Always on the lookout for new things to share with our readers, I am pleased to share a fun site that explores travel within your own backyard, as well as around the world. The site? Transient Travels, written by Susan Forshner. Susan writes of everyday adventures, with elan. She makes you think again about how we go about our daily lives, and has certainly sparked more of a sense of adventure in me, for when we head out and about. I love her articles - they are wide-ranging, from free things to do in Montreal, to one of my favorite topics, epicurious travel. Warning - once you dive into Transient Travels, you'll be addicted.  We were lucky enough to sit down and talk with Susan about her site, adventures, memories, and more. Here's what she had to say...

WE: Please tell us about your site, transient travels...

SF: transient travels is a personal travel blog that captures fleeting, everyday adventures through the perspective of a girl who is adventurous at heart, but does not get on a plane as often as she’d like.

Living in Boston, I naturally shed light on the local Boston scene much of the time, but I also recap past adventures and more current travels along the way.

Though transient travels is a travel blog, you won’t read about things like the cheapest hotels in Boston or the most efficient way to pack—I try to keep my posts somewhat anecdotal, but personal and most of all relatable.

For me, transient travels is meant to satisfy the constant itch to get on a plane. For my readers, my hope is that it serves as a reassurance that there are many degrees to the avid traveler.

WE: What was the genesis of your site?

SF: At first, I was hesitant to start a travel blog because I felt insecure about my travels. They are few and far between in comparison to the trips written about in some of the amazing travel blogs I follow every day. I also feared that because I travel infrequently, I would not have a steady flow of content.

The more I thought about what I was afraid of, the more I realized that just because I am not on a plane all the time, it does not mean I don’t love to travel—the definition of travel can be flexible and to me, the main criteria is a sense of adventure.

Realizing that one can have a sense of adventure anywhere in the world, I decided that my blog would serve as the medium through which I would appreciate that fact and share it with others like me.

WE: What are your favorite topics to share with readers?

SF: I like to share my memories of past travels. We all tend to forget the minor details of an experience as time passes by, but I find that the real takeaway is residual. Relevant events or thoughts in everyday life can move us to think about a past travel experience in a new way. I like to share those anecdotes because I feel like more people can relate to them, even if they have never traveled to the location I reference.

For example, I once blogged about my experience eating Irish food while living in Ireland. The post began as a self-deprecating explanation of my inability to cook. However, it caused me to recall some of my past experiences living in Ireland and it allowed me to revisit the memories of my “culinary” adventures there in a unique way.

While not everyone has been to Ireland or is as flawed as I am in the kitchen, I am sure that many can relate to struggling with something new and adjusting to a new culture.

WE:  How do you suggest travelers turn the local or everyday adventures into something special?

SF: Finding answers to this question is my unending quest.

I think the piece of advice that makes the most impact, but requires the least amount of travel is: research your hometown. Find historical landmarks, read about the history and its relevance and find pictures of what each corner of your town looked like in the past.

You will begin to see places you have walked through and seen a million times through a much different perspective.

I did this in the town in which I grew up. One Saturday I took a day trip to a nearby neighborhood and I felt like a tourist in my own town.  

WE: How do you propose giving back, while exploring locally? (we support
local farmer's markets, etc. is what i am thinking?)

SF: Supporting the small businesses in your hometown is a great way to give back.

If you were to compile a list of items that you purchase on a regular basis, I am willing to bet that there is a local alternative somewhere for almost everything. While it isn’t realistic to upend your daily routine, it is worth narrowing down some of the items you may purchase at a retail store or chain and commit to buying them local.

Start off small.

I recently discovered an independent design market  a few miles from my home that sets up shop once a month. They have amazing clothing, art and jewelry created by local designers.

I have made a commitment to hold off on purchasing jewelry at retail chains and when the market revisits, I stock up.

It is also exciting to visit locally owned restaurants and boutiques that are off the beaten path—it’s amazing how many hidden gems are nearby when you really look.

WE: Is there anything else you'd like to share with us?

SF: One of my favorite parts about blogging is the community. Between Travel Blog Exchange, Twenty Something Bloggers, and the additional blogs I have added to my reader along the way, it is amazing how many people and places I can stay in touch with through the community I have inadvertently built around my blog.

I love being able to network in this way because it allows me to continue to learn about other people, cultures and most of all, other’s adventures.

WE: Thanks so much, Susan. I love visiting your site and enjoyed reading your background and philosophy behind it!

For more information, please see: http://transienttravels.com