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Let’s face it, business travel doesn’t exactly set the stage for truly experiencing WHERE you are.  For example, a recent expedition I set out on went as follows:

Woke up in San Francisco. Flew to Minneapolis. Had meetings. Next day flew to Chicago. Had meetings. Next day flew to Los Angeles.  Had meetings. Had more meetings. Flew back to San Francisco.  By Friday– I could have been in a moon crater and I would only have about a 50% chance of knowing where I was.

And this is a dilemma for someone who actually likes to travel, such as myself.

So this week I had a wake-up-fly-to-Boston-have-meeting-have-another-meeting-then-fly-back-to-New York-in-one-day experience.  Business, of course, plays center stage of the theatre production called My Crazy City Career, but here’s the supporting character in this performance: Adventure.

I’d never been to Boston!  I really wanted to experience Boston!!  New Place!!! New People!!!! New Adventure!!!!!

Was I able to do any of this?

No. Not really.

But I did what I could in the small windows (um. literally.) I had.  Here are my tips to experiencing a new place when you have little time to do so:

1.  When entering the New Place, open your eyes! If you’re flying, look up from your laptop or away from the tv screen and check out this New Place.  An aerial view is a great way to get a sense of a New Place. (Boston!  My face was basically glued to the little oval window soaking in the amazing historic-looking estates in the outskirts of the city, the white or brick church steeples, the purposeful boats in the harbor, the crazy zig-zagged streets of the city, etc.)  If you don’t get to this New Place by air and you’re on a train, in a car, or perhaps arrive via beaming mechanism, my advice stands. Open your eyes and look around! (especially if you’re driving. good tip.)

2.  In this New Place, be on the lookout for at least one detail that is A. unique to the location B. unique for you (something you see for the first time?).  Really. Challenge yourself to spot just one thing, ONE THING, that is different from what you see in your “usual” day to day.  And yes, I know, you’ve got a lot to do…very important things…blah blah blah.  But…ONE THING.  That’s all I’m asking for here. (In the Boston Logan airport I saw a row of white rocking chairs.  So cool!  Bringing a little bit of New England feel into the airport… well done!)

(photo by Matt Walker)

3. Take five minutes to relax yourself enough to receive this New Place. The architecture, the rhythms, the dialect, the food, the smell– receive it.  Look, I know… you’ve got a Very Important Presentation you need to prepare for in your mind or a Very Important Meeting that needs to go “your way”… but to that I say this: relaxing enough to get yourself grounded where you are could actually help you to achieve success with whatever you’re there to accomplish.  And taking a few deep breaths and noticing the life of a New Place can help you feel more alive in yourself (as opposed to feeling like a walking, flying, taxiing, laptop toting, smart phone addicted, Crazy City Career Zombie). (En route back to the Boston Logan airport, the taxi driver drove us along Newbury Street. Newbury Street!!  Charming and astute architecture, trees lining the street, great feeling.) (*Sigh*) (*Smile*) (*return to checking emails*)

(This photo is not mine and doesn’t really capture what the street felt like to me…but it’s what I could find for now and shows a bit of the charm. Well, sort-of-but-not-really. Look, I don’t have time take an actual picture. Very Important Emails to be checked…)

4.  Be Grateful. You have a job!  You’re exploring new land!  You’re getting out and about when otherwise you’d be cooped up in an office with office air and office chairs and office desks and office colors.  While biz travel may add stress to your already stressful day, feel gratitude for at least one small moment. You’re alive.  You’re doing your thing.  You’re experiencing a New Place.

Safe travels and remember to (at least try to!) enjoy the show!