Explore a New Hobby - Travel

Connie Robinette

April 11, 2025

Why do we travel? For some, it is curiosity, like the song lyrics "The bear went over the mountain, to see what he could see." We travel for a variety of reasons, including seeking adventure, experiencing new cultures, expanding our horizons, and building lasting memories. Whatever the reason, we often find that our lives have been enriched.

Reading, like traveling, takes you away from the ordinary. Be inspired by the writings of Patrick Leigh Fermor, Isabella Bird, Nellie Bly, Anthony Bourdain and others in the Side Notes.

Travel allows us to create shared experiences with friends and family, creating memories that will last a lifetime. It can help fuel our other hobbies, such as cooking, hiking, photography, and birding. Samantha Brown shares her best advice on how she makes travel count, no matter how near or far. Learn how she uses a simple walk to directly connect with a culture, how she deals with the constraints of time, and how talking to strangers will transform a trip.

Whether domestic or international, types of travel we might engage in include, among others, adventure travel, culinary tourism, cultural-historic tourism, ecotourism, exploration travel, and sports tourism.

Whether you are an armchair traveler or looking for ideas for your next getaway, join us as we explore a new hobby - Travel!

Adventure Travel

Adventure travel can inspire you! Agatha Christie went on an archeological trip to Egypt with her husband and using her observations on her travels wrote "Death on The Nile" (see Side Notes). Closer to home, ETV Classics takes us on a virtual archaeological field trip to the Topper Site, where evidence of ice age humans in SC was found!

On Steve Backshall's Expedition Show (Passport) go forth in uncharted territory to uncover the world’s last unknown places. Travelscope (Passport) is an Emmy Award-winning travel series that guides viewers through all parts of the globe, from the villages of Zambia to the beaches of Thailand. Directed and hosted by travel journalist and broadcaster Joseph Rosenado, the series highlights the heritage and culture of each destination it visits.

Considered the father of travel, follow along on Richard Bangs' Adventures with Purpose (Passport) where this renowned adventurer explores the world.

Uniting exploration, photography, and the natural world, the Color of the Islands documentaries follow the best Caribbean photographers as they capture the essence of their home islands. From Barbados to Bimini, the show teaches viewers about the heritage and culture of Caribbean islands and the creative processes that drive each photographer.

Meanwhile, on Real Rail Adventures: Switzerland, host Jeff Wilson showcases the construction marvels and visual splendors of the Swiss rail system, where majesty and machine meet. From world-class mainlines and stunning scenic routes to pioneering steam locomotives and historic cog trains, the program celebrates the triumphs of Swiss engineering and ingenuity.

Bringing us closer to home, Alice’s Adventures on Earth (PBS) adventure filmmaker, travel host, and sustainability expert Alice Ford, explores some of the world's most awe-inspiring natural wonders, from the Smoky Mountains to Joshua Tree. Hiking solo in national parks and other landscapes, she encourages viewers to find adventure in nature, around the world, and in their own backyard.

Alice's Adventures On Earth.

Culinary Tourism

Culinary tourism or food tourism is the exploration of food as the purpose of tourism and is thought to be a vital part of the travel experience.

Whether you experience Original Fare PBS Ireland, Kevin Dundon's Modern Irish Food, Mary Berry's Ultimate Christmas, New Scandinavian Cooking (Passport), Flavor of Poland, Kimchi Chronicles, Simply Ming - PBS Food, Moveable Feast (Passport), Essential Pepin, José Made in Spain, or savor the sights, sounds and flavors of the U.S.-Mexico board with James Beard Award-winning host Pati Jinich we have culinary adventures covered.

Closer to Home we bring Kevin Belton Louisiana Cooking (Passport), America's Test Kitchen, Christopher Kimball's Milk Street, Taste of History, and Vivian Howard's Somewhere South (Passport).

Merry Berry's Ultimate Christmas with Friends and Cristmas.

