Find Your Blue Space: Why Being Near Water Is One of Travel’s Greatest Pleasures
From European river cruises to Antarctic expeditions and quiet days at sea, sometimes the most memorable travel experiences happen when we simply stop and watch the water.
There’s something about being near water that makes me want to linger.
A river slipping past my balcony. Waves stretching towards the horizon. The gentle sound of water against a ship as I settle into a deck chair.
No appointment. No excursion to get ready for. No task to finish.
Just a moment to enjoy where I am.
We spend so much time planning what we’ll see and do on holiday. The destinations, excursions, restaurants and experiences. And I love all of that.
But after years of travelling, I’ve come to appreciate something else just as much.
The pleasure of having absolutely nowhere else I need to be.
I call it finding my blue space.
What Is Blue Space, and Why Does It Matter?
You may have heard of blue mind — the idea that being near, in or around water can contribute to feelings of calm, relaxation and well-being.
There’s growing interest in the relationship between natural environments, including rivers, lakes and oceans, and our mental wellness.
But you don’t need to understand the research to recognize the feeling.
Think about the last time you sat beside a lake, watched waves roll onto a beach or looked out across an ocean.
Did you find yourself slowing down?
For me, water provides a wonderful invitation to do just that.
And some of my favourite travel experiences have given me the opportunity to enjoy it.
River Cruising: Let the World Come to You
After 16 river cruises, one of the things I continue to love most is the simple pleasure of watching life unfold along the riverbanks.
Vineyards climbing a hillside. A church steeple appearing above a village. Someone cycling along the waterfront. Another ship making its way through a lock.
You can be discovering a destination without leaving your chair.
I’ve sailed rivers throughout Europe and, most recently, Colombia’s Magdalena River. Each offers its own scenery, culture and rhythm.
And while I love the guided excursions, historical discoveries and conversations with local people, some of my favourite moments happen during the sailing itself.
Coffee on the balcony. A quiet stretch on the sun deck. Watching the landscape change as we approach the next town.
You don’t have to be busy every moment to feel connected to a destination.
In fact, sometimes slowing down allows you to notice more.
Expedition Cruising: The Power of Simply Looking
Expedition cruising is often associated with adventure.
Zodiac excursions. Wildlife encounters. Hiking through extraordinary landscapes. Getting closer to places that few travellers have the opportunity to experience.
And those experiences are certainly part of the appeal.
But some of my most memorable expedition moments have been the quiet ones.
Standing on deck in Antarctica, watching enormous pieces of ice drift past.
Looking towards Newfoundland’s rugged coastline.
Taking in the dramatic scenery of Iceland from the ship.
There’s a temptation to photograph everything, especially when the scenery is extraordinary.
I understand it. I take plenty of photographs and videos myself!
But sometimes I remind myself to put the camera down.
Listen to the silence. Watch the movement of the water. Take in the scale of the landscape.
Because while photographs help us remember where we’ve been, the experience of being fully present is something we carry home with us, too.
Ocean Cruising: Rediscovering the Pleasure of Sea Days
One of my favourite examples of finding blue space was aboard Silversea, sailing from Melbourne to Auckland.
There was plenty to explore ashore, but I also loved the sea days.
A leisurely breakfast. A book I’d been meaning to read. A conversation that continued because nobody needed to rush away.
And, of course, finding a comfortable place to sit and watch the ocean.
I think sea days are sometimes underestimated.
Travellers often focus on the ports of call when comparing cruise itineraries. How many destinations? How many excursions? How much can we fit into the journey?
Those are important questions.
But I encourage clients to think about the pace of their holiday, too.
Would you enjoy a day without a scheduled excursion? Time to appreciate the ship, enjoy a wonderful meal or simply watch the horizon?
For some travellers, those quieter days become highlights of the entire experience.
A sea day isn’t necessarily a day between destinations. It can be a destination in itself.
Finding Your Blue Space Closer to Home
Of course, you don’t need to travel to Antarctica or sail across an ocean to enjoy the benefits of being near water.
Here in Ottawa, we’re fortunate to have the Rideau Canal and Ottawa River.
A walk beside the canal. A pause along the river. A few minutes sitting on a bench and watching the water.
Elsewhere, it might be a favourite lake, beach, harbour or waterfront trail.
The important thing isn’t how far you travel.
It’s giving yourself permission to stop.
Leave your phone in your pocket. Forget about counting steps for a few minutes. Find somewhere comfortable and stay a little longer.
No agenda required.
Return on Life: Making Room for the Quiet Moments
Before becoming a travel advisor, I spent 20 years working as a consulting actuary, where measuring returns was part of my professional life.
These days, I think about a different kind of return.
Return on Life™.
What do we gain from the experiences we choose? How do they enrich our lives? What memories, connections and moments of joy do we bring home?
Sometimes the return comes from a once-in-a-lifetime adventure.
And sometimes it comes from a quiet hour on a ship’s balcony, watching the world go by.
That’s why I believe the best travel plans aren’t necessarily the busiest ones.
They’re the ones that make room for what matters to you.
And perhaps a little blue space along the way.
❤️ Where’s Your Favourite Blue Space?
Is it a river, a lake, the ocean or somewhere completely unexpected?
I’d love to hear where you go when you want to slow down and simply enjoy the moment.
And if you’re dreaming of a river cruise, expedition voyage or small-ship ocean journey that offers a wonderful balance of discovery and relaxation, I’d be delighted to help.
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Sheila Gallant-Halloran is the founder of Lush Life Travel, an Ottawa-based Virtuoso travel advisor specializing in river cruising, expedition cruising, small-ship ocean voyages and meaningful bucket-list journeys. A Virtuoso Cruise Icon for three consecutive years (2024–2026), Sheila brings extensive firsthand travel experience to helping clients find their own Return on Life™.
Live Life. Love Travel. Return on Life.™