Civics Challenge #6: Six Ways to Be a Tourist in Your Own Town

Do you ever take the time to really explore where you live? I’m not talking about visiting the local mall and knowing the latest retailers in town. I’m talking about really knowing the personality of where you live and what makes it special, digging into its history and all it has to offer.

The more you get to know where you live, the more of an ownership you’ll feel toward it. That ownership generally leads to more involvement. That right there is a recipe for active civic participation.

Become a Local Tourist

Exploring where you live is a great tool in helping your children take a vested interest in their community. The more vested they are in their local communities, the likelier they’ll be to grow up playing a more active role in it. What better time than summer, when school is out, to really dive in and explore where you live.

Nearly every city and county in the U.S. has their own website with a listing of locations that are unique to them. What are those locations near you? Have you been to them? Make a list of the ones that interest you the most. If you need help with suggestions, visit your local tourism office or find a local facebook group and ask for ideas on places, landmarks, hidden gems etc.

Once you have a good idea of where you want to go and what you want to do, make a game plan, get creative, and make it happen. If you need some ideas, here are some suggestions for how to maximize local exploration and play tourist where you live:

Challenge Yourself

Challenge yourself to do one new thing a week–or month–and stick to it. Set aside a day or an evening just for acting like a tourist. Involve your whole family and let them make suggestions too. If you need help getting into this mindset, start small. While you’re out for a walk, explore a new neighborhood. Instead of going to your usual restaurant, try something new. Instead of hanging out at home, go on a hike or explore a landmark. Try a park in a different part of town.

Think outside your normal routine and set a goal to try something new!

Plan a staycation

If you really want to make being a tourist fun for children, plan a “staycation.” Book a local hotel for a night or two, plan on eating at some local restaurants, and make a list of all the things the tourists in your town do. If you were only in your town for a day or two, what would be first on your list?

Talk to the locals, the people who grew up where you live, and see what insights they can offer. They often know of hidden gems that the general public isn’t aware of. If you are one of the “locals” in your town, go out and explore something you haven’t tried before.

Staycations like that can be just as memorable as bigger, more expensive, out of town vacations. They can also make you see your city in a whole new light and appreciation.

Expand beyond your immediate neighborhood

We often tend to stick to locations or venues in our own neck of the woods because that’s where we feel most comfortable. But branching out of your bubble can really help you get to know where you live as a whole and expand your realm of possibilities. If you confine yourself to just one specific area you’ll miss out on the true culture of your city.

Make it a goal to find some of the best local parks, restaurants, and other venues in your town no matter what neighborhood they’re in. If you’re uncomfortable venturing out, recruit friends to tag along. Similar to the “challenge yourself” goal, explore a new “neighborhood” until you’re familiar with it and then keep on going until there isn’t a corner of your city you don’t know.

Research the history

No town started from nothing. How did yours begin? Often local tourism bureaus are a good place to start with learning your town’s history. What made it how it is today? What are good locations to visit that will teach your family what your town is all about? Local bookstores and libraries often have great selections on your town’s history as well.

Does your city/county have any museums? What about historical sites? Download the History Channel’s History Here app for help locating historic sites near you. The app can ping your phone when you are near a historic location and can give you the 411 about it before you arrive.

Make your town’s history part of every day conversation with your family. As you’re driving to and from various activities, talk to your kids about how the city has changed since you’ve lived there–kids love to hear those kinds of stories. Go even further back than that, too. Together you can discover the famous people who have lived there, inventions that started there, and other interesting facts that they may not know, etc.

Celebrate the local culture

Is your area of the country well known for something specific? If so, embrace it. For example, the Black Hills of South Dakota is home to Mt. Rushmore and an Air Force base, plus several Native American tribes who consider those Black Hills sacred. Dive into your area’s culture and discover what makes it unique.

The history and culture of the Native tribes in the Black Hills is a huge part of our area’s culture. We have pow wows and other cultural events often, there’s even a museum with exhibits that focus on the role of Native Americans in founding our land, and we teach our children to respect that history and culture. We also don’t leave Mt. Rushmore to the tourists. It’s truly one of our kids favorite places to explore.

Keep an eye out for local events

Make it a habit to search local newspapers or facebook groups for unique events happening near you. We all have that friend who seems to know everything going on in town. Be that person. Most city/county websites often post calendars with upcoming events listed. For example, because we are home to an Air Force base, we have air shows and other military events regularly. We also have a Main Street square that hosts family nights and concerts weekly throughout the summer.

Our city also hosts informational events throughout the year to inform residents of upcoming issues. Those residential events are just as important to attend as all the “fun” events.

The more involved you are with local events and entities, the more of an ownership you’ll feel to where you live.

Why it matters

When we care about where we live, we want to do everything we can to preserve what’s special about it and to pay more attention to issues that arise. Not only does exploring locally teach us to love where we live but it also instills in us a desire to get involved and to work to improve it. And that is really what being a good citizen is all about.