On slow travel
What is slow travel – and why is it important?
On slow travel:
Slow travel is a growing movement worldwide, particularly post-COVID, as people emerge from nearly 3 years of global travel restrictions and being stuck at home. For those travellers with chronic wanderlust, there is no greater hell than being stuck in one place, especially if a well-stocked pantry is merely steps away from your home office.
Slow travel is considered to be a focus on the connection and exploration of a region’s culture, food, arts and its people. It may include areas such as language, farming and viticulture. At its core, I think, is searching for authenticity.
The new Ironwood Cider House/Sunnybrook Farm I recently visited in Niagara-on-the-Lake
Slow travel examples:
Some examples of slow travel activities may include: hiking, cycling, backpacking, camping, spiritual quest, taking cooking classes, wine tasting experiences, working on a farm or vineyard. Maybe you have your own ideas of slow travel.
There are many benefits to slow travel, including: enrichment, education, mindfulness, relaxation, self-development, self-reflection, discovery and health (mind/body/spirit). It may also give one a sense of being a responsible tourist.
Slow travel originated in the food industry. It is said to have been born in Italy in the ’80s, as a protest to the opening of McDonald’s in Rome. I mean, who wouldn’t want to hang out in Rome for a while to eat authentic pizza and drink delicious vino?
And so, slow travel has been around a long time, but now we are only more conscious of it. That consciousness is growing in tandem with climate crisis concerns. For many, it is swapping of plane travel for more sustainable and environmentally-friendly ways of transportation. For others, it is taking time to get to know a place, its people and way of life.
My summer slow travel plans:
This summer, I am going to embrace slow travel and focus my attention and energy in Ontario’s Niagara “wine country” region. In particular, I am taking the time to visit Niagara’s wineries to increase my knowledge about wine, explore the culinary scene, meet the people, spend time in vineyards, which I find peaceful, and learn more about Canada’s wine industry. Wine education, frankly, is a never-ending pursuit. Thank Dionysus!
So far, this spring, I have visited nearly half of the 40 wineries in the Niagara-on-the-Lake wine region. In some cases, it was a brief drop-in to check out the premises, in others I spent more time exploring. Some are large commercial operations and others smaller boutique wineries, which I have a growing appreciation for. I will be writing more about my wine travels in the coming weeks, but in the meantime, here is a list of the wineries I have visited so far this season:
Niagara-on-the-Lake Wineries visited (so far):
Inniskillin Wines
Reif Estates Winery
Strewn Winery
Wayne Gretzky Estates Winery & Distillery
Trius Winery & Restaurant
Stratus Wines
Caroline Cellars
Marynissen Estates
Frogpond Farm Organic Winery
Ironwood Cider House (Sunnybrook Farm)
Bella Terra Vineyards (Pondview)
Konzelmann Estate Winery
NOMAD at Hinterbrook Winery
Peller Estates Winery & Restaurant
Two Sisters Vineyards
Jackson-Triggs Niagara Estate
And so, as I put my summer plans into action, I will be spending time on the road and will report on my discoveries and experience soon.
I would love to hear about your plans for slow travel for 2022. Drop me a message or reach out on social media and let me know.
Shannon Skinner is an author, international speaker, creator/host of ExtraordinaryWomenTV.com, and a travel and wine writer. You can find her on Twitter at @Shannon_Skinner.
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