Become a Tourist in Your Own Town
Living in a mid-size city in the Midwest, I have repeatedly heard people sharing their aspirations of moving to a different part of the U.S.—whether that is for a sunnier climate, for a huge downtown skyline, or for “more things to do.” When I was younger and deciding where I wanted to go to college, I myself dreamed of going to school in a “hipper” place like California or Colorado. However, I did not end up doing this, and I am thankful. I ended up going to my state school 45 minutes away from my hometown, and then moved back to my hometown almost a year ago to start my full-time job.
Over the past few years, I have met people from all around the world. Whether they came from a rural area in the Midwest or from a huge city from across the globe, it turns out that many of us have similar experiences—we have longed at some point for a change. It is easy for us to fall into the same habits—going to the same places and doing the same thing day after day—but, I think that I have found a solution outside of moving to a new and potentially expensive area: becoming a tourist in your own city.
No, I don’t mean that you should live in a hotel, or wear a silly fanny pack/tropical shirt combo, but there are always new experiences and things to learn about our own towns.
Admittedly, I occasionally get a hard time from big “city-slickers” about living in Omaha. They think that I live in the middle of nowhere with nothing to do. However, I experience the exact opposite. With a plethora of cool historical neighborhoods, restaurants and bars, attractions, and festivals, I am never bored here. But, it’s because I seek out new experiences for myself.
After all, a wise man once told me “If you’re going to be boring in Omaha, you’re going to be boring in a huge city.” Inspired by this sentiment, here are a few things you can do to spice up your experience in the area in which you live (and don’t be afraid to take some photos, too!).
Learn about Your Town’s History
Something that I think is very fun is reading about your area’s history. Although it is not necessarily an academic source, Wikipedia is a great place to start. You can learn about things that may not have been taught in school—who the big mobsters were in the early 1900s, what industries your town was famed for, and how different groups of people from around the globe formed different neighborhoods…the possibilities are endless!
If you want to go into a bit deeper of a search (if available), you can even learn a lot about your own neighborhood’s history. Luckily, for me, my neighborhood has a very rich history. For example, I even learned that it was the site of a World War II Japanese balloon bombing (luckily, there were only minor injuries and minor property damage). While all of the history may not be good, it is definitely interesting to learn more about your own city and to learn how it formed into what it is today.
Research the Best Restaurants and Bars in Your Area
When you have lived somewhere for a long time, it is easy to fall back on your favorite restaurant and bar for an excuse to get out of the house. However, when you do this, you are depriving yourself of a new opportunity to try a different some unfamiliar food and find a new favorite restaurant. Of course, you can always rely on your old favorite for a quick bite, but seeking out restaurants that are “new to you” are a way to immerse yourself in a neighborhood or cuisine that you do not normally seek out.
When I moved back to Omaha last year, I conducted an internet search of the “best restaurants” in my area, and I made a list of places to try (and a vast majority I still have not tried yet, but I am excited for!) and visit periodically. From my travels so far, I was taken to an unassuming sushi restaurant in a far-away suburb which happened to have the best sushi in town, some classic burger places in older areas of town, a unique fine-dining experience in our downtown, and much more. I had been to none of these places before despite living here my entire childhood. Overall, this has been an excellent way for me to learn about different areas of my town, and find a great bite along the way.
Visit “Tourist” Attractions
If you are lucky enough to live in your hometown as an adult, I recommend going back to some of the tourist attractions that you went to as a child—many of them are still fun as an adult! While I don’t have any desire to go visit my local children’s museum, there are plenty of museums, historical sites, and other attractions to be seen and re-experienced from time-to-time. When you are a kid, and you go to the same museum once a year with your family, you may think that there is no new experience to be had. But, you may find that you will have a newfound appreciation for these places now that you are an adult and have not visited in a few years.
Along with my first point in this article, you can learn your town’s history with a new perspective. After all, children are not generally that interested in history if we are being real—but, as an adult, this can help contribute to a new view of your town. If you have the opportunity of going to an attraction like a zoo or amusement park, you can spend the day tapping into your childlike wonder and memories as well. While you should not pack going to these tourist attractions into one week (while you might on a family vacation), they can be fun to revisit from time to time.
Look Up the Dates for Events in Your Town
At different times of year, there may be several festivals and larger events happening in your community—food festivals, art festivals, outdoor concerts—to check out! Unfortunately for me, due to cold winters, most of Omaha’s big festivals tend to happen in the spring and summer months, but there generally is something happening year-round. These larger events are a great way to break up your normal schedule, participate in an activity you don’t normally do, and connect with your larger community. (Of course, right now, larger events/festivals may not be safe or possible in our COVID times, but this is more of a reference for the future).
Most towns might have a big event that everyone goes to yearly, but with a quick internet search, you will have the opportunity to check out less-known events as well — chances are, you may have never been to them! If you have a free weekend, I highly recommend going to an event like these instead of winding down in front of the TV. Many of them only come once a year, after all. If there is not a “big” event going on this weekend, you could even try checking out a smaller event at a local restaurant/bar, like live music, a drag show, or a comedy show—something you may not normally do on the weekend. It will be worth it, and you can make a new memory regardless.
Thank you for reading! Hopefully with some of these tips, you can find a new perspective on your area.
