Frolic Like a Tourist

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(Central Park Reservoir, NYC photo taken on my June 2010 road trip)


Think back to a time when you were a tourist in a new location. What did you do to experience your surroundings?

If I am in a city, I like to walk around gawking at the architecture, savoring (or gagging at) the scents (or stenches) wafting in the air, studying the people walking by and listening to their accents. I like to stop in and try restaurants that are indicative of the area's culture or specialty, admire local art or museums, and maybe even strike up a chat with someone who lives there to find out what it is like first hand. If I am visiting a nature place, I like to explore meandering paths, read the plaques in the visitor centers or along the trails, soak in the various new noises I hear from the wildlife at night or paddle a canoe down the river for a different view.

In either case, I am sure to have my camera on hand or at least take extra care to soak in the sights and sounds in order to carry the experience with me in a vivid manner for future reminiscing.

This heightened awareness and eagerness to explore are easy to summon up when you are on vacation, but it is possible to have as much fun adventuring in your own town. I have talked to many people in St. Louis who have lived here for decades and yet, have never seen the Arch or the Fox Theatre! I was guilty of this in Tucson as I lived there for five years and never "got around to" visiting the Grand Canyon six hours away!

It is a learned skill to be able to explore a familiar area in a new way, but once you develop it, I think you will not only appreciate your immediate surroundings more, but also have a more enriching time when you travel to unfamiliar lands. My parents were skilled in this area and we spent many weekends making an excursion out of visiting a new plant nursery, nature preserve, antique store, restaurant, or museum in our towns. It is an enriching experience to explore your region with new eyes. Even a trip to a long ignored local landmark becomes a highlight of your week. This weekend, access your inner tourist and visit your own hometown!


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