Cultural-Historic Tourism

Travel brings you closer to culture and history, and Europe is rich with both. On Now Hear This we travel with host, Scott Yoo, chief conductor of the Mexico City Philharmonic in this special mini-series taking viewers on a voyage of musical discovery for aficionados and neophytes alike while on Passport, we can join Music Lover's Europe on Smart Travels with Rudy Maxa. Closer to home, Music Voyager invites viewers to discover Atlanta with host Jacob Edgar as he walks us through the collaborations, influences and artistic conversations.

On Passport, The Curious Traveler host Christine van Blokland guides us through some of the world’s hidden mysteries, meanwhile Lucy Worsley Investigates (PBS) British history, and we also move with her through time and place to ferret out Royal Myths & Secrets.

Rick Steves Europe (Passport) is America's most respected authority on European travel and he shares the cultural and historical backdrop on his adventures.

If you have fallen in love with All Creatures Great and Small, and are considering a trip to the Dales yourself, check out the Masterpiece The Yorkshire Dales: An Armchair Travel Guide,

While on a trip to report on Spoleto Australia, we follow the ETV production team on a Slightly Wacky Aussie Doco (ETV Classics,1986). Carolina Journal presents the ETV Classics Chartres Cathedral, offering a virtual tour of the church.

For the armchair travelers, watch Broadway on PBS and enjoy the vast collections stories on Masterpiece Theater and Great Performances: Dance in America.

Now Hear This - Yo-Yo Ma, Richard Kogan, and Lynn Chang’s Friendship

Ecotourism

Some examples of ecotourism include wildlife watching, hiking and biking, birdwatching, cultural tours, and volunteering. Benefits of ecotourism include environmental protection, economic benefits, cultural preservation, and environmental education.

South Carolina Public Radio explored the economic impact of tourism in South Carolina, including how public/private partnerships can benefit conservation efforts, such as those related to the Palmetto Trail. Coastal Kingdom is a nature series highlighting wildlife habitats in the South Carolina Lowcountry. When you visit South Carolina state parks, or visit SCETV's NatureScene, you are participating in ecotourism.

Making It Grow is an award-winning program produced by SCETV and Clemson University. Host Amanda McNulty from Clemson Extension, along with Clemson Extension Master Gardener State Coordinator Agent Terasa Lott, plus other Extension Agents and featured guests, offer research-based information on a variety of gardening, agricultural, and environmental topics, as well as supporting local farmers and their produce.

Learn about Oconee County Ecotourism on ETV Shorts, as well as about the unique world of ecotourism on PBS Metro Center Outlook and the need to protect these valued habitats.

Watch the PBS documentary Hidden Wild on helping tourism rebound in Palm Beach County. Farther afield, on Nature, we look for Capuchin monkeys in Costa Rican mangroves.

Rudy Mancke's NatureScene visits chronicle the effects of Hurricane Hugo on Bulls Island before, immediately after, and five years beyond the storm, and exemplify the archival scientific elements of ecotourism.

Coastal Kingdom - Ace Basin - SC ETV.

Exploration Travel

Nothing allows for a scenic escape from the ordinary more than riding the rails. The Branchville Railroad Shrine and Museum is the site of the world's first railroad junction. Great Scenic Railway Journeys 30th Anniversary Special (Passport) and Great Scenic Railway Journeys (Passport) highlight the joys of rail travel and the very best of scenic travel. To take a short but exciting local railway adventure, visit the Winnsboro, SC Railroad Museum, find the link within Side Notes.

Using other methods of travel, Samantha Brown Places to Love (SCETV) and Travels With Darley explore the world near and far, while on Go For It, South Carolina's Devyn Whitmire discovers new experiences throughout the Palmetto State. South Carolina ETV's series From the Sky takes you to Riverbanks Zoo and Gardens for a scenic escape!

Take a walk with Rudy Mancke to explore all things nature on the NatureScene series, produced by South Carolina ETV continuously for over 32 years.

For the younger explorers, visit PBS World Explorers to learn about famous explorers, including some who sailed across the ocean, while others rocketed to the moon. Let's Go Virtual Tours offers virtual reality tours of some of South Carolina’s most interesting historical sites.

Great Scenic Railway Journeys. Passport.

