Marguerite Hanley, a native Californian living in Amsterdam, is a traveler who has come to recognize the importance of our actions in the wake of a year of introspection prompted by global events such as COVID-19. She has chosen to modify her plans for an ambitious honeymoon in Africa next March, opting instead for a slower-paced trip focused on supporting conservation efforts and local communities in Botswana. Hanley believes that this shift in travel plans will not only benefit the communities she visits but also reduce her carbon footprint. This trend towards slow travel is reminiscent of the slow food movement, which promotes sustainability, local sourcing, and traditional artisanal practices. The enduring appeal of walking the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route in Spain has been around for centuries, but it is now attracting more travelers for various reasons. These reasons include seeking solace from social distancing, avoiding flight-shaming, taking a meditative break, or practicing caution due to the pandemic. These mindful trips involve visiting fewer places and traveling at a slower pace, whether by car, train, bike, foot, or canoe. Kyle Kowalski, the founder of Sloww, a website focused on slow living, explains that slow travel is not just about what you do, but how you do it. Instead of a packed itinerary, slow travel encourages intentionally choosing to do less in order to experience more. Slow travel is not about rushing from one place to another, but rather finding a balance and pace that allows for open time to create spontaneity and space. Many people have experienced a slower pace of life during the pandemic, leading to a surge in the slow travel movement. For example, Julia Douglas, a social media manager in Los Angeles, chose to walk instead of ordering an Uber and took an eight-hour train ride from New York City to Buffalo instead of flying in order to minimize pollution. While commuter train ridership has declined, long-distance train travel has seen a resurgence, with Amtrak Vacations reporting a 47 percent increase in bookings compared to 2019. In Europe, the European Union has designated 2021 as the European Year of Rail to promote sustainable transportation, leading to a resurgence in long-distance train travel. Night train networks have seen a revival, and a startup called Midnight Trains is planning to introduce luxury sleeper cars on routes from Paris to over 10 cities starting in 2024. The pandemic has allowed for more flexibility in travel due to work-from-anywhere policies, with companies like Airbnb and Exclusive Resorts reporting an increase in longer-term stays compared to previous years. The current travel requirements, such as testing and entry applications, are causing delays in the travel process. In the past, travelers would visit multiple destinations in one trip, but now, due to COVID tests and flight disruptions, many are opting for single-country safaris in places like Kenya, Uganda, or Zambia. Getting a COVID test before returning to the United States is also causing delays. Travel experts are recommending adding extra days at the end of a vacation to deal with testing requirements. These practicalities, along with other factors, are slowing down travel plans. There is a comforting allure for travelers who may be feeling overwhelmed after a year of living cautiously due to the coronavirus. Up Norway, a specialized travel company, has begun promoting the idea of "kos," a Norwegian term representing peace, harmony, and gratitude that is achieved through leisurely travel and appreciating the simple joys of culture and nature. This concept contrasts with the typical whirlwind sightseeing trips to popular landmarks like Big Ben and the Eiffel Tower, offering instead 28-day stays in secluded areas of Norway. According to Denise Ambrusko-Maida, a travel adviser from Buffalo, New York, there is a shift away from crowded tourist destinations towards more meaningful and immersive travel experiences. "They do not desire to be crowded and moving slowly in queues." Rebecca Werner, a travel adviser based in Chicago working with Protravel, recently arranged a summer train journey to Glacier National Park for a family of four from Wisconsin who enjoy the Netflix miniseries "The Queen's Gambit." She mentioned that it was a great way for the family to bond, enjoy the scenery, and play chess on the train. For these travelers, focusing on personal interests has become more important than checking items off a bucket list. David Demers from Naples, Florida, who recently sold his health care company, is planning two long trips next year to Israel and the Mediterranean with Untold Story Travel, allowing ample time to explore his passions for history, theater, food, and art. Demers mentioned that in the past, travel was about rushing to see everything, but the pandemic has taught people to slow down and focus on what truly matters. To cater to this new mindset, the travel company Sojrn has introduced month-long trips centered around one destination, each with a