The idea that a simple image on a guide cover could “standardize” an entire first trip to the American Southwest, automatically including lesser-known places, is far from our planning reality.
Here in France, to find hidden gems like The Wave, a preliminary search is essential, not just a visual impulse.
We spend hours on specialized travel forums, browsing blogs, consulting local guides to find precise information and necessary permits.
It’s an active and voluntary approach, much more than a simple linear reaction to a beautiful photo in a book, which in itself does not guarantee discovering authentic places.