Forget jet-setting. ‘Lore-tripping’ is the weird new way Gen Z is traveling

When planning a vacation, many might look for a warm spot to escape the cold weather, a romantic destination for an anniversary, or maybe a cultural hot spot for art geeks. But Gen Z seems to have different priorities when it comes to booking a getaway.

According to a recent trends report from Airbnb, Gen Z is looking for travel destinations with an added story, or lore, referring to the trend as “lore-tripping.” Think visiting a small town with a folk legend or a remote locale with distinct architecture—young travelers want to return from their trips with a story to tell.

“Lore-tripping is basically traveling for the story. Instead of saying, ‘I want to go to the biggest or most famous destination,’ Gen Z is asking, ‘What’s kind of the weirdest, most interesting story behind a place?’” Alex Bender, senior communications manager at Airbnb, told AOL.

Bender highlighted Point Pleasant in West Virginia as an example of the trend. The town, where the Mothman legend came about decades ago, now has on-theme attractions like a museum, a statue, and a festival.

It’s not just legends of monsters that are intriguing Gen Z. Another popular destination for the young generation is Leavenworth, Washington, where a former logging town in the Cascade Mountains has been reinvented as a Bavarian village in Germany. There, visitors can get authentic cuckoo clocks or attend alpenhorn concerts.

These lesser-known destinations not only allow travelers to experience quirky attractions or learn about random lore, but they also help Gen Zers to afford a vacation.

The lore-tripping trend seems to be taking over the generation. In fact, 90% of Gen Zers surveyed find small towns or under-the-radar destinations appealing for fall escapes, and nearly half have actually booked a trip to one.

Airbnb’s Bender added: “So it’s less about looking for the most obvious destination and more about finding a place where you can come home with a really great story.”