Happy New Year! I’m really excited to be in 2019 for a variety of reasons. For one, I’m hoping for a surge of compassion in politics–and a lot less horribleness. On a much more personal note, I’m on sabbatical this semester from my day job, which means more time for writing and travel. If you live in or near San Diego, Paris, Leipzig, Los Angeles, or Amsterdam, I’ll be in your neighborhood this year!
This brings me to this month’s blogging topic, which is related to travel. If you know me at all, you’re probably aware that I love traveling and do it as often as possible. Visiting well-known places is always a lot of fun. In 2018, for instance, I had a great time in Chicago, Paris, Orlando, LA, and Victoria. But I equally enjoy places that are a little off the beaten track.
Over Christmas week, my husband and I met up with my brother and sister-in-law in Vegas, and we had a blast. We stayed at the Bellagio, went to shows, and ate very, very well. But you know what the highlight was for me? The day we spent an hour away, at Valley of Fire State Park, where we saw petroglyphs, took photos of the gorgeous scenery, and got amazingly close to a herd of wild bighorn sheep. We all got some exercise too, and carried back a whole lot of souvenir sand in our shoes. It cost us $10 plus gas (we brought our own snacks and drinks), and that afternoon will stick with me long after my memories of the shows have faded.
On the way home from Vegas–we live over 450 miles away–we stopped at the Borax Visitors Center. It’s in the middle of the Mojave Desert and is part of the world’s largest borax mine. While it’s certainly not as flashy a destination as, say, Cirque de Soleil or the Bellagio fountains, I really enjoyed it. We got a nice view of the enormous mine, took photos next to a humungous truck, and learned all about the many uses of borates. Trust me–it’s more interesting than it sounds. It was certainly worth a short detour off the highway and an hour or so of our time.
My point here is that the Big Shiny Places are fantastic, but so are the little, quiet ones. This doesn’t apply just to travel. Enjoy the world’s well-known cuisines but don’t forget to sample small regional ones. Go see the blockbuster movies but don’t overlook the little ones that end up in art-house cinemas. Chain stores are great, but don’t forget the locally-owned ones, especially the ones tucked away somewhere unlikely. If you’re a student, take at least one class that sounds weird and is on a topic you’ve never studied. And, of course, read books from bestselling authors and genres you adore–but also pick up a book now and then by an author you’ve never heard of or in a genre you don’t often read in.
You might discover all kinds of treasures! Or at the very least, maybe you’ll come away with a free card containing samples of borate minerals.
What are some of your favorite off-the-beaten-path experiences?
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Kim Fielding is the bestselling author of numerous m/m romance novels, novellas, and short stories. Like Kim herself, her work is eclectic, spanning genres such as contemporary, fantasy, paranormal, and historical. Her stories are set in alternate worlds, in 15th century Bosnia, in modern-day Oregon. Her heroes are hipster architect werewolves, housekeepers, maimed giants, and conflicted graduate students. They’re usually flawed, they often encounter terrible obstacles, but they always find love.
After having migrated back and forth across the western two-thirds of the United States, Kim calls the boring part of California home. She lives there with her husband, her two daughters, and her day job as a university professor, but escapes as often as possible via car, train, plane, or boat. This may explain why her characters often seem to be in transit as well. She dreams of traveling and writing full-time.
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