Have You Ever Been A Local Tourist?

 

Have you ever been a ‘local tourist’? One in your own town?

I saw a movie where a guy was showing his date around Boston, and she couldn’t believe that he had lived there for over a decade, and never visited most of the places they had been together.

This is not just a plot to a movie! I once was riding the ferry across from Vancouver, B.C., to the cay on the other side, and met a local that in the eight years she had lived there, had never been on that ferry.

She had never been to the malls at Burnaby, she had not been to Stanley Park. She was anxious to talk when we sat next to her on the ferry. We were ogling over the sights, she noticed and commented on our excitement.

She was fun to talk to. And for those of you reading ahead, no, we didn’t buddy up. She said she had lived there eight years, had a week off, and was going to pretend she had never been to Vancouver and was to experience it first hand.

Had we all buddied up, we would of naturally asked her questions about her place in this huge metropolis. And that would of spoiled her whole experience. I applaud her!

Have you ever played local tourist? Have you ever visited a museum, or historical sight, or just a major visitor’s attraction in your city, with the perspective of a complete newby? From a completely fresh perspective. Granted, this is probably an easier feat if you are somewhat new in the city, not a multiple decade resident. But it can still be done.

Don’t let the walls of life close in around you. Don’t let the trap of localism swallow you whole. It always amazed, and disappointed me to some degree, when I met someone that bragged about being born in, living in, and would probably die in the same city. How sad.

There is nothing wrong in that, unless you let your brain be as small as your vision.

Even if you don’t want to travel 20 miles down the road to the neighboring town, at least look at everything that’s around you. Open your eyes. To the sights, the people, the lives and the personalities that are indeed a grand part of your life.

Enjoy the natural art, the human experiences, and the sheer beauty of color that surrounds you. Wherever you are. Be a local tourist. Again, and again, and again. Share your city with others, and give them the chance to share it with you.

We’re all in this together. And I look forward to seeing you out there.

 

Post tags

day trips • discovery • local travel • playing tourist

About Gibson Goff

Gib is a freelance writer and an avid traveler. He specializes in the Self-Help market with a focus on the Law Of Attraction, personal success, and positive motivation. He also enjoys writing for the travel market, sharing his experiences so that others might enjoy them as well. His passion is writing positive, uplifiting and inspiring messages for everyone.

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