A background tune for reading this newsletter:
I have this thing about grocery stores in unfamiliar cities and countries: I love them. And not for that obvious reason that they provide us with food, drink, lip balm, and necessities. (Although, hey, those are all near the top of the list.)
But these trips to the grocery store (a.k.a. supermarkets; and of course we can’t forget my faves, bodegas and convenience stores) while on a trip are kind of the most exciting part for me. I really can’t tell if I’m even being hyperbolic, because I truly madly deeply feel so happy in these spaces.
Why though? Is it the way the aisles are arranged? The way you know you’re far from home by the different brands stocked or or the locals you observe? The wild chip flavors? How the chocolate looks and tastes better? The fact that you’re probably there to stock up for a day of sightseeing or a road trip to the next city?
Or maybe it’s math you do in your head to make sure you didn’t really just spend $12 USD on an exquisite glass bottle of French water. (I’ve fully done this even in the States, my excuse being that I was on vacation and all rules were out the window.)
I didn’t think I cared so much about grocery stores until I realized I kept a mental list of all the ones in different states and countries I wanted to visit. It’s bizarre! I know! I’m making lists of grocery stores in my head? Somebody please find me a hobby or just admit you’re also keeping a list.
Anyway, I’m sharing this special list with you today and yes, some of you will laugh but I absolutely accept that. If someone from outside my home state of Michigan told me their dream was to go to a Meijer or a Kroger if they ever visited, I’d tell them to dream bigger.
So please, feel free to tell me to dream bigger. But know I’ll be dreaming bigger while also checking these stores off my list:
Vons in, well, any California location: I know. A Vons. But I’ve heard the name enough times to know I should be heading there on my next trip to California. (Jury’s out on which Vons is is the best Vons.)
Gardiner Market in Gardiner, Montana: a bit of a wild card here. But since I’m constantly talking about wanting to visit Montana, why not go to a charming, rustic grocery store that has a mountain view? Bonus points if I see a horse in the parking lot.
Fresh St. Market (Vancouver House) in Vancouver, B.C.: I’m a sucker for floor-to-ceiling windows and this place is covered in them. I’m also sensing some strong Whole Foods vibes going on in there.
Any coastal location of Pão de Açúcar in Brazil: A nod to Good Trip founder Brandy, the exterior of this chain looks vibrant, its interiors spacious, and it’s also named after a mountain peak?! Sugarloaf Mountain (translated to: Pão de Açúcar) in Rio de Janeiro, to be exact.
Any Sainsbury’s location in London. Have you never heard a beauty blogger talk about their millionaire shortbread bites? If not, keep up. Because apparently they’re life-changing.
Have any more to add to the list? Flashy location or not, I’m all ears. And probably hungry now.
Natalie
Good Trip Contributing Editor
Read All About It
ISO of a beach read, plane companion or lazy Sunday escape? We're recommending some of our favorite place-inspired reads (see all our recs in our Bookshop.org shop).
Sex and Vanity
by Kevin Kwan
The author of Crazy Rich Asians parachutes us into the lives of the wealthy, with half the book taking place at a lavish wedding in Capri, and the other half among the mansions of The Hamptons. The definition of a perfect light beach read.
Shop it here
Humans
by Brandon Stanton
In the past 16 months, we haven't had a lot of chances to meet and interact with new people, one of the great joys of travel. In this coffee table book, Humans of New York creator Brandon Stanton shares snippets of interviews with people from around the world in poignant, inspiring and all around touching ways.
Shop it here
The Air You Breathe
by Frances De Pontes Peebles
Take a jaunt back in time to 1930s Rio de Janeiro in this tale of female friendship between a samba singer and her best friend, her lyricist. With subplots on a Pernambuco plantation and Hollywood, you'll travel through time and places.
Shop it here
Pachinko
by Min Jin Lee
A family epic that spans four generations in Korea and Japan throughout the 20th century, Pachinko draws you in from the first page to the last — exactly what you want on a vacation read.
Shop it here
Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood
by Trevor Noah
The Daily Show host weaves stories from his childhood with background on apartheid in South Africa in this moving memoir. Learning about racial history and inequality in other countries can help us reflect better on these subjects in our home countries.
Shop it here
The joy of "just going"
"In the heat of the day, I was thrilled to once again be doing the fascinating work of puzzling out a place I didn’t know, and it was also a relief to be alone and unknown."
We love this piece by Alexander Lobrano about how small distance travel, even if it's a 15 minute train ride away, can be just as fulfilling as a massive trip abroad.
Off to find a dog to hike with…