My passion for seeing the world has led me to many places over the years and hopefully to many more over a lifetime, but in reality life often gets in the way. Whether it’s limited time and money or family and work obligations, we can’t always get to the places we’d like to visit. I do believe with some effort, those challenges can (and should) be overcome because there is no experience like getting out into our amazing world, but for those times in between trips, I find ways to continue my journey without leaving home. Using my hometown of Atlanta, GA as a backdrop, here are some ways to See The World…Without Leaving Home.
Many cities have international pockets where families from different cultures have settled together for some familiarity to their homeland and culture. From “Chinatown” to “Little Italy” to Atlanta’s own Buford Highway, these areas offer some of the best places to eat, unique inexpensive markets, and beautiful cultural events. In San Francisco, I’ve enjoyed watching a dancing dragon lead a parade through the streets (checkout www.sanfranciscochinatown.com for a list of events.) In New York City, I’ve eaten a delicious Italian meal so authentic I was momentarily transported across the ocean. In Atlanta, we have Buford Highway, also known as the “International Corridor,” located just northeast of the city. Noted mostly for the variety of multicultural culinary experiences spanning all forms of Asian, Indian, Mexican, Middle Eastern, South American, and African, many articles have been written on the best places to eat:
“Eat the World (Yes, the Entire World) Along Atlanta’s Buford Highway” www.bonappetit.com/restaurants-travel/article/atlanta-buford-highway
“Trippin’ on Buford Highway: 13 Can’t-Miss Restaurants” www.atlanta.eater.com/maps/trippin-on-buford-highway-13-cant-miss-restaurants
There’s even a meetup group for Buford Highway Foodies: www.meetup.com/Buford-Highway-Foodies
But I’m not gonna lie, my favorite #BuHi activity hands down is the cheap massages (pun intended). Nothing will ever beat the $6 Thai massages in Thailand, but this is the next best thing when you can’t get there. My go-to is the 1 hour foot massage at Treat Your Feet (there are 2 on Buford Highway, this is the one I like www.treatyourfeetatl.com) for $30. My second favorite activity was drunken karaoke in a private room, pretty sure this is where I was but like I said, I had been drinking and not driving: www.karaokemelody.com.
A visit to the Buford Highway Farmer’s Market (www.aofwc.com) will present you with those hard to find ethnic food items by geographical section, classes on how to cook them, and cultural events such as this weekend’s Russian Folk Music. There are many other International Markets in and around Atlanta such as the Dekalb Farmer’s Market (www.dekalbfarmersmarket.com) and Nam Dae Mun Farmer’s Market with 7 Atlanta area locations (www.ndmmarket.com). Twice a year in the spring and fall, you can visit Atlanta International Night Market for $5/person/day (atlnightmarket.org). The next 3 day event mimicking the common outdoor markets found around the world featuring vendors selling food, drinks, and art as well as music and cultural performances will be Nov 3-5. There are many other International Festivals in Atlanta I remember going to as a child, such as the Atlanta Greek Festival Sep 28-Oct 1 (www.atlantagreekfestival.org) and the Georgia Renaissance Festival held weekends April 15-June 4 (www.garenfest.com). For a full list of Atlanta Festivals including Atlanta Caribbean Carnival, National Black Arts Festival, Festival Peachtree Latino, and Japanfest, visit www.atlanta.net/events/festivals. And don’t forget Oktoberfest in nearby Helen celebrating beer and all things German in north Georgia’s own Alpine Village (www.helenoktoberfest.com).
Many cultures have strong ties to their religious or spiritual centers, and visiting those is a fantastic way to see the world locally. Most will be welcoming if you let them know you are there out of genuine interest and put a little time into researching their customs out of respect (cover your head, take off your shoes, wear long pants, expectations based on gender). You do not have to participate, only observe, but perhaps some of the practices will speak to you and become part of your own spiritual journey. After a recent medical mission trip to Haiti, members of our team were invited to the Good Samaritan Haitian Alliance Church where our coworker and fellow missionary is the pastor. We were treated to beautiful music in French and English followed by a Haitian lunch and fellowship with members of the church. We visited the smaller location in Marietta, GA (www.gshac-kennesaw.org) while the larger location is in Lawrenceville. There are many Buddhist centers around metro Atlanta, particularly around Decatur, and I’ve recently discovered but not visited The Self-Realization Fellowship in Smyrna (www.srfatlanta.org). Most churches, synagogues, temples, and mosques are very welcoming to newcomers interested in learning. Experiencing a culture through religious practices different than your own yet finding the commonality among them all defines spiritual awakening.
