The Fleeting Beauty of Springtime Travel
The season of soft shell crabs, sakura, and shredding your bucket list are upon us.
Happy Spring! I drove across state lines not once but twice last weekend, first to catch a Savannah Ghost Pirates hockey game and then again in search of the season’s most prized and elusive southern delicacies: soft shell crabs.
We found the crabs and so much more at a restaurant I’ve been dying to try called The Wyld. Serving Lowcountry vibes, high-quality seafood, and an excellent painkiller slushie, this deep river locale outside of Savannah is one that I’m very happy to have in my summer repertoire. I capped it all off with a plant-based lavender latte at my new favorite cafe Fox and Fig, which I know makes me sound like the hipster elder millennial that I am, but it’s a hill I’m willing to die on and I highly recommend checking this place out next time you’re in the hostess city.
Minus seasonal allergies, springtime is arguably my favorite time of year in the south, when the azaleas are in bloom, the humidity is at bay, and soft shell crabs (if you can catch them before they sell out) grace the menus of some of the best restaurants in town.
In Japan, springtime signifies the fleeting beauty of sakura (cherry blossom) season, an auspicious time of year symbolizing renewal and the fragility of life. In the south, late March through early to mid-April (depending on the weather) means the fleeting flavors of soft-shell crabs, a time-honored tradition with a fair amount of hoopla. There’s even an a soft-shell crab festival dedicated to these sweet, salty, and so tender crustaceans which I wouldn’t miss for the world.
Just one of many new food/traditions that I’ve come to learn about and love since moving to the South, I’ll be writing all about it, along with what the transition from New York living to Beau York living has been like in a personal essay for Business Insider so stay tuned!
I don’t know if it’s just me, but there’s truly something magical about traveling in the spring. A short and fleeting window of time where everything feels fresh, and life begins anew. If you blink, you just might miss it.
Whether you’re taking time off for spring break, preparing a seder with family and friends for Passover this week, or getting ready for an epic Easter egg hunt, I wish you safe and happy travels this season.
Here’s what else is my slightly sweet and always salty Southern fried hopper right now.
Fare Thee Well
Goodbye Bucket List, Hello Epic Trips
If you’re reading this, it means you probably like to travel, and if you like to travel, you’re probably familiar with former 52 Places Travel Writer and Editor Sebastian Modak. If you’re not, you should be. He’s a wonderful writer and an equally awesome human according to friends and colleagues who know him.
I was so delighted to read his latest story: “Shred Your Bucket List” for WSJ’s Off Duty Travel section about why it might be time to retire the idea of a“bucket list” in exchange for deeper, less stressful and more meaningful experiences — however, and wherever that is for you.
I gave this a lot of thought on my recent trip to Japan, which is shaping to be one of 2023’s hottest travel destinations. There’s certainly no shortage of articles preaching all of the “unmissable” experiences while you’re there. The reality is you’re going to miss a few things, and that’s totally OK.
After a three year hiatus, I was so eager to see and do all the things on my recent visit. But there are more than 2,000 Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines in Kyoto alone, and after four days and god knows how many steps, I almost felt a sense of relief when it was time to head home.
There are no set guidelines when it comes to seeing and experiencing the best a city or country has to offer, contrary to what Instagram, TikTok, and influencer culture may lead you to believe. So as I was teeing up this month’s newsletter and thinking about potential themes, it was like kismet when Afar’s Letter From The Editor Laura Dannen Redman arrived in my inbox with the headline: Ditching The Bucket List For Epic Trips. Preach sister.
There’s a lot to unpack here, and I highly recommend reading Redman’s letter and subsequent story, but I’m excited to explore this idea further and kick the idea and preconceived notions around bucket list trips once and for all.
Latest and greatest
Recently Published Work
On the up and up
Here’s Where I’m Headed Next
Santa Barbara/Napa (mid-April)
Frisco, Texas (end of April)
Edinburgh/Glasgow (mid-May)
Rome, Venice, and Umbria — (July)
Editors Note
As this newsletter evolves and takes shape, I’d love to hear from you. Anything you think I need to add or change? Anything you want more of? Less of? Talk to me goose. Shoot me an email or drop a comment below. In the meantime, safe travels, happy Spring, and I’ll see you beautiful bunnies back here in May!
XO, Mich
Just found you here and looking forward to
your low country insights. Having lived in NYC for almost 25 years, my husband and I are about to make the move with a house under construction just across the river from Beaufort - outside of Bluffton. Have not yet made it to Beaufort but the couple of trips down so far introduced us to some great restaurants in Bluffton. Looking forward to making the move this summer!
Michelle! We are going to San Diego 6/23-7/7 and the to the Aspen Music Festival for a month! We have a place on the Roaring Fork river. so excited. That would be a great article for you!! xx