The advice about show v. tell is usually missing a crucial element: when to show and when to tell. I’ve read far too many works of fiction rendered tedious by writers misconstruing the advice to “show” by describing each step of their character grooming herself in the morning, walking to her car, inserting the key in the ignition, buckling her seatbelt and adjusting her review mirror, checking her lipstick, etc. etc. etc. until she finally arrives at the actual scene where the story (hopefully) moves forward.

The advice to show should be tempered by “show the things that matter.” If the character is in a new scene the reader can safely assume she arrived by some mode of transportation (and likely groomed herself that morning without the writer needing to describe the cool minty flavor of her Colgate toothpaste).

So yes, do show. But show what’s interesting and tell anything that would be tedious to show. Good writers know when that is.