Become A Tourist in Your Own City This Festive Holiday

“You’ve always been a tourist here. You just didn’t know it.” – Khaled Hosseini: The Kite Runner.

Finding an exciting place to tour after years of living in the same city becomes extremely difficult. It’s even more difficult if you were born in the city and have spent your entire life there. Why not try something new? See your own city from a fresh perspective. Here’s a guide to becoming a tourist in your own city.

Plan a Staycation

A staycation, or holistay, is a period in which an individual or family stays home and participates in leisure activities within day trip distance of their home and does not require overnight accommodation. Booking a staycation with your family or friends is one of the simplest and best ways to become a local tourist. This could be at a local hotel you’ve always wanted to visit or a fancy Airbnb you’ve never stayed at. Booking a staycation on the outskirts of the city will also allow you to explore local restaurants and tourist attractions that you may not have visited before. 

Get a friend to show you their favourite places/activities

Getting a friend to take you to their favourite places can be an eye-opener. You’ll find yourself visiting places you never knew existed, or you would have never planned ongoing. New, exciting experiences are what we aim to have when touring new places, and visiting a place your friend enjoys is one way to achieve such an experience.

Take a walk in an area of the city you’ve never been to

With so much time at hand during the festive season, walking in an area you’ve never been, actually helps you to unwind. Most city dwellers have never visited all areas of their cities, which may surprise people from small towns. So, if you’re one of those city dwellers, look up an area on Google Maps that you’ve never been to but looks interesting. You never know, you might come across a great restaurant, park, or hotel that becomes one of your favourites.

Don’t forget a Camera 

Looking at a familiar place through a lens is one of the best ways to get a new perspective. Although most people are used to their smartphones, using a macro lens to capture can help you unpack finer details that you might otherwise overlook. You don’t have to visit tourist attractions; depending on your interests, photographing architecture, nature, or street scenes can be just as rewarding. Photographing a location where you feel at ease and confident can be a great way to test your skills.

Visit a local stadium to cheer on your favourite sports team

This works only if you are not a fan of the local team. One of the most exciting aspects of life is cheering on a local sports team live in a stadium. An article cannot describe the exhilaration and adrenaline rush of witnessing close wins and clear wins, as well as the desperation of losing. All of these experiences get your heart racing, which explains the fervour of home fans in any city. It will be an exciting and unforgettable experience for a first-time attendee. (For instance, this December, there are a lot of Sporting activities, including the SevensRugby, Proteas-Aussie Test Series and the PSL resumes).

Last but not least, Visit a new local restaurant and treat yourself to local cuisine

You’ve probably tried the local cuisine a few times as a city dweller. However, if you’re like most people, you probably eat at the same places all the time. So, it’s time to sample the local cuisine at that new restaurant your friends have been raving about. It will be even more enjoyable if you bring one of them along to share the experience with you. So go ahead and eat that meal. It could become your favourite restaurant.

In light of the above, this festive holiday, take this opportunity to discover your own backyard. You might just find yourself falling in love with your home city or town.