While I often head off on adventures near and far, I also love spending time close to home and exploring my own backyard. Whether you don’t have the resources or the time to head off to an exotic land, you can still be a traveler…at home! All you need to do is find a place in your own area to have an adventure and take it all in. So here’s how to be a traveler in your own backyard.
Research your own area like you would if you were traveling there.
Before we travel to some place new, I do a ton of research. Why not do that for your own area? I bet you’ll find all sorts of things you never even knew were there and activities that would be great to try. Take the time to look into your area how you would if you were a tourist and you’ll find things you never expected to.
Read blogs or buy a guidebook on your home city.
A great way to add to that internet research on your home area, buy a guidebook on your home city or scour blogs for info on people that do travel there as tourists. You’ll see your city from the perspective of a tourist this way and be able to get yourself into that mind set to explore your area with fresh eyes.
Wake up early or stay up late.
One thing Nick and I do a lot when traveling (and hardly ever when home), is to get up for the sunrise or stay up for the sunset. In the scope of our daily lives, we’re too busy to schedule around that, but why not take a weekend and get up to see the sunrise over your home city or stay up to see the sunset over the horizon. It will make you see your home in an entirely new way.
Try a restaurant you’ve never tried.
One thing we do a lot to get out of the rut of routine at home, try a new restaurant. Whether it’s in a new neighborhood you don’t go to often or just a new kind of food you’re not used to, give it a try and you’ll feel like you’re on an exotic adventure.
Photograph your hometown or area.
Nick and I are terrible about really photographing Portland. When we travel, we always have cameras with us, but we rarely do when out and about in Portland because it’s home, we’ve seen everything a million and one times and it’s not new anymore. But a great way to feel like you’re traveling even when at home, take your camera with you and snap as you would if you were traveling. You’ll walk away seeing a totally new side of your own city.
Jill Charpia says
Excellent points. I try to do this all the time here in the Denver area. It makes me get out in my local area because there is truly so much to do (until my tail can get on the road again). Thanks for sharing!
Jill Charpia
TravelTillYouDrop.com
Casey says
Totally! Especially when you live in an area with so much to do, it’s so important to get out there and do it!
Christine Everyday says
We are doing this big time right now since we just moved to the area this summer. There are festivals literally every weekend (it’s a major tourist area) and so we have loved going to all the different ones and learning more about the area we moved to!
Casey says
Nice! That makes it even better if your home city is a tourist spot!
Kati Rose says
One of my favorite things is exploring my hometown like I was traveling. I’ve seen and done so many things that I’ve loved that I normally would’ve never attempted or even heard about in my two decades living here.
Casey says
That’s so great! It really gives you a different perspective of your home town!
Kristin says
These are great tips! I’ve been loving exploring Hawaii as if I were a visitor here – it really lets you dig deeper into a place and really look at all the interesting things you normally just kind of glance at, notice, and then have to pass because you’re heading somewhere else when you’re traveling. Unless you’re smart and plan in more flexibility on your travels than I usually do :p
Casey says
YES! Especially in Hawaii, there are so many fun things to do to explore like a tourist!