The Glow Travel Formula
If you’ve been following along on my travels and wondering how to do it yourself… start here
When I’m exploring new city, I’m not just looking for things to see… I’m looking for how I want to feel. And for me, that feeling always starts the same way.
A great cup of coffee.
A place to get lost in stories.
And a little bit of shopping that feels like discovery, not obligation.
It’s simple, it’s intentional, and it works anywhere in the world. In fact, before I even book a trip, I’m already making sure my destination has at least one of each. That’s my baseline.
Follow this, and no matter where you are, your day already has a little glow built into it.
The Formula
Coffee
When I’m exploring a new city, I almost always start with a coffee shop.
Partly because I’m an early riser when I travel… but mostly because a good coffee spot gives me a moment to land. It’s where I sit, open my maps app, and loosely map out my day without rushing into it.
But more than that, it’s my front-row seat to the city.
The passersby. The pace. The energy. The people who actually live there.
I try to skip the chains and find a local café whenever I can. That’s where the magic happens. I’ve gotten some of my best recommendations just by asking the person behind the counter or chatting with someone nearby.
It’s not just coffee. It’s orientation. It’s connection. It’s the soft start that sets the tone for everything else.
Get Lost in Books or Music
No matter where I go, I’m always searching for a bookstore, a library, or a vinyl record shop.
I love a small, cutesy, independently owned bookstore… the kind you can wander through with no agenda. One of my favorites was in Porto, a stunning shop that inspired Harry Potter… and you could feel that sense of wonder the second you walked in.
Vinyl shops are the same for me. I can lose track of time flipping through records, discovering new sounds or finding something nostalgic.
Books and music are how I immerse myself in stories… and every city has its own story to tell. This is where I slow down enough to hear it.
Unique Local Shopping
When it comes to shopping, I’m not looking for malls. I’m looking for moments.
Vintage stores, antique shops, and small boutiques are always at the top of my list. That’s where you find pieces that actually mean something… things that reflect the style, culture, and personality of the place you’re in.
Shopping this way feels less like buying and more like discovering.
One of my favorite examples of this is right at home in Maryland. I love spending an afternoon on Maryland Avenue in Annapolis, where you can find everything in one place… a cozy coffee shop, a bookstore, a vinyl record store, plus vintage, antique, and boutique shops all within walking distance. A little pocket of magic.
And that’s really the goal when I travel… finding those pockets in every city.
✨ The Result
If you follow this formula, your day doesn’t need to be packed to be meaningful.
At minimum, you’ve had:
A great cup of coffee
A moment to get lost in books or music
And a little adventure in finding something uniquely yours
And somehow, that always turns into a day you’ll remember.