Why You Should Be A Curious Traveler In Your Own City?
Backyard travel is one of the easiest and the cheapest ways to travel. We all know that, right? Still, most of us don’t care to explore our own cities. People often wonder how to travel, how to have enough money to visit exotic destinations or how to afford a trip abroad. Well, is travel all about going somewhere far? You don’t really need to envy people who are traveling to dozens of countries. Every city in the world is a ‘hometown’ to somebody. Yes of course, it’s good to be curious for someone else’s city. But why ignore your own city?
What is home to you is exotic to somebody else. You CAN explore your own city like a curious traveler.
So, let’s talk about Backyard Travel –
Why You Should Be A Curious Traveler In Your Own City?
You can explore your city from different perspectives.
There are so many ways to explore your own backyard. It could be through food, art, architecture, culture, local markets, or scenic sights. For instance, a couple of years ago, I explored Mumbai through its diverse regional cuisines – Irani, Malvan, Udipi and Punjabi. Since Mumbai is home to so many different communities in India, there are different cuisines to taste in one city.
Also read: 15 Places To Chill In Mumbai On A Summer Afternoon
You can afford ‘not to plan anything’.
The first step towards materializing a trip is planning and researching, which most people dread. But, when you are exploring your own town or village, you don’t need any planning. You can afford to be random and off-the-cuff with your local travel.
You travel for free. Well, almost.
Do I need to mention that you don’t have to book any flights or hotels to travel within your city? Apart from paying at restaurants and fuel for commuting, there aren’t any expenses that you incur for a local itinerary.
It’s a kind of slow travel.
There’s no hurry when you are being a tourist in your own backyard. You can miss out on attractions and experiences because you know that you can revisit the place whenever you want to, or you can watch the sunset at the beach some other day as well. There’s no fear of missing out on anything. So, you can really savor each place and experience at your own pace.
Also read: Mumbai Mornings – In Photos
You have better chances of discovering ‘hidden’ gems or ‘offbeat’ attractions.
You are more likely to unearth hidden attractions of your city, because you live there. You don’t have time constraints. You don’t have to hop from one spot to another to be able to finish off a checklist of places. Thus, you can explore one neighborhood at a time, and bump into some interesting and not-so-written-about places.
You have the privilege of exploring your city in every season.
The biggest benefit of being a local traveler is that you have your city available in all seasons. You can revel in the monsoon showers, enjoy the summer vibes, take in the winter charms, savor the autumn hues and admire the spring colors. Every season has its own beauty, and a city comes alive in every new season.
It enhances your creativity.
Being a curious traveler in your city makes you a better creative individual. You can go for random photo walks, visit exhibitions and interact with like-minded people. Every city has different neighborhoods or localities with different cultures and communities, which can be an excellent fodder for your expedition and photography.
You learn the art of immersive travel.
If you are someone who likes experiential travel, exploring your own backyard can make you a much more skilled traveler. You learn the art of observing various nuances of a place. So, you can explore a new place in the same light, and gain out of the ordinary travel experiences.
You can spend more meaningful weekends.
You don’t have to add to the footfall of a mall or a multiplex every weekend. Do you? There are so many alternative, more meaningful experiences to indulge in, such as going for a walk in a lush park, spending some time in a library, lingering in an old market, visiting art galleries or attending some interesting city event.
It keeps your spirits high.
When your itchy feet make you dream of a far-flung destination, pacify them with a tour of your own town. What’s the point of going everywhere, but ignoring what’s right under your nose? Sure, we all wait for our big adventures and epic travel plans to come true, but you don’t have to wait sitting at home. You can set out with absolutely nothing on your mind and see what you end up discovering.
You become a local expert with time.
The more you explore your city, the more you learn about it – the best food joints, the best shopping places, the top heritage spots and so much more. So, you become a kind of local expert, who can help others plan their travels. Of course, you don’t extract everything about your city in one day. It takes time. But that’s the magic of travel – that you explore places bit by bit and enrich yourself.
Also read: Get To Know Your Partner’s City: A New Way To Travel
Exploring your own city is as cool as exploring an exotic destination.
Nobody cares where you are traveling. If you are worried about your Instagram feed, it can be stunning with your backyard photos as well. People care to see beautiful travel photos. They don’t care if you have taken a flight to take those photos. It’s all about your curiosity, ideas, and willingness to explore.
Where do you live? Have you explored your city like a curious traveler?
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