This summer, I realized that a vacation doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to go anywhere far– you can totally have a nice getaway right in your own hometown! In June, my friend from college came down for several days to stay with me and another one of our friends who also lives in the same city as me. That whole entire week, we drove to various neighborhoods and strolled around touristy spots to give our friend a tour of the city. During that time, I also got to revisit so many places I hadn’t been to in a long while.
This was a chance for all of us to scope out trendy cafes and Instagram picture locations, explore the city’s landmarks and attractions, and act as tourists. Because we were out all day and only came back home to sleep, it truly felt like a vacation with planned itineraries and new destinations to hit every day. Not only was this a time for all three of us to have fun and hang out together, but it also made me appreciate the place I live in a lot more than I have. I feel like a lot of times, I take for granted how beautiful the weather is here and how lucky I am to live in a place that has so many things to do. Having my friend who wasn’t a local come here made me want to learn more about my city and truly explore the culture and absorb the different vibes in each neighborhood we went to.
With that being said, if you’re struggling to find things to do during the summer and you don’t want to spend a fortune on plane tickets and hotels far from home, taking some time to discover new areas of your hometown can be a really relaxing and great idea. Good luck exploring!