Exploring Your Own Town: There May Be More to Discover Than You Think
Exploring Your Own Town
There May Be More to Discover Than You Think
We often think travel requires luggage.
A hotel reservation.
A long drive.
Maybe an airport, where we'll spend $6 on a bottle of water and wonder why we didn't bring an empty one through security.
But sometimes there's plenty to explore without going very far at all.
Think about your own town—or the towns within an hour of where you live.
How many places have you driven past hundreds of times and never visited?
That little museum.
The historic building with the sign out front.
The walking trail you keep meaning to try.
The restaurant everyone talks about.
The farmers market.
The scenic road you've never taken because you were always going somewhere else.
Sometimes becoming a traveler again doesn't require going very far.
It simply requires looking at familiar surroundings with unfamiliar eyes.
Pretend You're Visiting for the First Time
Here's an interesting experiment.
Imagine a friend called and said:
"I'm coming to visit. What should we do while I'm there?"
What would you suggest?
Where would you take them?
What would you want them to see?
Now ask yourself another question:
Have I actually done those things myself?
We have a funny habit of overlooking what's nearby.
People travel hundreds of miles to see attractions while residents living ten minutes away say:
"Oh, I've never been there."
Maybe it's time to go.
Start With Your Local Visitor Center
Visitor centers aren't only for visitors.
Stop in and tell them you live nearby but want to explore your own area.
You may be surprised by what they suggest.
Ask about:
Local attractions.
Historic sites.
Scenic drives.
Museums.
Walking trails.
Festivals.
Farmers markets.
Seasonal events.
Public gardens.
Interesting nearby towns.
Free activities.
Senior discounts.
And places locals tend to overlook.
Pick up a few brochures.
Yes, actual paper brochures still exist.
And unlike your phone, they never announce that they're at 4% battery.
Check Your Chamber of Commerce
Your local Chamber of Commerce can also be a useful starting point.
Many chambers maintain information about local businesses, attractions, restaurants, events and community activities.
This can be especially useful if you'd like to discover independently owned businesses in your area.
Make a point of trying somewhere you've never been.
A coffee shop.
A bakery.
A bookstore.
A little restaurant.
An antique shop.
A gallery.
A farm stand.
You don't need an entire itinerary.
Sometimes one new stop is enough to turn an ordinary afternoon into an outing.
Visit Your Library—Even If You Don't Need a Book
Libraries have changed enormously.
Yes, there are still books.
Thankfully.
But many libraries also offer lectures, workshops, book clubs, technology help, craft groups, genealogy resources, local-history collections, community calendars and other programs.
Some even provide passes or discounted admission to local museums and attractions.
Programs vary by library, so check yours.
And while you're there, ask:
"If I wanted to explore this area like a visitor, where would you tell me to go?"
Librarians know things.
Never underestimate librarians.
Become a Tourist in Your Own Downtown
When was the last time you actually walked around your downtown instead of driving through it?
Park the car.
Walk a block or two.
Look at the buildings.
Read historical markers.
Go inside a shop you've never entered.
Have lunch somewhere new.
Sit on a bench.
Notice what's changed.
Notice what hasn't.
If walking long distances isn't comfortable, make it a driving tour with a few carefully chosen stops.
Exploring doesn't have to involve putting 14,000 steps on your phone before lunch.
Learn the Story of Where You Live
Every community has a story.
Sometimes it's fascinating.
Sometimes it's strange.
Frequently it's both.
Look for:
Local history museums.
Historic homes.
Old cemeteries.
Historic districts.
Railroad history.
Native American cultural sites and museums.
Mining or agricultural history.
Old schools or courthouses.
Historic churches.
Local monuments.
Historical societies.
You may discover why streets have certain names, why the town developed where it did or who lived there long before you arrived.
Knowing the story behind a place changes the way you see it.
Take the Road You've Never Taken
You probably have one.
The road you pass regularly but have never followed.
The highway that continues beyond your usual turn.
The sign pointing toward a town you've never visited.
Pick one.
Look it up first so you know road conditions, distance and available services.
Then go see where it leads.
A scenic drive can be an adventure all by itself.
Pack water.
Bring snacks.
Fill the gas tank.
And give yourself permission to stop when something looks interesting.
That's one of the pleasures of a day trip.
There's no flight to catch.
Explore the Next Town Over
Your "backyard" doesn't have to mean your exact ZIP code.
Draw an imaginary circle around your home.
Maybe 25 miles.
Maybe 50.
Maybe an hour's drive.
Now look at everything inside it.
Small towns.
Lakes.
Parks.
Historic sites.
Scenic overlooks.
Restaurants.
Markets.
Museums.
Festivals.
You may have dozens of potential day trips without ever needing a hotel room.
Look for Local Events
Communities often have far more happening than we realize.
Depending on where you live and the season, you might find:
Art walks.
Outdoor concerts.
Car shows.
Craft fairs.
Farmers markets.
Historical tours.
Holiday events.
Community theater.
Local sports.
Food festivals.
Lectures.
Parades.
Library events.
County fairs.
Check community calendars, local newspapers, libraries, visitor centers and Parks & Recreation listings.
Some of the best outings may also be free.
Try a Local Restaurant You've Never Visited
Exploration can be delicious.
Instead of returning to the same familiar restaurant, occasionally choose somewhere you've never tried.
