With many of us spending a lot more time at home or at least not venturing far from our own cities during the pandemic, now is the perfect time to take advantage of the many offerings close by. In fact, many world travelers are more familiar with destinations that are thousands of miles away than they are their own towns. In fact, there are now apps for that like UCPlaces.
Whether you purchased one of the Memphis houses for sale and want to explore the Birthplace of Rock ‘n Roll, you live in a west coast city, an east coast town, or somewhere else, here’s how to be a tourist in your own city.
Visit Your Chamber of Commerce of Welcome Center
Many cities have a welcome center or visitor center filled with information on the local attractions and activities, with brochure kiosks and the like. Staff members are there to provide information to visitors – even if you’re a local, you can take advantage of them too. If there isn’t one in your town, try one of the hotels. Most have brochures in the lobby, and the desk clerk is also a great source – ask what they would usually recommend to tourists.
Join a Walking Tour
Walking tours have become increasingly popular, with most cities around the world offering them – and many are even free, although you should tip the guide what you feel it was worth. Google your city to find one. In addition to walking tours, there are likely to be many other options and odds are, you’ll discover sights you never knew about.
Explore Your Local Museums
Have you visited all your city museums? Chances are you haven’t. It’s time to make a list and start exploring them. Many offer history, science, and art museums along with quirky options too.
Check Out the Parks
Take advantage of a nice day to discover the parks your city offers. Bring a picnic and do some people watching, you might just find a favorite you’ll look forward to visiting often.
Visit Historic Landmarks
Delve into your city’s past by visiting the historical landmarks. Google is your friend – a search is likely to turn up plenty of options that might even fill an entire day or more. The next time you have friends or family members visiting, you’ll be able to recommend some good options too.
Attend a Sporting Event
Even if you’re a baseball fan who attends MLB games frequently, there are probably other options for attending sporting events in your city. Maybe there’s a minor league team, a local soccer team, lacrosse, roller derby, or another sport you haven’t considered.
Rent an Airbnb or Hotel Room Downtown
If you don’t live right in the city center, consider renting an Airbnb or hotel downtown that puts you in the heart of the action. There may be no better way to get to know your city, with everything just steps from your door. You can hang out at one of the local coffee shops or bars and get to know more about daily life. Of course, if you already live downtown, you might rent a place in the suburbs to find out what it’s all about there.