Travel Ladybugs: How To Explore Your Local Area
by Michelle Chan
This article is part of a new Her Culture column series called "Travel Ladybugs," which gives insider tips about locations around the world, including little-known restaurants, historical sites, beautiful landscapes, and more.
I’ve lived in my small suburban town since forever—at least that's what I used to think. I mean, how could a small town possibly be interesting? Whether you live in a rural area or a big city, it’s hard to realize the amount of unique intricacies that reside just a block away since everything just seems normal to your everyday life. So, I’ve compiled a list of tips I used to help me achieve the fullest potential that my town has to offer:
Bring a disposable camera––and use your phone as minimally as possible.
When you use your phone to take pictures (or peruse social media for that matter), you’ll almost always concentrate on capturing the greatest photos and trying to make sceneries “picture-perfect”. If you consider traveling with a disposable camera, however, it’ll prevent you from taking photos every second and allow you to only capture the sights and experiences that are truly meaningful to you. Plus, it’s always good to take a break from modern technology and absorb the nature around you.
Talk to other locals
You are a local of the area. But have you ever thought of talking to the other locals? If you see someone on the street, approach them and ask them to name the top three locations that they know about. They’ll probably direct you to the coffee shop you’ve never thought to enter or that small park that always seemed so boring. But it might just give you a new perspective and ability to appreciate your surroundings. You can also talk to people around in your local area or online about places near you to find the best recommendations! For example, people who've been about near you a while will know all the best places to eat in Lehi, UT (or wherever else you're based) and will be able to give you an honest opinion on what they like about that restaurant in particular. You can experience these unique spots and then recommend them to others to enrich your own life by bringing joy to other people.
Transportation
If you are visiting a new area and want to explore, the best way to get around is by renting a car. Not only do Rent Maui cars provide convenience and ease of transport between destinations, they also give travelers the freedom to set their own schedule and explore at their own pace. Rental cars can be booked online in advance, with discounts often available for longer-term rentals. Additionally, many rental companies offer unlimited mileage and other features like satnavs or WiFi, so you can travel stress-free as well as safely. Exploring a local area with your own rental car allows for greater flexibility than public transportation - so why not take advantage of it?
Check out the places you would always pass by before
There’s this park in my town that I alway always passed by on a daily basis. One day, I decided to check it out and see for myself if I could do some exploring. I found a beautiful creek hidden between the trees.
Not only was the scenery picturesque, but the entire area was completely hidden from the public eye. If you have a place that you’ve always passed by but never explored, give it a chance. Maybe you’ll find something much more than what meets the eye.
Bring a friend along your journey
Adventures are always more exciting with a friend. They can hold your belongings when you take a photo of the amazing scenery or be a shoulder to lean on when your feet are tired from walking. But in all seriousness, they can be someone you can share these explorations with and someone to talk to among the beautiful surroundings.
Now that you’ve come to the end of this article, I encourage you to get up right now and explore your local area (it’s best when you’re on a whim to go on an adventure). You never know what you’ll find. Good luck on your adventure!
Have a suggestion for this column? Email your thoughts to kate@herculture.org