09 Travelers of the PNW: Grace Madigan

Grace (DD) Madigan, 24

UW political science & journalism w/ a minor in diversity

Hometown: I grew up in North Seattle then moved to Bainbridge Island in middle school where I also graduated high school.

Hobbies: Homebrewing, baking/cooking, listening to music (going to shows when not in a pandemic), eating at new places

What is your relation to the Pacific Northwest?

Grew up here and have stuck around.

Why is travel important to you? (What do you travel for?)

I am privileged enough to have the resources and time to travel. I recognize that and also enjoy the act of traveling. I have a deep desire to see as much of the world as I can. We live in a time where travel is accessible and fairly easy. To not see as much as I possibly can would seem like a shame.

That, and my love of food. Plain and simple. If you know me then you know that I really believe that you can learn about a person or people through food. How they cook, what they eat etc. Getting to try new foods and eat at new places, discover new dishes and cooking techniques is my jam. Anthony Bourdain has a quote: “If you’re twenty-two, physically fit, hungry to learn and be better, I urge you to travel – as far and as widely as possible. Sleep on floors if you have to. Find out how other people live and eat and cook. Learn from them – wherever you go.” And I firmly believe in this sentiment. Through food, you learn about people and ideally far more than that.

What is your most memorable travel experience? How has it impacted your life and future travels?

When I was in India working at a paper through the UW journalism's department's Foreign Intrigue Program I ended up writing a series on women's soccer. I explored how it was developing and the efforts to encourage girls to get in the game since there is still a lot of stigma around them playing sports.

I befriended a group of people who played pick-up a couple of times every week under the lights on a small astroturf field in the middle of the city we would rent out. There were former pros playing and it'd get pretty competitive, I loved it.

I also ended up playing in a 63-year-old tournament that opened up to women for the first time in its history. One of the people I played with and ended up interviewing for the series made a team and invited me to play with them. It was played right by the railway station on a dirt field that was slightly askew. Traditionally the tournament is a barefoot tournament but they let the girls/women play with cleats. It was a surreal experience.

How would you describe your travel style? Are you a meticulous planner or a go-with-the-flow kind of traveler? What are some best practices you have learned to help you travel as best you can in your own way?

To a certain extent I'm a planner but that's just my nature in general. I like to do a little reading/research on the 'big things' to see in a place and decide which ones I want to see. Usually the first day I'm in a new place I'll just pick a general landmark and walk to it. It's not a new idea but I'm a big believer in exploring cities on foot.

As for best practices - like I mentioned I think there isn't any shame in doing your research on what to do and where to eat. These places are popular for a reason. Sure they may not be the coveted hole-in-the-wall that you can brag about but sometimes that's okay. But on the other hand always keep yourself open to new opportunities as they present themselves. Also if you're traveling solo, signing up for a tour or something is a great way to meet other folks who you can do stuff with later.

How does coming “home” (wherever or whatever that may be) feel after you travel?

I think there are always a few days where it takes re-adjusting just because after traveling there's this feeling of infinite possibility, and a peek into just how large the world really is. When you come home you're snapped back to this alternate reality that is so familiar and I think it can be easy to not appreciate the present. Your head gets stuck daydreaming about what else is out there. And to an extent that hunger to keep exploring is healthy but I think it's equally as important to recognize what's in front of you. Coming back home to Seattle always feels like a metaphorical and literal breath of fresh air.

What are your future travel plans?

Once the pandemic is over I would really love to finally take a cross-country trip in China and do some trekking in Mongolia. But I also have really been wanting to do a large trip in South America as well as Central America. Basically I just want to go everywhere.

How has the PNW helped shape who you are?

I love the PNW, it will always be home. I don't think I'll ever be able to live anywhere without a body of water by it, or where there isn't a plethora of green.

If you were to describe the PNW in three words, what would they be and why? Feel free to add a short story that supports your reasoning!

Green, changing, moody. Nature defines the PNW so much, for obvious reasons. Cities like Seattle are continuing to change, making them unrecognizable in parts. While change is inevitable it's always hard to say goodbye to the businesses and places being replaced. And then moody because it's applicable to the weather and therefore the people. In the summer, we are all high on life and ecstatic to live somewhere so beautiful and then the rest of the year we are manically depressed haha.