Hobbies and traveling: A fantastic combination!
How will hobbies make your trips more fun?
Hobbies will make your trip exciting because they will help you connect with a place, other like-minded travelers, and possibly some locals.
Remember, your trip doesn’t have to be all about sightseeing. Your hobby will allow you to plan your journey according to your interests. Taking a day or more off to practice your hobby can enhance your travels by making your trip more about you and less about what ‘you should do’ when you visit a specific place. So travel with a hobby!
What kind of hobbies can I bring on my trip?
When it comes to choosing a hobby to bring on your trip, choose something easy to carry. For instance, you can create a compact watercolor kit just for traveling. If sketching is your thing, you only need a few good pencils and a small sketchbook. Is photography your passion? All you need is your phone or camera, and off you go!
What if I love to cook? I can’t carry that hobby!
If you are passionate about cooking, seek out cooking classes and workshops in the places you’ll visit. You might discover something fascinating and extend your stay for a longer course.
I joined cooking classes in Malaga, Edinburgh, Lisbon, Cambodia, Badajoz and other places. During my courses, I met people who gave me foodie tips and joined some fellow students for dinner and walks during my trip. I visited food and flower markets that were not on the tourist path. My cooking adventures allowed me to see places only locals knew. Such a pleasure!
How and where can I find my hobbies in the places I visit during my travels?
The internet is your best friend. Websites like Airbnb Experiences, Viator, and Meet-up often offer a variety of workshops and classes. Do a general search on Google and see what comes up. Remember to read the reviews before signing up. Additionally, you can join local Facebook groups or forums related to your hobby in the places you’ll visit to connect with local hobbyists and get insider tips.
What if I don’t have a hobby but want to find one for my solo trip?
Let’s find a new and exciting hobby for you!
Answer these two questions:
What are your favorite activities?
What is something that you have always wanted to learn how to do?
How to find your hobby
Let’s say that you like to walk. You can make walking your hobby but more interesting by adding something to your walk.
Go on history walks or foodie tours on foot, or join short, easy, or hard hikes if you are in shape. These outings will make your trip more personal and around something you like to do.
If you like cooking, sewing, knitting, writing, and sailing, look for those activities before traveling and sign up!
You may want to learn how to do something. There are short workshops that are easy to join, or you can search for a private teacher for a few days. I took painting classes on one of my trips, and they changed my whole perspective of the city I was visiting. I have been painting since!
How traveling with a hobby makes your solo trips more interesting
Solo trips are fantastic because you can do what you want to do whenever you want. But they can be lonely at times. A hobby will distract you, keep you busy, and you won’t feel alone.
Why not incorporate your hobby so that you feel more fulfilled during your downtime?
If you don’t like to eat dinner alone, search for an evening cooking class. It’s a great way to be around other people, you won’t feel lonely, and you’ll learn how to make a new dish. Win, win.
I always take my sketchbook to dinner and sketch things around me, making me less aware of being alone at a restaurant. A hobby makes you look at things differently.
Sketching or drawing are fun travel hobbies because they allow you to slow down your trip and enjoy the scenery you are sketching. Sketch on the trains, in restaurants, or in plazas. Sketching or painting will keep you busy and teach you about your surroundings.
Have you heard of urban sketchers? They are a group that gets together to sketch different parts of the city, and some travel to different places to sketch all sorts of situations. Search “urban sketches” and add the city you are going to. We have many groups of urban sketchers here in Lisbon. It’s a great way to meet new people!
Plan a trip around photography. Search for megalithic stones or do a trip around flowers and landscapes. Does architectural photography interest you? Go to cities with cool buildings. You can photograph with your phone or a camera, which are both portable and easy to carry. Join a photo walk to meet fellow photographers and get to know the city, or join a workshop.
Travel with a theme
I am a big fan of traveling with a theme, and I plan trips around my interests, whether traveling solo or with friends. My hobbies have always been part of my themes, and some trips have only been about my hobbies.
How can you plan a trip with a theme?
Theme: Botanical gardens
Choose something you like or something you want to do. For example, if you like botanical gardens, go to places with botanical gardens and make your trip to the gardens. If you travel to the UK, go in the late spring, when the flowers bloom, and choose cities with botanical gardens. It will be such a treat!
Theme: Learning how to cook the perfect paella
Do you want to learn how to make the perfect paella? Go to Spain and attend paella cooking workshops in every city you visit. You will learn so much, and by the end of the trip, you will know how to make Spanish paella and how to tweak it to your own taste!
Theme: Photographing megalithic stones in Portugal and Scotland. Now there is a fascinating subject that will take you to places in the middle of nowhere and to popular places such as Stonehenge!
Join classes and workshops.
Do you want to do a photography trip? You can join a class in France or go on a National Geographic expedition.
More photo tours: Jim Cline photo tours
Painting vacations for singles
Remember to research your workshop well. Understand what is included in your stay, and read reviews about the location, rooms, food, and quality of services. If you have any doubts, write to the organizers. If they are dismissive, look elsewhere!
More ideas for your trip with a theme:
Ceramic workshops.
Week-long hike.
Sewing, knitting, or weaving fabric workshops.
Baking bread.
Glass blowing.
Calligraphy.
Basket weaving.
Have you heard of VAWAA?
Vacation with an artist! Find something you like, choose an artist who resonates with you, and book a session. There is nothing like working one-on-one with an artist. It’s relaxing and a great way to learn something new or to take your hobby to the next level.
A friend recently did a workshop in Spain with VAWAA artists and was delighted with her experience. She learned so much and was lucky to bond with her artist host, who gave her a fantastic restaurant and other tips for her trip.
Hobbies and travels
Traveling becomes much more enjoyable when you incorporate a hobby into your adventures. Get out of your comfort zone and learn something new during a solo or group trip.
A week-long retreat or a few random workshops will spice up your trip. Are you traveling with friends? Imagine the fun of attending a workshop with friends—it could be an incredible bonding experience and a great way to create lasting memories.
Why hobbies are good for you
Hobbies are the best invention ever! You do a hobby for fun, so change it when it stops being fun! A hobby is a way to get to know an activity that helps you relax or satisfies your curiosity. You cannot get paid for a hobby; it’s not a job.
The benefits of having a hobby
Hobbies help you relax. When you get involved with your hobby, you will take a break from your work, daily routines, and responsibilities. The more engaging your hobby is, the more relaxing it will be!
A hobby will help you lower your stress levels.
Hobbies help you get out of a rut. Do something different, step outside your comfort zone, and let your creativity take over.
Hobbies are good for your mental health because they will distract you.
Hobbies help you spark your creativity.
Hobbies can be a fun and easy way to meet people.
You do not have to commit to hobbies, so if you don’t like something, do something else. A hobby is something you do for yourself, so never feel guilty for changing it.
Take your hobby with you when you travel, or travel to do your hobby! Hobbies make life so much more enjoyable.
Marguerite Beaty, Blogger, Photographer & Artist
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