I consider myself creative, just not in the art class sense. I have always gravitated away from drawing and painting and lean toward photography and digital creations. But recently I’ve felt a tug to play around with paper, pens, colour, and paint.

My love of travel is intertwined with this creative longing. On recent trips, I gazed with interest and curiosity at people who sat quietly while sketching their surroundings. I saw this among the ruins of Pompeii, the shoreline of Nova Scotia, and on a cobblestoned street in Trapani. I have readers who paint from their travel pictures and my heart flutters at the idea of recreating a travel memory on canvas.

“Slow down, Tracy” Catherine whispered as I walked the forest path. Silently chuckling, I heeded Catherine’s advice, slowed my pace and focused on the forest around me.

Slowing down is a skill I attempt to practice in many areas of my life, but I didn’t expect a nature and wildlife photography tour to be the immersive experience I needed to “find” my slower pace. hmmm

Learn how to choose the best camera to travel for photography. DSLR camera vs phone camera - discover the pros and cons of each and get inspired with photography ideas for your next trip. Whether you're a beginner or enthusiast, find the perfect camera that suits your needs and goals and plan some photo fun.

What to see in Trapani: we arrived in Trapani at night. Our enjoyable 6-hour scenic bus ride across Sicily ended in a dark, deserted parking lot outside of town. With phone GPS in hand, we followed the little blue dot along an industrial waterfront and then into the winding, narrow streets of Trapani Old Town. We stopped once to pick up breakfast foods at a grocery store, then found our sweet apartment off a courtyard filled with hanging laundry. We had no clue until the next morning, just how charming this small city was.

I remember nature walks as a child with my mother. Sometimes down a forest trail but more often along a beach, she would always point out little things like a colour, a plant, a rock, or a seashell that I would have blindly passed by. Our pockets would become heavy with heart-shaped stones, sea glass or twisted driftwood. Sometimes my load would become so unwieldy that I’d have to flip up the front of my t-shirt like a kangaroo pocket. Her ability to notice unexpected things made walks feel like treasure hunts.

Have you ever wondered what you do with the hundreds (or thousands) of travel photos on your phone or camera, especially after a vacation? Welcome to photo management overwhelm - you are not alone.

Transitioning back from your travels can be daunting. You have so many stories to tell and experiences to talk about but it can be hard to answer questions like “What was your favourite place?” Or “What were some trip highlights?”

Our feelings of wanderlust can be inspiring, depressing, purposeful, anxiety-ridden, expansive and/or downright frustrating. Understanding those feelings can highlight how to satisfy your wanderlust in different or unexpected ways.