Homeward bound

Five ways to become a tourist at home — without having to catch a flight in order to be outbound

For most people, vacation time and money are finite resour-ces. So what can you do if you’re interested in exploring and trying new things before your next vacation? Become a tourist in your own hometown.

If you’re looking for something new to do in your community, often the best sources of information are people who love to explore, just like you do.

By going online, you can learn more about what like-minded people in your city recommend as fun and unique 
activities. You can look up sites where users can find and share their favourite activities — you can search by city or category to find both special events and ongoing activities from other locals, making it a helpful “insider’s guide” that can be used with more traditional resources like the events section of your local paper.

To help you get started in your quest to explore the best your city has to offer, read about LiveLifeLocal.com’s recommendations (see box) to discover new things close to home.

— ARAcontent

Localise your search

• Click on biking maps to find bicycle-friendly routes that take you somewhere you haven’t explored. Or take a hike through a park you’ve never visited.
• Explore regional food options. A great way to reconnect with your local culture is eating and drinking at establishments that offer flavours unique to your town. Farm-to-table restaurants allow you to enjoy the fruits of the local harvest, which taste all the better if you are able to wash it down with the favourite local beverages. Head to the nearest farmer’s market for a fun diversion before preparing a delicious and fresh home-cooked meal.
• Take advantage of free events and 
festivals. Enjoy local art, food and music at a free weekend festival, as often you can find them all in one place. Festivals are also a great place to learn about new restaurants, galleries or musicians, all of which you may want to see or visit again on another excursion.
• Try a night of local entertainment. Do you wonder what goes on at the theatre that you always pass on the way home? Take to the Web to see which plays others are recommending. One fun way to 
explore your local arts scene is to set a goal to see a new play, visit a new gallery or see a new musical act or stand-up comedy act once a month.
• Learn more about your community. Take a tour of a historic building in your neighbourhood in which you might find out something you never knew about where you live. Libraries are also a great place to look for fun classes or seminars about people or areas of interest in your town, as are local historical societies. Sign up for art, dance and yoga classes.

Part of the fun of becoming a local tourist is that you can share your experiences with others who have common interests, while getting ideas on new ways to 
explore your city.