“Which way?” (photo credit: Grace Church)

Week #154 – Summer Fun: Play Tourist…in Your Hometown!

Greetings, All — and Happy Friday!!!

We have been counting down the Fridays to Labor Day Weekend with some short “Summer Fun” suggestions.  Because —  as I’ve said each week — while most adults have been sure to plan their kids’ summer fun, they often overlook their own!

And with only two Fridays left to go…I want to make sure you’ve had some fun too!

But with summer practice sessions kicking in and some kids already back to school — the idea of a one-tank trip may be fading fast in the rear-view mirror.  So this is a great time to tighten your radius — and look for adventure in your own backyard!

Here are some ideas:

History – Do you know the origin of your town, who founded it, and how it came to be?  Don’t let these details slip by you!  Google your town’s name and learn a little bit about how it came into existence.  I live in the second largest city in the country — but I did this recently with the neighborhood I live in and uncovered a rich history of the missionaries, indigenous tribes, and the vegetation that gave my neighborhood it’s name!

Parks/Recreation – Have you visited all the public spaces in your town?  Do you even know they exist?  We tend to drive by these things on our way out to somewhere else (in my case, the beach!).  But again, in my exploration of my neighborhood here, I discovered an 18-mile long bike path, a dog park, a walking path, and a reservoir — all within a mile or so of where I live!

Attractions – We tend to take our own culture for granted — but chances are your town has a local museum, mill, farm, zoo, estate, party boat, monuments, architecture, town hall, or theater that holds some significance.  You may have lived there all your life and never set foot in those places.  Now is a good time!

Food/Drink – The lake town where I grew up is great for this!  Growing up — most of us felt like we needed to go somewhere else to enjoy a good meal.  Not always true!  Take note of the breakfast nooks, sit down restaurants, take-out counters, and ice cream stands in your area.  Get some good recommendations and then give them a try!  And don’t forget to look for craft breweries or wineries, too!

Scenery – If all else fails, get in the car and take a driving tour.  Go from one end of town to the other, around the lake, over that bridge, or down that one road you’ve never gone down before!  Chances are you will see something beautiful, something new, something you’ve never seen — and you just might be reminded of how lovely your little town really is!