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10 Ways To Be A Tourist In Your Own City

Being home for summer break doesn't have to mean being bored all summer break.

Anushree Rayarikar

May 23, 2019

Illinois State University

10 Ways To Be A Tourist In Your Own City

Anushree Rayarikar

After a year away from home, we are all probably relieved to sleep in our own beds, eat home-cooked food, and see our friends from home again. However, our hometowns can be slightly boring compared to college. At college, there are always some events to go to, or friends to do stuff with at any time. At home, you have to work a little harder to find fun, new, exciting things to do. To rekindle your love for your hometown, try re-exploring your town as a tourist in these 10 ways!

1. Try a new restaurant

A new cuisine or a new restaurant of your favorite cuisine might be just the thing you need to fall back in love with your hometown! You might find a new hangout place for your friend group too!

2. Go hiking on a nature trail

Grab a friend, drive a few miles out of your hometown, and experience our beautiful Earth! While you're out there, see if you can donate to nature conservatories too!

3. Visit the historical monuments, parks, or museums in your town

A lot of smaller towns will often have historical museums or monuments that tell you about the original development of the town! Finding those places and learning more about the place you grew up in can be enlightening!

4. Go on a photoshoot in a park nearby

Get dressed up and get some snaps for the 'gram! Maybe you'll find a cool spot on the way.

5. Go to a local sports game

There are probably some local teams, even kid leagues, that would love some new fans in the stands! Or, if you're close to a big city, like Chicago, go show your support!

6. Find any local music jams

Big concerts are awesome, and sometimes there are seats in the way back for cheap. The experience is still amazing! Also, there are always smaller artists playing around town, maybe in a nearby pub or an outdoor amphitheater.

7. Find a local mural and give it some Instagram love

Summer is pop-off season! Show your 'gram some love by getting amazing, local, art inspired photos

8. Go backyard camping under the stars

You don't have to go far to appreciate the night sky.

9. Get coffee in real mugs, not just Starbucks

Trust me, it tastes better from a real mug! And, you support local businesses while doing so.

10. Drive to the nearest big city and explore around there

Luckily, Chicago is only a 30-minute drive away from my hometown, so all the endless summer activities in the city aren't too far! Most big cities have more to do, see, eat, and document. So, get out there and see it all.

So, treat your hometown like a new town, do all the touristy, goofy, cringe-y things you would do abroad but in the comfort of your own town. At the end of it all, just remember to have fun this summer, spend time outdoors, and open your mind to new opportunities!

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

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Recommended for you

10 Ways To Be A Tourist In Your Own City

Being home for summer break doesn't have to mean being bored all summer break.

1. Try a new restaurant

2. Go hiking on a nature trail

3. Visit the historical monuments, parks, or museums in your town

4. Go on a photoshoot in a park nearby

5. Go to a local sports game

6. Find any local music jams

7. Find a local mural and give it some Instagram love

8. Go backyard camping under the stars

9. Get coffee in real mugs, not just Starbucks

10. Drive to the nearest big city and explore around there

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May the odds be ever in your favor.

Phase One: The “I got this” phase

Phase Two: The “I have time” phase

Phase Three: The uncontrollable sobbing phase

Phase Four: The “help me, I've fallen and I can't get up” phase

Phase Five: The rejoicing phase

10 ways to prepare for finals week—beginning with getting to the library.

Who knows where we would be without them.

1. Thank you for laughing at my jokes, even when they really aren’t funny.

2. Thank you for singing unbearably loud with me all the time.

3. Thank you for letting me vent to you for hours about anything and basically being my personal therapist.

4. Thank you for ordering pizza with me at 2 in the morning.

5. Thank you for all the movie days when we don’t feel like moving.

6. Thank you for being my workout buddy everyday.

7. Thank you for sharing your closets with me.

8. Thank you for taking naps with me at random hours during the day.

9. Thank you for cleaning our home with me when we absolutely need to.

10. Thank you for all the rides when it’s late and you don’t want me to walk home alone in the dark.

11. Thank you for studying with me in our kitchen when we didn't want to go the library.

12. Thank you for making dinner with me.

13. Thank you for helping with my hair, makeup and outfit every time we go out.

14. Thank you for taking countless ugly pictures with me.

15. Thank you for not judging me when I go too long without showering.

16. Thank you for making our apartment feel like a second home.

17. Thank you for being there through all of our boy troubles.

18. Thank you for giving me a hug when I feel homesick.

19. Thank you for getting excited with me when one of us gets a good grade on an exam.

20. Thank you for still being my friend and not judging me when I say or do dumb things.

21. Thank you for telling me what I should do when I am sick.

22. Thank you for dancing horribly with me everywhere we go.

23. Thank you for staying up super late with me when we aren’t tired or can’t sleep.

24. Thank you for being super weird with me.

25. Thank you for all the unforgettable college memories.

26. And most of all, thank you for being the best friends a girl could have.

I may or may not be stressing right now.

1. "What do I have to study for?"

2. "What class do I need to study for the most?"

3. "I’m going to ace this."

4. "Focus!"

5."I have no idea what I'm reading."

6. "I should call my smart friend about this."

7. "I’m going to fail. I’m going to fail."

8. "I’m dropping out of school."

9. "What grade do I have to get on the final to pass the class?"

10. "Oh, no, I have to do good."

11. "I shouldn’t have procrastinated all semester."

12. "I wanna go to bed."

13. "We did not learn this!"

14. "I should go get food."

15. "Why do we even have finals?"

16. "I don’t want to be at the library."

17. "Get off your phone."

18. "I can watch Netflix for like 20 minutes and then go back to studying."

19. "I shouldn’t have watched Netflix."

20. "You have to study now!"

The "Happiest Place on Earth" has a lot of characters with some pretty great advice.

Remember you’re the one who can fill the world with sunshine. — Snow White

The past can hurt. But the way I see it, you can either run from it or learn from it. — Rafiki

You don't have time to be timid. You must be bold and daring. — Lumière

If watching is all you're gonna do, then you're gonna watch your life go by without ya. — Laverne

Sometimes the right path is not the easiest one. — Grandmother Willow

Always let your conscience be your guide. — Jiminy Cricket

To infinity and beyond. — Buzz Lightyear

Life is a journey to be experienced, not a problem to be solved. — Pooh

Let it go. — Elsa

If you can't say something nice, don't say nothin' at all. — Thumper

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