It doesn't have to be expensive.
Try the little breakfast place.
The family-owned restaurant.
The food truck.
The bakery everyone keeps recommending.
Or drive to the next town specifically for lunch.
There is something delightfully unnecessary about driving 40 minutes because somebody claims a diner has the best pie in the county.
This is exactly the sort of research retirement was made for.
Look for Nature Close to Home
You don't need Yellowstone in your backyard to spend time outdoors.
Look for:
City parks.
Walking paths.
Nature preserves.
Lakes.
Wildlife areas.
Botanical gardens.
Scenic overlooks.
Picnic areas.
Short nature trails.
National forests or other public lands nearby.
Choose activities that fit your mobility and comfort level.
A beautiful afternoon doesn't require climbing a mountain.
Sometimes it's a picnic table, a thermos of coffee and a good view.
Revisit Somewhere You Haven't Been in Years
Exploring doesn't always mean finding somewhere completely new.
Go back.
The park where you took your children.
The neighborhood where you grew up.
The restaurant you used to visit.
The lake where you spent summer afternoons.
The town where your grandparents lived.
Places change.
And so do we.
Returning years later can feel surprisingly different from simply remembering them.
Let Someone Else Choose the Destination
If you usually plan everything, hand the job to someone else.
Tell a friend:
"Pick somewhere within an hour that neither of us has been."
Then go.
Or take turns choosing monthly outings.
One person chooses this month.
The other chooses next month.
There are only two rules:
It has to be reasonably affordable.
And nobody gets to complain about the other person's choice before arriving.
Complaining afterward may be negotiated separately.
Give Yourself a Small Exploration Budget
You don't need a large travel budget for local adventures.
Set aside a small amount each month specifically for exploring.
Maybe it's $25.
Maybe $50.
Maybe more.
Use it for admission, lunch, gas or a small purchase from a local business.
Having money designated for fun makes it easier to actually use it for fun.
Otherwise that $40 has a mysterious tendency to disappear into groceries and household supplies.
Take Pictures Like a Tourist
Bring your phone or camera.
Take pictures.
Not because everything needs to go on social media.
Take them because you're documenting your life.
Photograph the old courthouse.
The wildflowers.
The funny roadside sign.
Your friend eating the enormous piece of pie you drove 40 minutes to investigate.
Create an album on your phone called something like:
Around Home
or
Our Backyard Adventures.
You may be surprised how quickly it fills.
Keep a "What's in My Backyard?" List
Start a running list of nearby places you'd like to explore.
Whenever someone mentions something interesting, add it.
Whenever you drive past a sign and think, "I wonder what's there," add it.
Whenever you see a local event advertised, add it.
Don't worry about organizing everything perfectly.
Just build the list.
Then when you wake up one morning thinking:
"We should do something today."
you won't have to start from scratch.
Pick something from the list and go.
Check Accessibility Before You Leave
If walking, stairs, heat, restrooms or other accessibility considerations matter to you, check ahead.
Call the attraction or look at its official information.
Ask about:
Accessible parking.
Walking distances.
Benches or resting areas.
Wheelchair accessibility.
Restrooms.
Terrain.
Shuttle transportation.
Heat or shade.
You don't need to prove anything by struggling through an outing that doesn't work for your body.
A little planning can make the difference between an enjoyable day and a miserable one.
Tell Someone Where You're Going
Even for a simple day trip, it's a good habit to let someone know where you're headed if you'll be traveling alone or going somewhere remote.
Bring your phone.
Keep it charged.
Carry water.
Know approximately where you're going.
And if you're heading into an area with limited cell service, download directions beforehand.
"Exploring" is fun.
"Nobody knows where I am and Google Maps stopped working 27 miles ago" is a different category of activity.
Don't Wait for Someone Else to Go With You
This can be one of the biggest obstacles.
You want to go somewhere.
But nobody else is available.
So you don't go.
There are certainly outings where having company makes sense, especially in remote areas.
But many local adventures can be perfectly enjoyable alone.
Visit the museum.
Go to lunch.
Walk through the farmers market.
Attend the lecture.
Sit by the lake.
Take yourself somewhere.
You are allowed to enjoy your own company.
And you may meet people while you're out.
Turn One Day a Month Into Adventure Day
Here's an easy tradition to start.
Choose one day every month.
Call it:
Adventure Day.
The destination doesn't have to be impressive.
The only requirement is that you do something or go somewhere outside your normal routine.
One month might be a museum.
Another could be a scenic drive.
Then a farmers market.
A neighboring town.
A historic site.
A picnic.
A community event.
Twelve months later, you'll have twelve experiences you probably wouldn't have had otherwise.
You Don't Have to Go Far to Go Somewhere
We sometimes postpone travel because the big trip isn't possible yet.
The money isn't there.
The timing isn't right.
We're waiting for someone else.
We're worried about flying.
We're not ready for a long road trip.
But exploration doesn't have to wait.
There's probably somewhere within an hour of your home that you've never seen.
Something you've never tried.
A road you've never driven.
A story you've never heard.
A little restaurant where someone is making a pie worthy of investigation.
Start there.
Because adventure isn't measured by how many miles you travel.
Sometimes it's simply deciding that instead of passing something one more time, you're finally going to stop.
There may be far more waiting in your own backyard than you think.
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