So, it appears we’re not going anywhere for a while. Spring break plans, summer plans, quite honestly, plans for next week, are slowly becoming obsolete as the reality of this global pandemic sets in. So it is.
Though we’re physically bound to our homes, our hearts and imaginations are free to soar to the highest heights.
Slowly I’m making peace with the fact that this summer will most likely be spent in quarantine. Instead, with a little help from some amazing television travel shows, I’m using this time to dream up the perfect getaway for whenever time allows.
Before this Coronavirus pandemic hit, my husband and I were planning to spend part of the summer in Mozambique and South Africa. It was to be a dream vacation, now that the kids are old enough and hearty enough for serious travel.
We were about a week away from purchasing our tickets when the travel industry began to grind to a halt.
We still intend to go. We have placed our vacation on temporary hold. In the meantime however, my soul and imagination have embarked on a myriad of sanity maintaining adventures, as I live vicariously through the travels of Samantha Brown, Samin Nosrat, Marcus Samuelsson, and Anthony Bourdain. In short, I have found my wings by watching travel shows.
I don’t have cable tv, instead, I use streaming services, so this list is reflective of shows available beyond cable television.
Take the Trip of a Lifetime Without Leaving Your Home: Travel Shows to Soothe Your Soul:
1) Journy Channel
I was playing around with my television a week or so ago when I came upon the Journy Chanel (no spelling error, there’s no “e” in this journey). The Journy channel appears as a downloadable channel on my Smart TV. I had never heard of it, but decided to explore nonetheless and was pleasantly surprised to find an entire lineup of engaging travel shows.
My Favorites:
The classic Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations. I was obsessed with this show in the early 2000’s. It probably needs no introduction, but just in case, in this 9 season series, the late chef, Anthony Bourdain took his viewers on a cultural and culinary journey through locations far and wide. Full of insight, beauty and equal part snark, this is a must see series if you haven’t already and if you’re already a fan, the series is just as riveting the second time around!
Amazing Hotels, hosted by Giles Coren and Monica Galetti will make you want to grab a notebook and pen and add to your bucket list. Each episode centers around a destination hotel. My favorite episode is their visit to the Giraffe Manor in Kenya- definitely up there on my bucket list!
2) PBS
I am a shameless and unabashed PBS junkie. I love Great Performances, Nova, Masterpiece Theatre, PBS News Hour and I am so motivated and inspired by their travel content. I’m a PBS passport member, which allows me to access their content past and present via the app on my Smart TV or phone. Your local PBS station may not air all of the shows I’m about to reference, but they are all available via the PBS app.
My Favorites:
Globe Trekker, was the first travel show that I can remember becoming obsessed with, in the late 90’s. This epic, 17 season series, follows a rotating cast of hosts as they traverse the globe, exploring the food, culture and customs that make this world such a beautiful and diverse place. The cinematography is stunning and the emphasis is on slow, culturally immersive travel.
No Passport Required, is a newer show hosted by the quirky genius chef, Marcus Samuelsson. In this show, Samuelsson explores various cities restaurant by restaurant, uncovering the cultural nuances of each city through its food.
Curious Traveler, hosted by Christine van Blokland examines the art, architecture and food that define cities throughout the world. This is an excellent show to watch if you’re planning a trip, as you’ll leave full of ideas.
Samantha Brown’s Places to Love, hosted by the one and only Samantha Brown is a fantastic show if you’re interested in places to visit with your family. I’ve been a big Samantha Brown fan since her days on the Travel Channel with Passport to Europe and Passport to Latin America. In Samantha Brown’s Places to Love, Brown expertly guides viewers through her favorite cities, highlighting where to go, what to do and what to eat.
3) Netflix
Netflix has no shortage of engaging and awe inspiring travel related content. Netflix is a streaming service that you will have to sign up for if you’d like to access the various shows. It’s relatively inexpensive, and can be viewed via your phone, computer or Smart TV.
My Favorites:
Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat hosted by chef Samrin Nosrat, explores the culinary traditions of countries around the world as they use salt, fat, acid and heat in their cooking. This show not only makes me want to cook, but with each episode, I am compelled to visit the places she’s been if only for one glorious meal, to experience first hand the food of the region. The vivid cinematography in this series is candy for the eyes.
Tales by Light is perhaps one of the most visually stunning shows out there. The series follows National Geographic photographers as they travel the world to share the stories behind some of the most iconic NatGeo photographs.
The Kindness Diaries follows host Leon Logothetis as he travels around the world via motorbike, existing solely off of the kindness of strangers he encounters along the way. Deeply affirming and full of humanity, this series will make you want to connect with your neighbors and even strangers in ways you may not have thought to before.
So there it is, my list of favorites. This is how I’m keeping my wanderlust at bay, until I’m able to take that dream vacation, we so lovingly planned.
Mozambique, I’ll see you again soon!
What travel shows have you been watching lately? Have you had to put travel plans on hold?