After years of living in the same city, finding an exciting place to tour gets really hard. It’s even harder if you were born in the city and have lived there your entire life. So, being a tourist in your own city might seem like a far-fetched idea for most people. Thus, many people prefer the excitement that comes with touring a new city. But with many of us being forced to stay within our local areas for the foreseeable future, being a local tourist has become the only safe way to satiate the urge for touring and adventure. Here is a guide on how to be a tourist in your own city.
1) Book a Staycation
One of the easiest and best ways to become a local tourist is booking a staycation with your family or friends. This could be at a local hotel you’ve always planned on visiting or a fancy Airbnb you’ve never had a chance to stay at. Booking a staycation on the outskirts of the city will also give you a chance to explore the local restaurants and tourist sites that you might have never been too. And if the hotel is close to a forest, park, lake, rivers or interesting landscapes an exploration of these outdoor areas on foot, bike or boat is always going to be interesting.
2) Get a friend to show you their favourite places/activities
Getting a friend to take you to their favorite places can be an eye-opener. As you’ll find yourself visiting places you never knew existed or you would have never planned ongoing. New exciting experiences are what we aim to have when touring new places, and visiting a place your friend enjoys is one way to achieve such an experience.
3) Take a walk in an area of the city you’ve never been to
As surprising as it may be to people from small towns, most city dwellers have never been to all areas of their cities. So, if you are one of those city dwellers go on Google Maps and identify an area that you’ve never been to but looks exciting to you. You never know, you might just find a good restaurant, park or hotel that might end up as one of your favorites.
4) Go to your local stadium to support the local sports team
This only works if you are not a fan of the local team. Cheering on a local sports team live in a stadium is one of the most exciting things in life. The exhilaration and adrenaline rush of witnessing close wins and clear wins and the desperation of losing cannot be described in an article. All these experiences get your heart pumping, hence the fanatism of home fans in any city. As a first-time attendee, it will be a really exciting and unforgettable experience.
5) Visit a local viewpoint
It is really surprising, but most city dwellers have never visited local viewpoints in their city. It is seen as a really touristy thing to do and most locals frown upon looking like tourists. However, the lookout points provide the most beautiful views of the city you will ever see. And if you are bored and want a new experience this is one of the cheapest options you have as a local tourist.
6) Visit local amusement parks
As we grow older, we tend to become more focused on work and school and forget about the little things in life that made us happy as kids. A visit to local amusement parks is one of the best ways to rediscover your youth and relive those happy memories. The amusement park was the favorite place for kids when we were growing up in my city. But once we became teens someone decided amusement parks were too childish. But luckily for us adults who loved the experiences, the Nostalgia industry has been booming recently and the amusement parks are now targeting adults with their new exciting yet scary rides.
7) Visit a museum/archives to learn the history of your city
Almost every major city has multiple museums detailing its founding and its rise to becoming a major city in the region. This makes museums and archives popular spots for tourists and historians. Therefore, as a local tourist, this is an interesting place to visit and you’ll learn a lot about the history of the city you love so much.
8) Take a mini road trip to a nearby city or town
Taking a trip on the backroads to a nearby town or city is really exciting especially if your city is surrounded by forests, wildlife, and interesting landscapes and land features. The backroads are usually empty and unexplored and offer a unique and peaceful experience, especially when traveling with really close friends. So, get your get road trip playlist ready. Adventure awaits you.
9) Visit a new local restaurant and treat yourself to local cuisine
As a local of the city, you have probably had the local cuisine a couple of times. But if you are like most people you probably eat at the same restaurants all the time. So, it’s time to try out the local cuisine at that new restaurant your friends have been telling you about. It will even be a better experience to bring one of them along to share the experience with you. So, go forth and enjoy that meal. It might end up being your favorite restaurant.
10) Seek out new places on Instagram
Instagram influencers have a talent for finding new, unique, and exciting places. So, go on your favorite local influencer’s page and see where they have been going. You might just find a gem hiding among the thousands of posts they publish.
Click the links below to get more insightful tips and tricks:
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I’m a 25-year-old adrenaline junkie from Nairobi. I love travelling, attending music festivals and hiking. You can always find me at K1 Klub House playing pool and enjoying a drink with my friends.
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