mariakoropecky by Maria Koropecky, author of Closer to Indigo
I feel travelling is one of life’s best teachers.
Back in 1994, I stopped in Iceland for a weekend on my way back to Canada from Europe. One sunny April morning, I was standing at the harbour’s edge, gazing toward a mountain, when a local gentleman struck up a conversation with me.
He told me a little about Iceland’s history, but there’s one thing he said that has stayed with me all these years. He suggested I hop on a public bus that travelled all the way around the city—so I could people-watch, see the sights, and get a feel for the place without much effort or expense.
As it turned out, I didn’t take him up on his advice at the time but I’m sharing it with you today because I still think it’s a good idea. It felt like an invitation to experience a place from the inside out and not just through the usual and obvious highlights or tourist checklists.
With that nugget in mind, I thought about what else might be a cheap and cheerful way to explore a place while travelling—something that still gives you a sense of the land and the people who live there. I came up with 30 ideas, everything from going to a park to listening to a local radio station.
And then I thought, Bingo! – I’d make a Bingo card to share with my travelling friends.
When I checked online, I learned that Bingo cards often have 25 boxes and since I already had more than enough ideas for one card, I figured I might as well see if I could create a second one too.
And that’s how my Travel Bingo cards came to be—something playful and portable for travellers like me to bring along the next time we venture into a new land.
You may be familiar with this style of Bingo card if you watch Hallmark romance TV specials with their signature storylines. Mine, however, are more geared toward what may naturally come up when you’re away from home—all positive though – nothing you wouldn’t want to experience.
These Travel Bingo cards are a gentle guide to exploring a new place. Both cards include 24 simple prompts to do, notice, or experience.
Some are familiar and expected, like eating local treats, taking a selfie, or catching a sunrise or sunset. Others invite you into the quieter rhythms of local life: people watching, taking a long walk, riding a cross-town bus, or tuning into the local news.
They’re not about winning or completing every square. They’re about slowing down, staying curious, and letting a place reveal itself to you—often in small, unexpected ways.
You can use the cards however you like. Aim for a full bingo, check off a few squares in a row, or choose one that sounds good when you’re not sure what to do next. They work just as well on a big trip as they do on a weekend getaway, for solo travellers or those travelling in a group, or even while exploring your own city with fresh eyes.
If you’re interested, I’ve turned my two different Travel Bingo cards into printable 5×7 PDFs so you can bring them along wherever you go (or read them on your devices—which, undoubtedly, you’ll have to recharge during your travels… another square on the card!).
If you’d like a copy, I’d be happy to send them to you. Simply send me an email and I’ll deliver the PDFs straight to your inbox—something fun and thoughtful to accompany your next adventure.
Happy trails to you until we meet again,
Maria