The consensus on the question I posted before seems to be that it's okay to encourage travel, but that we need to encourage traveling BETTER, whether that means encouraging choosing trains over planes, taking longer trips, seeing things in a different way, etc.
My question now is HOW? How do I as a content creator do that? I mean, just lecturing people about sustainability or whatever isn't going to help. I'd love some PRACTICAL ideas on how to encourage better travel.
So far I'm trying - not always succeeding - to avoid writing about the places that are very popular and instead focusing on lesser-traveled places. I'm avoiding big general listicles and instead trying to write about much narrower topics. As much as possible, I'm traveling by train or bus rather than plane and that'll come through when I write about a place. Any other suggestions?
Comments
Mine:
1. Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, USA
2. Bondi to Bronte, Sydney, Australia
3. Casablanca promenade, Casablanca, Morocco
4. Vondelpark, Amsterdam, Netherlands
5. Dubrovnik (non-old city), Croatia
This was a much harder exercise (no pun intended) than I originally thought. I've left out so many incredible runs but these are my favourites, with SanFran taking the gold medal.
I bloody love this run! It's a got a bit everything; fresh pine smell, crisp mornings, fellow runners, incline, decline, bison, an old Dutch windmill and the pièce de résistance: a beach at the end - if you make it down that far of course.
As you can tell, I love a coastal run - not only for the views but a swim after. If you want more info about any of these runs i.e. where to start, end, how long, hot tips etc, ping me.
Tell me your top 5 - different country for each!
The most beautiful run I've ever been on was along the water in Capetown. 10/10 would recommend!
If you're thinking of fun runs (non- competitive) Africa has too many to be listed here (at W4A we're launching an outdoor marketplace listing them all).
My favorite competitive run in South Africa is the Comrades Marathon, a 56 mile down-run from the inland city Pietermaritzburg in KwaZulu-Natal to the coastal city Durban. It alternates between up- and down-runs each year and is the oldest marathon in Africa (est 1921). This year, its an up-run (Dbn to Pmb) happening June 10.
So hard to pick only 5, these are my memorable ones:
1 - Along Po River, Turin - Italy
2 - Chinatown, Bangkok - Thailand
3 - Beach Promenade, Balneario Camboriu - Brazil
4 - Snow run in Brandnertal - Austria
5 - Marrakech Medina, Morocco
I used to do a lot of running & sightseeing when visiting a new place, now my knees are killing me 😂
The Marrakech Medina run would be wild!
I used to run from Bab Doukkala to the Cyber Park and then do a few laps around the park. It was the only place I didn't have to duck and weave every two steps.
Kenya has beautiful trails. Lewa Conservancy, Litein, Limuru Tea Plantation trails, Mt.Kenya Lake Ellis, Mt.Longonot.
Madeira, Portgual... trail running paradise
1. Along the beachfront in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil - Leblon, Ipanema, Copacabana, Leme (around the lagoon in Lagoa would be good alternative - though a lot hotter usually)
2. Around Phoenix Park in Dublin, Ireland
Yucatan, Mexico! It's great for long distances because it's flat. The humidity makes you sweat fast and helps you to stay cool. I would recommend running first thing in the morning because of the intense sun. There are races every weekend.
The most beautiful run I've ever been on was along the water in Dubai . 10/10 would recommend!
I’m from Hawaii, the only full marathon I’ve ever run is the Honolulu Marathon. Mostly because I’m slow and there’s no time limit, but also it’s a beautiful course starting off with fireworks at 5am (it does get hot later so the early start is welcome!), Christmas lights in downtown, seaside views and a finish at Kapiolani Park in the shadow of Diamond Head. :)
I also used to love the Nike Women’s Half Marathon in San Francisco each October until it was canceled. Hilly, but so well organized and nice cool temps + wine country the next day as a reward! :)
South Beach in Miami (USA)