Sometimes in the movies or on TV, you see people throwing a dart at a map while they’re blindfolded to pick their next vacation destination.  Sometimes they’ll spin a globe and stop it with their finger.  Wherever the dart lands on the map, or wherever they place their finger on the globe, that’s where they travel.  Most of us don’t have the budget or free time to go absolutely anywhere the dart or finger lands (“Hey!  We live in Halifax and the dart hit Tierra Del Fuego!  Pack your bags, everyone!”).   But practicing this dart-throwing or globe-spinning exercise can help you brainstorm and plan your next trip…even the destination determined by the game is not the actual destination of your next trip.  Here’s how:

1. Find an old-fashioned paper map and hang it on a wall.  If you can’t do this, spread it out on the floor.  If you have a globe, proceed to step 3b.
2.  Next, find a lightweight projectile.  It doesn’t have to be a dart - it could be a touchscreen stylus or another thin object.  You also can use one of those sticky wall-descending frogs from a dollar store.     

3a. Throw your projectile at the map without aiming for anywhere in particular.  Watch out for other people as you throw, even if you’re not fond of them. Let it land naturally on the map.

3b. Globe users - spin your globe and lightly touch it to stop it, without aiming for any particular destination.

Your dart or finger may cover several countries, territories, states or provinces at once. If this is the case, don’t think too hard…pick one quickly.  Any one of them. 

Congratulations!  You have a travel destination.   Don’t immediately reject it in your mind.  If you’re not familiar with the destination, research it a bit.  How does one get there?  Is it remote or near a major urban center?  What are the culture and language like?  The weather?  When is the high tourist season, if there is one?  Is travel there restricted by political situations or environmental impossibility?  Finally, search for transport and accommodation prices to get there and stay there.  

If it is truly impossible for you to travel to the destination you landed on, a.k.a. Destination Alpha, don’t throw the dart or spin the globe again.  Think about what you would enjoy about that destination.  Find another destination that is feasible that also features what you like.  Don’t necessarily pick a place closer to home.  Start with what might be the next most feasible place to travel, and do the same research.  If the second destination is not feasible, continue this process until you have what you think might be a feasible travel destination.

Carrying out this exercise will help you feel more invested in your trip.  It’s OK if you can’t get to Destination Alpha this time.  You might even have wonderful travel experiences at your second, third, or even 17th destination choice that you never would have known about if you hadn’t gone through the research. It does happen.