The Bucket List Slow Travel (1000 Ideas for Scenic Journeys, Cultural Encounters, and Authentic Adventures)

Gorgeously photographed, accessible, and exhaustively detailed, this is one of the first guides to focus on “slow travel,” the latest trend in world tourism.

The true magic of travel is revealed by slowing down. Social media, Substack, and mainstream publications are abuzz with the trend toward mindful travel, centered on the specificity of place. Unlike highly scheduled “city-a-day” itineraries of yore, this is sustainable, low-impact, immersive, and thoughtful—focused on experiences, not a checklist. 

From landsnorkeling in the Nevada desert and stargazing in the “big sky” country around Sedona to wandering the festive holiday markets of Strasbourg and exploring the lush gardens surrounding Lake Como, there is something for everyone. Truly an endless source of ideas, this book covers a broad spectrum: farm stays in Pennsylvania’s Amish Country, seaside Victorian architecture in Cape May, pub crawls focused on where Ireland’s literary greats liked to hoist a pint.

Slowing down leads to deeper engagement with locals, discovering off-the-beaten-path locations, supporting artisanal crafts and artists, and making memories of a lifetime. This also reduces pressure on over-touristed destinations in favor of locations welcoming more exposure.  

Entries are sorted into categories: time in nature, culture at a gentle pace, historic stays and hideaways, slow food and local flavor, mindful escapes, island time and coastal calm, and urban slowdowns.