As I’ve developed The Mini Getaway Guide philosophy for travel, I’ve tried to keep in mind that I need my short trips to be restorative, not a harried attempt to speed run through a city to see everything in three days’ time. I love slow mornings, getting ready at my own pace, and feeling like my trip has been cultivated to my personal tastes.

Here’s how I map out my getaways so they feel intentional, evenly paced, and refreshing.

Knowing My “Travel Top 5”

On previous trips, I noticed that I was tiring out if I added too many items to my to-do list. Because of that, I’d find my excitement waning about certain things I’d added to my itinerary. I started narrowing my plan to the activities I truly enjoy instead of the ones I felt I should do in each city. I realized that I needed to focus on the activities that bring me joy, that I can spend hours getting lost in, so I created a list of travel priorities that will direct me to what I know I’ll want to experience.

Here’s my Travel Top 5 (in no particular order):

• Hiking or taking walks in scenic outdoor retreats
• City history and tours
• Local delicacies
• Bookstores
• Aesthetically pleasing millennial hipster coffee shops

I encourage you to consider your own Top 5. This could be anything from watching live music to cycling to trying to find the best burger in the world. It’s your call. Make your list personal and authentic.

Researching My Top 5 and Local Highlights

Locking down my Travel Top 5 made it way easier to research my destinations. I stick to looking for the best hiking spots, Googling culinary offerings that are unique to that area, or finding walking tours or museums to learn about the city’s history.

I’m also open to exploring the special elements of a city, even if they’re outside of my usual interests. What does the city tourism site highlight? What do locals say visitors absolutely shouldn’t miss? What are the hidden gems or off-the-beaten-path sites that locals suggest? If I think I’ll enjoy some of the recommended spots, I’ll put them in the running. If they don’t pique my interest, I leave them off the list even if they’re cited as a “must do.” My only “must do” is “must do-ing” whatever the heck I want.

Once I have my list of options, I move onto the next step.

Choosing Key Moments

My rule for myself is “no over-scheduling,” so I hone in on two major events per day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon or evening. I’ll build the rest of my prospective itinerary around those two daily activities, working in other items that are nearby or that make sense as far as navigating the city with the available time. I often do more than those two marquee activities, but they’re the ones I’m most excited about and take precedence in my agenda. Everything else acts as a supporting character that could get cut for time.

Getting Over FOMO

I had to learn that just because an opportunity is available, it doesn’t mean I have to take it. If I’m not filling every second, I must be wasting time, right?! There are so many things to do that it can get overwhelming and it’s easy to feel pressured to capitalize on everything an area has to offer. Checking in with my values, the well-paced style of travel I prefer, and my previously created list of priorities helps me learn to let go of the fear of missing out and enjoy the present.

Allowing for Flexibility

While I’m naturally a planner and relish in my itinerary, I recognize that new ideas could present themselves or that someone might recommend a spot that’s too good to pass up. While I want to honor the key moments I planned, I like to leave room for spontaneity surrounding those moments…or as much spontaneity as a scheduling queen can handle.

I usually have a back-up list to reference if a site happens to be closed or if I wind up with extra time, but I do what feels best in that moment, like popping into stores that catch my eye or people watching in a city plaza. Some of my most memorable moments have come from detours or a casual recommendation that led to something I never would have found on my own.

Balancing Group Plans with Personal Priorities

I often travel solo (Check out my post about the pros and cons of solo travel), but I absolutely enjoy taking trips with others. As a big ol’ nerd who takes comfort in spreadsheets, I usually wind up coordinating group trips. I ask my travel buddies to each pick one thing they’re most excited about doing in our location of choice, which is a great starting point to craft a group Top 5. I use that as my guidepost for planning as I would if I were traveling by myself.

Not all travel companions are going to be interested in handing over the reigns or may express varying levels of desire to participate in decision-making. Or maybe they’re the type of people who like to throw caution to the wind and just see what happens! I suggest discussing your values about traveling and not pressing an agenda. What sort of experiences do you each want to have? How do you want to remember the trip in the future? What do you want to feel like on the trip itself (exhilarated, blissful, or perhaps like an old school sea captain – literally what a friend told me as we were preparing for the trip in the pic below)? Concentrating on the bigger picture can help you get on the same page without immediately getting caught up in the minutia of your trip.

The more I travel in this intentional manner, the more I look forward to each trip, not because I’m checking off landmarks, but because I know I’ll come back feeling refreshed with amazing memories. I’d love to hear how you plan your getaways. What’s your Travel Top 5? Let me know in the comments or share with me on Instagram!