Beyond the Olympics: The Nearby Cities Everyone Forgets to Visit
- Christianne Klein
- 23 hours ago
- 4 min read
There’s something about an Olympic city that pulls you in before you even arrive. You feel it in the anticipation, in the way the world seems to narrow its focus onto one place, one moment, one shared experience. And when you get there, it delivers- the energy, the scale, the sense that you’re standing in the middle of something global and unforgettable.
But what I’ve learned through years of covering travel on television and now living this “Life Over Seas” chapter with my family, is that the most meaningful part of a trip like this almost never happens in the place everyone is talking about.
It happens just beyond it and often in ways you least expect it. A slow day of canceled plans due to weather becomes a chance to see an Opera or explore a museum inside that you never would be able to visit any other way.
Because while everyone else is rushing into the host city, there’s this incredible opportunity to step slightly outside of that spotlight- and that’s where travel shifts. It becomes less about spectacle and more about connection. Less about covering a destination and more about actually experiencing it.
Take Paris. During the Olympics, it’s everything you imagine- iconic, high-energy, completely alive. It’s the Paris people dream about (or of your nightmares if you can't deal with the crowds). But then you go just a little further to Reims, and everything changes. The pace softens. The crowds thin. You find yourself lingering over a meal, over a glass of champagne, over conversations that don’t feel rushed. It’s still extraordinary, but in a quieter, more personal way. And as a storyteller, those are the moments I’m always looking for.
The same is true in Italy. Milan is a focal point- buzzing, stylish, full of movement. But then you arrive at Lake Como, and you exhale. The light, the water, the stillness- it all invites you to slow down. And when you’re traveling with your family, especially when you’re trying to turn the world into a classroom for your child, those are the places where the learning really happens. Where history, culture, and experience come together in a way that feels tangible.
In the U.S., you see this contrast so clearly with Los Angeles. When the Olympics arrive, it will be bold and dynamic and full of that unmistakable L.A. energy. But just up the coast, Santa Barbara offers something entirely different. It’s relaxed, grounded, and effortlessly beautiful. It’s where you go to reset- to take everything in and actually process the experience you’re having. There are so many options to explore: San Diego and Palm Springs to the south, Lake Arrowhead in the mountains. The gorgeous California coastline. It's the places that surround these magestic cities and regions that add a new dash of magic.
And that balance is everything.
Because here’s the reality: Olympic travel is incredible, but it’s also intense. The crowds, the logistics, the pace- it can be a lot, especially for families. And I’m always thinking about that lens, both as a journalist and as a mom. How do you take something that big and make it feel meaningful? How do you create moments that your child will remember- not just because they were there, but because they felt something while they were there?
I moved to Salt Lake City right after the Olympics. The energy stayed for months, but so did the frenzy. I don't think my colleagues exhaled for 4 months after the last Olympic skier left Park City.
For me, it’s about building in those “in-between” spaces.
The Olympic city gives you the shared global moment- the headline, the energy, the story everyone is talking about (why I am so obsessed with curling now??) But the nearby destinations give you something else entirely. They give you room to connect. To explore. To turn the trip into something that feels like your own.
And increasingly, that’s how we’re seeing people travel.
It’s not just about going where everyone else is going. It’s about layering the experience.
Pairing the big, iconic moments with places that feel more intimate, more immersive, more real. It’s about understanding that sometimes the most memorable part of the journey is the part that wasn’t on the original plan.
That’s something we’ve leaned into deeply with our own travels- choosing experiences that allow us to step into the world, not just observe it. And it’s why these nearby cities aren’t just add-ons. They’re essential to the story.
So yes, go to the Olympics. Be part of that energy. It’s unforgettable for a reason.
But then give yourself permission to step just outside of it.
Because just beyond the city everyone is focused on is where the trip becomes yours.
Christianne Klein is an Emmy® and Edward R. Murrow Award-winning TV Host, journalist, travel and lifestyle expert, and founder of FoodFamilyTravel.com.
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