When you explore a city on the other side of the world, you expect to learn something new not only about the place and its people but about yourself. How you handle navigating your way around unknown streets and meeting others who think and talk differently from you reveals things about your personality that otherwise you would not have realized.
What about when you’re in your hometown? There still might be the unfamiliar lurking in your city even when you think you know everything about it like the back of your hand. Last week, my former housemate from London, a native Australian and a.k.a. “Old Mate”, came to visit me in my hometown of San Francisco. I saw the city through his eyes and learned a few things that will help me enjoy it more and not just neglect all that it has to offer:
1. Be open and put yourself out there. I was completely embarrassed but Old Mate had me wear these glasses for a few blocks in Little Italy. I did like the fact that it made people smile and I got some nods hello. You don’t have to put yourself out there in this particular way but just talking to a stranger, whether it be a local or visitor, is exciting or trying something completely new works as well. For example, Old Mate went to a salsa dance lesson one night hoping to look a little bit like a dancer by the time his friend’s wedding rolled around and he ended up having a blast with people he had just met at his hostel.
Out in the open in Little Italy, North Beach
2. Just wing it and see what happens. Sometimes when you don’t plan your day the most pleasant and unexpected things can happen. Old Mate and I just wandered through the streets and happened to do things I never had the chance to do before. I tasted fresh oysters at the Ferry Building and crisp fortune cookies in Chinatown and came upon a secluded park that had treetop views of the bay – little things like this that I usually took for granted made me appreciate how unique my city is.
Waiting for my fortune cookie.
3. Pictures are great but don’t forget to learn something. The hills and Victorian houses that rest on them are gorgeous but did you know that there are 42 hills in San Francisco? The TransAmerica Pyramid is a famous icon now but did you know people were opposed to it being built? It is easy to get enveloped in the lens trying to take the perfect picture but remember to look at the view in front of you with your own two eyes and give it some context, then you’ll always have a good story to tell to go with your photo.
The TransAmerica Pyramid standing tall.
Photos courtesy of Old Mate.
Cheap Tickets to San Francisco
Terrific tips. Some of the best travel experiences happen in your own hometown. I love the advice about putting yourself out there.
Thanks! Even though I’ve lived here all my life I am always discovering something new.
Great ideas. Travel doesn’t have to not include your hometown. #3 is a great tip too. So many people take pictures of things and not know what they are to the city.
I went back to my hometown of Chicago as a tourist. Amazing the things I did as a tourist that I never did in 30 years of living there! Whether it’s our current hometown or a past one, most of us get in a routine of work/home that we do not explore all that our cities have to offer. What a great idea to travel in your hometown!
Carol http://www.smartwomentravelers.com
I know. I was taking pictures but my friend was teaching me so much from his guidebook. There’s a lot I still don’t know about my hometown.
Great post! I think we all start to take our home towns for granted after awhile and don’t see them the same way someone from outside would. This is a good reminder to play tourist at home once in awhile.
You look very smart with these glasses… lol
Haha thanks! They are my preferred pair of glasses
Thanks Carol! I agree that getting into a routine makes it easy to forget trying something new. I am always discovering something new about SF!
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