Maybe it’ll even spark an idea for future travel plans together.
22. Browse Through Past Travel Photos
If you’re feeling a little down about not being able to travel in the future, change your outlook by reminiscing on the traveling adventures you’ve already went on.
Looking at old travel photos brings me back to that very moment in time. It reminds me of all the fun times I’ve had and makes me realize how blessed I was to be able to go on that trip to begin with.
23. Organize Your Travel Gear
With an excess amount of downtime at home, use your time productively by organizing your travel gear.
If you’re like me and get excited about new travel gear purchases, I recommend laying out everything you already own first.
This helps you decided what is still good and what needs to be thrown out.
Keeping all your travel gear in one place will make it much easier for when you finally start packing for that next adventure.
To Sum It Up
If you find yourself at home day dreaming of traveling, you might need a vacation or maybe you are simply a nomad at heart. Whatever the case might be these ideas are sure to cure your wanderlust.
Watch a new travel docuseries or become a tourist in your own city. Heck, maybe even bring Africa to you, with an attempt to cook peanut stew in your own kitchen.
Try all the ideas on the list or just pick a few. Either way, you’ll surely satisfy that travelers desire.