Sports Tourism

Tourism is big business for South Carolina. The state Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism puts annual tourism revenue at about $20 billion. The sports tourism boom is helping to revitalize communities and is becoming a major economic driver.

If it can be kicked, batted, tossed, dribbled or hit with a stick of one sort or another, South Carolinians will be all over it, likewise anything with speed, such as the Darlington Race Track or Carolina Cup are sure to be crowd-pleasers.

We love to cheer on star athletes like A'ja Wilson, as when she received another lifetime honor at the Colonial Life Arena with South Carolina retiring her No. 22 jersey. South Carolina Lady Gamecocks are a great local and regional draw to South Carolina. South Carolina Gamecock football, with its vibrant game-day traditions and the Williams-Brice Stadium, is a major draw for sports tourism, offering fans a chance to enjoy the game and the all-important tailgating.

The PGA golf tournament in Hilton Head Island brings a significant economic impact to the Lowcountry and professional tennis will be returning to the Lowcountry , as well.

From the mountains to the midlands to the coast, there is always something new to discover in South Carolina. On SC ETV Go For It, experience some of the most unique and iconic experiences the Palmetto State has to offer including an introduction to the new game, Pickle Ball. From pogo stick freestyle to cornhole, SCETV explores the wacky world of ESPN's OCHO Day in Rock Hill.

The Paris Olympics involved about 10,500 athletes from two hundred countries or regions. The Olympics are more than just fun and games as they are a giant business that generates billions of dollars in income for the International Olympic Committee. They’re also a proxy for geopolitical influence seen through the standings in the medal tables, the presence of world leaders at the opening ceremony and the national anthems serenading gold-medal winners.

Los Angeles is the host city for the 2028 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXXIV Olympiad and will be their third time hosting the Olympics. Learn how Los Angeles is preparing for the 2028 Olympics (PBS). A Look into the Future takes us on a trip to the past as we see how the Olympics helped shape the Los Angeles we know today in this four-part feature article series that chronicles how the Olympics affected its environment, the Olympic traditions from 1932 to 1984, and how these have changed Los Angeles' approach to 2028.

SC Public Radio - A'ja Wilsons SC Gamecock Jersey Number Retired.

Side Notes

The Solo Travel Guide for Seniors: Travel the World Solo in Your 50's, 60's and Beyond Paperback – Large Print, December 6, 2020 by Irma Villanueva.
The World's Most Travelled Man: A Twenty-Three-Year Odyssey to and through Every Country on the Planet – 2018 by Mike Spencer Bown (Author).
A Time of Gifts by Patrick Leigh Fermor.
Why We Travel - Rick Steves. A sonnet to travel.
The Englishwoman in America by Isabella Bird, 1856.
Nellie Bly: Around the World in 72 Days.
World Travel, An Irreverent Guide - Anthony Bourdain.
Destinations of a Lifetime: 225 of the World’s Most Amazing Places Book by National Geographic Society.
Down Under by Bill Bryson.
The Great Railway Bazaar by Paul Theroux.
Food on the Rails: The Golden Era of Railroad Dining by Jeri Quinzio, 2016.
Dining by Rail: The History and the Recipes of America's Golden Age of Railroad Cuisine by James D. Porterfield, 1998.
Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift.
For the young and young at heart, schedule train trips with your family Winnsboro, SC Railroad Museum.
Travel With the ETV Endowment
California Dreaming with Austin Jenkins and the ETV Endowment
The Innocents Abroad by Mark Twain.
Blue Highways – Journey into America by William Least Heat-Moon.
How Agatha Christie’s Love of Archaeology Influenced ‘Death on the Nile’
The Adventures of Tintin. Hergé collected a century's worth of mythic and historic imagery. Through his illustrative art and narrative science, he gave the European comic strip its badge of honor.
To travel to see the Lady Gamecocks, you can consider attending a game at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, SC, or exploring FAM Bus Trips for SEC Tournament games, especially if you're a fan looking to travel with a group.

Explore a New Hobby!
Life can get busy and stressful! Are you looking for a creative escape, want to revisit an old passion, or pick-up a new skills. This blog series will introduce different types of hobbies.
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Explore a New Hobby - Travel