specific educational theme such as philosophy in Athens, wine in Italy, or learning Spanish in Colombia. Travellers choose to stay in local apartments and take part in weekly dinners and events, allowing for plenty of free time to work and explore. Cara Wright from Apple Valley, Minnesota, is avoiding overplanning and will be working for a nonprofit while in Italy with Sojrn in October. Donna Hetrick, a potter from Pittsburgh, is opting for slow travel to reduce her environmental impact, deciding against a short safari and instead planning to spend several months biking in Africa with TDA Global Cycling starting in 2022. This longer trip not only helps offset her carbon footprint but also allows for a deeper connection to the destination. She mentioned that being on a bicycle makes you more approachable to others. Slow tourism, which involves travelling lightly, exploring less popular areas, engaging with local communities, and supporting local businesses, is seen as a sustainable form of travel. It is also seen as a solution to overtourism, where destinations like Dubrovnik suffered from overcrowding before the pandemic. Martha Honey, a former executive director of the Center for Responsible Travel, believes slow tourism is more sustainable because it allows people to spend more time in a destination and spread out. She describes slow travel as beneficial for both the traveler, who can immerse themselves more deeply in a destination, and the destination itself, which can benefit from the dispersed benefits of travel. Honey credits the recent movement to support local businesses during the pandemic for popularizing slow tourism principles, as it is seen as less disruptive and more economically beneficial. The popularity of destinations like Alaska and Montana this summer shows that travelers are avoiding crowded places. In a recent survey by Flywire, three-quarters of more than 800 travelers in five countries, including the United States, said they prefer uncrowded destinations. Responsible Travel has introduced an 11-week trip around the world by train and cargo ship for eco-conscious explorers who want to minimize their impact. This journey allows travelers to experience different cultures and environments while becoming more aware of their surroundings. For those who prefer a slower pace, human-powered travel like hiking, biking, and paddling provide a closer connection to nature and allow for appreciation of small details. Kristi Growdon, a personal golf trainer from Seattle, pointed out that cycling allows you to notice things you wouldn't see when driving because of the slower pace. She recently went on a cycling trip to Utah with VBT Bicycling Vacations, a company that has almost sold out all of its domestic departures this year. Meanwhile, membership at the Maine Island Trail Association, which provides access to information about a route across over 200 undeveloped islands along the Maine coast, increased by 23 percent last year. Michael Daugherty, co-owner of Sea Kayak Stonington, emphasized that sea kayaking gives you access to places other boats can't reach, such as the intertidal zone, which is affected by tide and swell. Daugherty and his wife, Rebecca Daugherty, an artist, have paddled 625 miles along the Maine coast and published the illustrated book “Upwest & Downeast” in 2020. Daugherty explained, "I'm a painter, and it takes time to truly see a place." On my 55-day trip, I felt that the pace was not slow enough. Tour operators are now offering more relaxed vacation packages to cater to this trend. Backroads, an active travel company, has launched a new division called Dolce Tempo this year, which offers a more leisurely pace. All 2021 trips are already sold out, and in 2022, they plan to add 100 new Dolce Tempo departures both domestically and abroad, including Scandinavia, England, and along the Danube River. While it only takes about 5 1/2 hours to drive from Denver to Moab, Utah, starting in August, passengers of the Rocky Mountaineer train can complete the journey in two days with an overnight stop in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. The company has expanded the popular Rockies to the Red Rocks route and extended its first season to November 19 due to high demand. The new Aquarius Trail Hut System in southern Utah features five backcountry huts made from recycled shipping containers, powered by solar energy, and spread out along a 190-mile biking route from Brian Head Peak to Escalante. Cyclists journey through Dixie National Forest, Red Canyon's hoodoos, and Bryce Canyon National Park. Jared Fisher, owner of Escape Adventures in Las Vegas, created the system over five years to make bike-packing more accessible by providing food and bedding, reducing the need for extensive gear and planning. Fisher, a passionate bike-packer, has cycled across the United States on three separate occasions. He expressed his love for the freedom and mental clarity that comes with traveling by bike, stating that he enjoys being immersed in nature and experiencing it with all his senses.