Play Tourist (at home!)
I've posted a little bit the fun we've had this Summer in NW Ohio, without having an "official" Summer vacay. Well, technically this area is still relatively new to us, but the point is that you can vacation in your own city, county, state, etc. Sometimes stopping and smelling the roses in your hometown can be super refreshing and super fun... and often super affordable and doable! Here are tips for traveling in your neck of woods (and some specifics for NW Ohio if you ever make it over here, whether as part of your roadtrip or as a destination).
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| Chilling at Fort Meigs, taking a normal tour. We will be back next month though for the spooky Ghost Walk! |
Pick up one of those tourist guides for your city! // You may think you do not need one, since you've lived in your city for years, but you may not have thought of everything or maybe you didn't know that there were tours at that one historical home in the next town over. Also, it's fun to see the calendar of different events going on that you may not have known about.
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| We are lucky that Toledo is a huge market for Minor League sports! The Mud Hens and Walleye games are amazing. |
Been to a spot before? Go to a special event there instead! // Yes, maybe you've gone to that city landmark before, taken the standard tour during an elementary school field trip, but have you been to their Ghost Walk during the Fall? Or to their Summer craft fair? Fun events can make an attraction feel new again! I've been to Fort Meigs before, but going to Garrison's Ghost Walk in October is completely different and it's a great way to support local historical spots. Same with your art museum (okay, I'm obviously very partial to art museums!) - have you taken a thematic tour or been to an after hours event?
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| I'm obviously a huge art museum advocate, but our Flashlight Tours are pretty awesome if I say so myself ;) |
Travel to a new area! // Have you driven 45 minutes to that National Park that you've always said you needed to visit? Or to a suburb you've heard of, but never been to. You don't have to spend a tank of gas to have a getaway. Find a bed and breakfast on TripAdvisor and take an overnight trip to that cozy town you've heard of! You don't even have to stay overnight, just make it a day trip and soak up some nearby history or charm. Or, take it up a notch and randomly select a spot within a certain mile-radius and go - see where the day takes ya!
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| On a whim (and also because we were avoiding the Toledo water crisis), we went up to Ann Arbor! |
Be open & have fun! // This is most important, of course! If you are going with family, friends, significant other, your pet, etc. make sure you are spending quality time together and have a good time! If something doesn't work out as planned, you hit a snag, weather doesn't cooperate, whatever it is, laugh it off and don't let the little things put a damper on your day. A general rule for life, but also important when trying new things, and sometimes new things don't live up to expectations, but it's good to let go and roll with the punches.
Some ideas to get you started:
- Local sports teams (Professional, College, Minor League)
- Historic Landmarks (historic homes, monuments, famous buildings/architecture)
- Museums! (Duh. Art, science, history, etc.)
- Live Entertainment (theater, symphony, opera, ballet)
- Parks (National or not!)
- Art Festivals, Concerts, Farmer's Markets
- Events (wine tastings, gallery openings, fundraisers)
- Interactive Classes/Workshops (glassblowing workshops, BYOB painting, cooking/pastry)
- Recreation (mini golf, bowling, laser tag, beach volleyball)
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| Bowling // Blowin' some glass // Wine Tasting // Lighthouse fun // Minor League hockey // Symphony performance |
What are some of your favorite touristy things
to do in your neck of the woods?
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