Rebecca's Travel Notes

July is almost over. Summer will slowly come to an end. Soon, school will start, schedules fill, and the weather grows colder. Time to get out and explore. You don’t need to travel a long distance to enjoy the last days of summer. Be a tourist in your hometown, which is a fun, budget-friendly way to rediscover the place you live! If you are searching for inspiration, check out the following tips and ideas to help you make the most of your local adventures.

Plan Like a Tourist

• Research: Check your town’s tourism website or Chamber of Commerce. Next find local Facebook Events for hidden gems and upcoming activities.
• Online Resources or Apps: Use TripAdvisor, Yelp, or Google to find different areas to visit. See what travelers recommend in your area.
• Theme: Pick a theme for the day or week. For example, one day is for historical sites in your area. Your next one is all about nature or food. Then a week or another day focuses on art in your area.

Explore Like a Newcomer

• Guided Tours: Take a guided tour of museums, historic homes, or breweries. If your town offers walking tours of historical sites or ghost tours, check out the schedules and go.
• Visit Local Landmarks: Even if you’ve passed the landmarks or monuments a hundred times, go visit.
• Geocaching: Go Geocaching or do a scavenger hunt in your city. Use the Geocache app or print lists of different items to find.

Enjoy the Outdoors

• Parks: Check out all your local or state parks.
• Hiking: Go for a hike on local trails. Many venues offer beginners hiking trails which are easy to navigate and perfect for families.
• Picnic: If you visit parks or go hiking, bring a picnic. Enjoy a simple meal outdoors.
• Water Fun: Research beaches, lakes or rivers in your area. Spend time learning kayaking or paddleboard. Try a different beach, lake, or river each week. Go tubing down a local river. Or simply spend a day at beach. Go swimming, build sandcastles, and relax.
• Community Events: Look for free concerts, outdoor plays, theater productions, or movie nights in the park. Bring a blanket or chair and enjoy the evening.
• Look for Art: Explore public art installations, murals, or sculptures.

Eat Like You’re on Vacation

• New Places: Try a new restaurant or café. Look for food trucks at pop-up events.
• Go to More Than One: Do a “progressive dinner” on your afternoon out. Try appetizers at one spot, entrees at another, and a dessert somewhere else.
• Farmer’s Market: Visit your farmer’s market or roadside stand. Try cooking a “local only” meal from your purchases.

Document Your Adventure

• Bring a Camera: Take lots of photos. Or create videos like a real tourist to upload on social media.
• Scrapbook: Create a scrapbook, digital album, or Instagram story series documenting your hometown tourist picks.
• Review: Write reviews of the different places you visit.
• Create a Travel Journal: Bring a small notebook or use an app to take notes. Create an entry for each stop.

Remember have fun! Enjoy these last days of summer.

Please note: I am also posting this blog on my other site, Rebecca’s Country Notes.