While many travelers hope to get the most out of their journey with faraway plane rides, consider slowing down and finding your way to the road less traveled.
Walking on the beach at Møns Klint. Libby Scaperotta.
In the spring of 2022, I studied abroad in Copenhagen. My friends and I took advantage of the amazing public transit and metro system to get nearly everywhere. So, when it came time to plan an adventure to the limestone cliffs of Mons Klint, we didn’t even consider renting a car. Instead, we quickly opened our phones to the public transit app to route our trip the night before.
It’s the next morning, and the clock strikes 4:55 a.m. My roommate and I bounced out of bed, hopping into the clothes we had laid out the night before and grabbing our pre-packed bags before heading next door to knock on the neighbor’s apartment. With some begrudging groans from the boys next door, in under 10 minutes we were out the front door and headed toward the metro station.
Our journey began with a metro ride, two trains and two buses. After being dropped off and walking a short distance to the next bus stop, we waited patiently for what we thought would be the last leg of our trip, which never came. We had miscalculated a seasonal closure of part of the route’s timing. This led to the eight of us walking the last three kilometers of the trip on a beautiful sunny day in the Danish countryside. We walked among neighborhoods with quaint homes, beside farm animals and through pastures until we were dropped off at the magnificent cliffside of Mons Klint.
A friend walking along the backroad in the Danish countryside during our adventure to Mons Klint. Libby Scaperotta.
A friend walking along the backroad in the Danish countryside during our adventure to Mons Klint. Libby Scaperotta.
We repeated this process backward at the end of the day. But, as we waited at bus stops and train stations while the sun set, we giggled, shivered, danced and dreamed of a large pizza.
Although this journey to Mons Klint would have taken probably a quarter of the time had we just rented two cars for the group, the day’s adventure was unforgettable.
When traveling, we often try to maximize our two weeks of paid time off with ambitious plans to travel far by plane or private vehicle.
Yet, I am here to convince you to try slower travel. Try taking public transit instead of driving and see where the adventure may lead you. Or, try slowing down on your backpacking trip and volunteer in an area instead of packing up so quickly.
Traveling slowly is not only less costly for your wallet but also for the environment. My first introduction to a flight emissions calculator was a deeply upsetting experience that made me reconsider how I fly. Slower travel, which emphasizes public transport or staying in one place, may be a better option for eco-conscious travelers who hope to explore while still being mindful of their carbon footprint.
If you are interested in slowing down your travels, I highly recommend a volunteer experience or work exchange. These will allow you to stay in one place and save on accommodation and meals while immersing yourself in an area’s pace of life and community. From there, you may be able to take short day trips or weekends away in areas that you may have never otherwise explored. There are several platforms that my friends and I have used to find and plan work exchanges: WWOOF, Workaway and Worldpackers.
You can even integrate slow travel into your daily life. Grab your local public transit card and explore the destinations you may get to by bus or train! You might find a sweet town, a new beach or an adventure within arm’s reach.
Slowing down can be good for you and the earth. And, it may even allow you to decide for yourself if exploring the road less traveled does make all the difference.
Libby Scaperotta
Libby is a recent graduate from Middlebury College, where she studied Environmental Policy and Geography. She enjoys travel, photography, and spending time outdoors with people she loves. She plans to pursue a career dedicated to environmental work and wishes to share important stories that may inspire action.