Making New Discoveries in Your Current City

We’ll admit it, it’s easy to get trapped inside of your own box. We all have comfort zones, and some of us are at our best when we’re nestled inside of them. But others of us are actually at our best when we exist outside of our comfort zones.

It doesn’t take much to break out of the funk. You don’t have to plan a six-month backpacking excursion to make new discoveries. You can actually uncover new places and unlock new adventure points in your own home city. Here are some suggestions to help you get started.

1.) Ask Around

Maybe when you’re at the local dive bar or at the mom and pop coffee shop you might frequent, ask somebody who knows what they’re talking about what some of their favorite things to do in the city and along the outskirts might be. You’d be surprised at some of the hidden gems you might have been overlooking your entire life.

2.) Find New Cuisine

Do you have a little restaurant you drive past on the way to work and always think about how one day you’re going to try the fare? Well, make it a point to throw together the funds, to make reservations if need be, and go to that restaurant. You can also make good use of Yelp, and ask around (preferably ask people with good taste) about what some of your city’s best restaurants are. Another good resource might be your local paper’s annually “Best Of” list. One suggestion we might make to you is this: stay away from the trendy places when you can. Go to the place that has been doing its thing quietly for decades.

3.) Take the Bus or the Train

You can look at your city through a new lens by changing the way you travel through it. Take a shuttle or a bus around town and be a spectator for once, instead of contending with traffic with your hands stuck at 10 and 2. Take a train to a neighboring city you’ve been taking for granted and snoop around.

4.) Find Local Customs

Take a look at a local events calendar. Make it a point to take part in local gatherings, which can have to do with anything from fashion to cultural events, cuisine or parades, half marathons or wine walks. The ideal situation would be to go to a part of town you’ve never really been to before and choose a situation that would have you around a group of people you’ve never met.

5.) Make Use of Nature

She’s there for you to enjoy, so enjoy! If you have the luxury of living close to a lake, a beach, or a mountain, then there should be plenty to explore. It can start out as a simple drive in any direction. Maybe you have a map, maybe you don’t. Generally, though, if you’re going to go on an excursion, it’s good to know what you’ll be getting into and to have a plan.

Make sure you take a look at your home town or current city with a fresh set of eyes. Try to look upon it as if you were the tourist. Sintra supports you in all your findings and is there with you on all your ventures.