How to be a Hometown Tourist

Create a list, Make a plan, Visit, and Enjoy being a Hometown Tourist

Every town is abundant in unique places. Have you visited the ones in your town? Do you know what they are? After all, life doesn’t have to be about visiting far-off places to find beautiful, engaging sites. Be a hometown tourist and enjoy all the places that make your area unique.

Here’s how to create a hometown tourist list.

To begin with, ask yourself a few questions as if you were a tourist in your hometown. 

• Where do the tourists go? What makes these places unique? 
• Is your town known for its festivals, local businesses, or museums? 
• Or are there ‘tours’ to take – garden shops, bourbon trail (Yes, I live in Kentucky), quilt shops, etc.?
• Have you ever visited them?
• What places have been in magazines or travel lists? 

With this intention, do some research to find these special places – Google, visit tourist centers, ask friends. Local colleges, businesses, community centers, or schools offer free or low-cost classes. More to research places such as the local art galleries, science centers, planetariums, botanical gardens, local landmarks, and small specialty businesses.

Another option is to pick one of your interests and create your hometown tour. Ideas include:

• Going to every free jazz concert within 20 miles.
• Take a picture with your feet on every local walking trail in the city.
• Make it your mission to find the best coffee shop in town.
• Eat a caramel apple at every orchard nearby.

In other words, what do you love to do and want to explore more? Where do you go for retreats? Or group gatherings?

Make a plan and visit as a hometown tourist.   

Here’s how to create your list in a planner or journal. I use my Curated Life Journal to keep these lists by the season. It started during our 100 Days of Summer series. I explain using the journal in this blog, ‘How will you keep a record of your summer?’. Create three to five columns to make your list.

1. Firstly, write a title block above the first column, “Places I Wish to Visit.”
2. In that column, create a list of local places to visit – research as if you are planning a trip to your town, visit the tourist center, see the ideas above, and ask friends.
3. Then, in the next column. Create a title block, “Date of Visit,” and set the date.
4. Write “My Review” as the next column’s title block. So you can be sure to write a review.
5. Take pictures, sketch things that catch your eye, or purchase a sticker to go in or on your Journal. You can leave this column out or leave a place to make a checkmark.
6. Another optional column, but I love doing this one – purchase the place’s postcards to send to friends. Please note who is receiving the postcards so you can circle through your friends and family sending them. While you’re out sightseeing, pick up postcard stamps.
7. Other ideas discussed in our private Facebook group were to pick up memorable Christmas ornaments for your tree and as gifts. Or get cute magnets for your fridge and memo board.

Another way to make a plan and visit.  

The ‘A Carefully Curated Life’ eBook September issue also has a PDF for creating your list. You can pick it up here. It has three columns: 

1. Places to go, Things to do
2. Ideas for my spirit
3. Notes on My Adventures

Without a doubt, in either system you use, the mission is the same. You are creating a list, making a date to visit these places, and enjoying your city as a Hometown Tourist. You may not travel far, but you’ll have adventures.