A few months ago, my family and I spent some time in Florida. One of the cities we visited was Miami where we spent several days. When I was in first grade, my family lived in Miami but after all those years, it almost felt like I was visiting a new place. Fortunately, the weather was perfect, and we had a great time. And while certainly the weather can have a big impact on having a great time on a trip, I also attribute the art of “planning well without over-planning” to having a great time.
This was the case with our trip to Florida. Somehow, it’s instinctively in my nature to plan well for trips and still leave room for the unexpected. Apparently, I’m not the Lone Ranger as many travel articles encourage this approach. The articles confirm that planning too little sets you up for things like missing out on good deals for hotels, flights, and featured sights. One could possibly even miss out altogether if things get too booked. Days, hours of operation, and seasons are also important factors to consider. But if one plans too much detail and too full of an agenda, they might suffer in other ways like being overly stressed. And as travel experts agree, sometimes the best activities are the unplanned which makes space for the unexpected. I’m happy to have witnessed the delightful “unexpected” many times.
For example, we were browsing inside an amazing bakery in Little Havana when a local resident overheard our conversations. She then came over and volunteered to help us with the Spanish translations. As nice as that was, she then proceeded to recommend other sights in Miami which we weren’t aware of. The one she was most insistent that we should see is the Wynwood Walls art and fashion district. Since we were not overly booked, we had time to check it out. It turned out to be one of the highlights of our trip and something we’ll always remember. Another unexpected surprise in Miami was the Lincoln Road Mall which we’d never heard of neither. The beautiful row of shops and cafes was a great way to cap the day with the pedestrian friendly street free from cars.
It’s often the case on our trips that the unexpected is one of the most memorable. But I think that also means remembering an important word – “explore”. One of my favorite means of exploring a city is venturing off the main streets and exploring the little side streets. It’s so easy to get tunnel vision when you have your agenda as you zip through the popular roads. But there are often some unforgettable treasures you can discover by simple taking a little time to explore the overlooked side streets. And as already mentioned, we’re always happy to chat with the locals who can take your fun to another level with their knowledge and experience. But it all comes down to planning well without over-planning and making room for the unexpected. How about you, do have a happy memory of an unexpected experience from any of your trips?