People spend a ton of money to get away and see something different. But how well do we all really know our own hometowns?
I like to think my family is out and about quite a bit. But there are fantastic places not far from our home that we just don’t get to very often, and plenty of places we have never been to and things we have never done. Between the kids, work, house chores, and all the things that make up the daily grind, it is easy to get stuck in a rut. We then start dreaming of vacations – getting out of town. But what about getting a little more creative with our weekends at home? When I really sit down and think about it, there are so many things I could do in our metro area with our kids.
Here are some tips on how to be a tourist in your own hometown.
1. Identify what your town/city is known for.
Is your town known for the scenery? The food? Historic landmarks? What attracts visitors to your hometown or city?
2. Check out travel itineraries and blogs to find out what others recommend doing in your hometown.
I have learned about so many neat events and places in our metro area through blogs and travel-related articles. Even if you think you know your hometown well, you may find a recommendation that you were not aware of. When I am feeling like we are in a bit of a rut, or we have a holiday weekend to fill, I will look up what others suggest. Try googling “What to do in [name your city] with kids”.
3. Look up events in your hometown.
My family recently attended a parade in our metro area that has been running for just shy of 100 years. The night before the parade was our first time hearing about it. We decided to go and our kids loved it! I am always hearing of new festivals, parades, and other types of family-fun events. And some of them have a long history in our communities. Often newspapers and community magazines will announce/advertise events, especially around certain holidays. I like to check those out. Sometimes I will Google something like, “Labor Day events in [name your city]”.
4. Make a list of places to visit.
I could probably fill every weekend for a year with new places, restaurants, activities, and events. To keep track of all the options, I like to keep a running list of family-friendly places for us to check out. I put my top 5 or so at the top of the list so that I make sure not to lose track of those ideas as the list gets long. When we are feeling up for an adventure, I can consult the list.
I also have to remind myself that just because I may have seen the attraction, doesn’t mean our kids have. I use our family and out-of-town visitors as opportunities to revisit places.
5. Come up with a plan for visiting new places and attending new events.
Maybe you visit a new museum and a new restaurant every month. Maybe you choose a new neighborhood to walk each Saturday morning of the summer. I find that putting something on the calendar makes me more likely to prioritize it.
