How to Be a Tourist in Your Own City
For a long time, we considered tourism something you did somewhere else. It was what happened when you landed in a new city and suddenly cared deeply about sunrise times, dinner reservations, and squeezing in “just one more thing” before the day ended.
At home, we live differently. We run errands, stick to familiar routines, and save the fun for our next trip. That can be a slippery slope, though, and when we found ourselves unable to travel like we used to, a new idea emerged: Can we bring travel home?
This post is part two of our How to Turn Travel into a Lifestyle series, as we bring you on our journey to become tourists in our hometown!
Travel is a Mindset, Not Just a Place
When we realized 2025 wouldn’t look like our last five years of travel, we worried we might lose the magic it brings to our lives and our relationship.
But the more we sat with it, the more we realized so much of what we love about Travel Season isn’t tied to a destination. It’s tied to how we show up on the road.
When traveling, we prioritize differently. We make room for new experiences and say yes to the fun things now, not later.
At home, we forget to do that. Home is where you rest and where life happens. Home is where you run errands and do laundry, and where you default to the same three places because they’re familiar and comfortable.
But then you blink and years have passed, and suddenly you’re moving to a new state without having fully explored the city you’re in.
Why New Places Feel More Exciting
We’ve noticed it in ourselves: when we land in a new city, we turn into turbocharged versions of our best selves. We’re waking up early for sunrise hikes and stopping at a scenic overlook just because it’s there.
When we’re home, “we’ll do it next weekend.”
Part of that is external motivation: We have limited time in a place when we’re traveling, and we spent money to be there, so we’re motivated to go and do. Plus, being somewhere new makes us feel like we’re “off the clock” and on vacation, even if we’re still working.
But there’s also an internal layer to it, one where we give ourselves permission to prioritize adventure over errands and fun over responsibilities.
The 2 Questions That Turn You Into a Tourist
The best way we’ve found to be a tourist in our own city is to plan for it the same way we’d plan any other trip. For us, that starts with two questions we ask on the road:
Would I do this during Travel Season?
If I were visiting {insert where you live} for a week, what would I make sure to do?
In case you missed the first post in this series, we highlight the first question in detail here.
As for what you’d do if you were just visiting your hometown, maybe it’s:
the top-rated restaurant you’ve been saving for a special occasion
the museum you drive by every day after work but haven’t actually visited
the trail you keep hearing about
the neighborhood you always mean to explore
the day trip you’ve talked about for years
Chances are, you’ve already got a sticky note or saved Instagram folder full of things to do in and around your city. The final step to becoming a tourist in your hometown is deciding to do one of those things… now. Make the reservation, buy the tickets, or plan the day trip.
You don’t have to overhaul your life to be a tourist in your own city. For us, it’s just meant asking these questions and actually acting on the answers.
Read the next post in this series: How to Turn Your Hometown into a Bucket-List Travel Destination
More on Road Trip Locals
🌎 Curious where we’ve been around the U.S. and Canada? Browse our Travel Seasons for real-life itineraries and practical tips from months spent living and working on the road.
🧳 Want to know exactly what we pack on the road? Check out our complete Road Trip Packing List for the exact things we use and love on every trip!
📚 Ready to plan your next adventure? Explore our Free Resource Library for road trip itineraries, planning guides, and stories from the road.
🐻 In the mood for adventure? Read Alaska Diaries, a seven-part travelogue from the time we roadtripped through Alaska on a mission to visit its eight national parks in one trip.
🏡 Wondering what it’s like to buy a fixer-upper just outside Yellowstone National Park? Follow the chaos in The Cabin Chronicles.
🦬 If Yellowstone’s on your list, don’t miss our Yellowstone Travel Guide: your step-by-step companion to planning an unforgettable trip to Yellowstone National Park!