Art and film are another avenue for exploring the world without a passport. The High Museum in Atlanta (www.high.org) is home to many multicultural permanent collections featuring African and Eurpoean Art as well as traveling pieces such as the previous Van Gogh and China’s Terracotta Army exhibits. I used to claim movies with subtitles were too much work, but you truly do forget you are reading and as such become even further enveloped in the world the film is presenting. Atlanta offers many opportunities through film festivals such as the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival in January and February (www.ajff.org), Cinema Italy in April (www.cinemaitaly.com/atlanta), Atlanta International Film Festival in May (www.atlantainternationalfilmfestival.com), and the Atlanta International Documentary Film Festival in September (www.everfest.com/e/atlanta-international-documentary-film-festival-atlanta-ga).
One of my favorite things to do when traveling is hiking to viewpoints and waterfalls. Well lucky me because those exist all over metro-Atlanta and north Georgia. Kennesaw Mountain and Stone Mountain offer a brisk workout culminating in breathtaking views of the entire city. Amicalola Falls is the largest waterfall in the Southeast at 729 feet, located a little over an hour north of Atlanta in Dawsonville (www.gastateparks.org/AmicalolaFalls). Atlanta Trails offers many other hiking options including this 4 waterfall day trip I’ll be doing soon: www.atlantatrails.com/hiking-trails/georgia-waterfall-road-trip. Another favorite hiking spot of mine is Sweetwater Creek State Park where you can hike down to the ruins of a textile mill burned during the Civil War (www.gastateparks.org/SweetwaterCreek). Not to mention any time spent in or on Atlanta’s Chattahooche River makes for a good day. Raft rentals with downstream pickup are available from a number of companies (the one I use seems to have had their website hacked so I’m not sharing). Most cities have a plethora of parks, and Atlanta is no different, with our largest being Piedmont Park. Riding a bike is a good way to see a lot of a city at a slower pace. There are 2 major bike paths in metro-Atlanta, the Silver Comet Trail for a woodsy ride and the Atlanta Beltline for a more urban setting. North Georgia even has a wine trail featuring local wineries and vineyards (www.visitgeorgiawineries.com). Into beautiful sunset photo ops? Well those happen daily everywhere on this planet, and there’s sunrise too if you’re fortunate to be up for that calm and quiet part of the day. Being out in nature, taking in the sights, smells, and sounds is as in touch with the world around us as one can get.
Not an outdoorsy type? Take the elevator up to the top of the Westin Peachtree Plaza in downtown Atlanta and visit the Sundial Restaurant though it is temporarily closed due to a recent tragic accident (www.sundialrestaurant.com). To avoid the hefty meal tab, just go to the bar one floor up for the same views at a lower cost. I learned this trick in Boston’s Top of the Hub in the Prudential Building and Chicago’s Signature Lounge in the Hancock Building—skip the observatory fee unless you’re interested in the history lesson and just go the bar! Even Atlanta's tourist options offer a chance to see the world whether you're tasting Coca-Cola from around the world at the World of Coca-Cola Museum (www.worldofcoca-cola.com) or scuba diving with whale sharks in the largest aquarium in the Western Hemisphere (www.georgiaaquarium.org)--don't worry, you can also see the 10 million gallons of marine life on foot.
If you can’t get somewhere in person, media provides the next best way and can be done from anywhere anytime. Reading a book about a foreign land can make you feel as if you are there. Ann Morgan is on a quest to read a book from every country; here’s the list of the 196 she’s read so far: www.ayearofreadingtheworld.com/thelist. Reading blogs like this one is a fabulous way to experience the world, be sure to check out my other posts! A few of my favorite travel blogs include: www.whereintheworldisnina.com, www.psimonmyway.com, www.hippie-inheels.com, www.hackerette.com, and www.chloevsworld.com. Listening to podcasts is another great way to learn about the world, and I do so via The Amateur Traveler Podcast (www.amateurtraveler.com). Lastly, Instagram offers an endless wealth of amazing travel photos including my page @see.be.change_theworld (www.instagram.com/see.be.change_theworld). All of the bloggers listed above have IG pages as well. Here are a few more of my other favorites: @trotterhop, @wonguy974, @sh1nebrighter, @namaste_38, @tonymurrayphoto, @dude.vs.world, and @untilifindhome. Just search for #travel to find an endless array of photos from around the world.
If you’re reading this blog on your computer or smartphone, you are already living a vastly different life than much of the world. Unfortunately you do not have to go far to find poverty nor do you have to go far to help. If your wish is to go on a mission trip in a foreign country, start by volunteering in your own community through a food kitchen, park cleanup, or tree planting project. Build a home with your local Habitat for Humanity chapter, help an immigrant family displaced from their home by war and violence, or visit a nursing home to learn about the residents’ lives here and abroad. “Love begins by taking care of the closest ones—the ones at home.” –Mother Teresa
I am fortunate to live in a large diverse city with much to offer. I hope you all live somewhere that you can see the world without leaving home! If not, it may be time to move ;)