7 Reasons to be a Tourist in Your Hometown

A friend of mine came to visit me recently. We’ve known each other since the fourth grade, and it was her first time visiting Seattle from Florida. When she arrived, I was determined to show her the best time possible. No tacky touristy stuff, I thought. Instead, I’d take her to see some unusual landmarks, a few hidden gems only locals knew about, and maybe we’d even see some new up-and-coming band.

I wanted her to have a Seattle experience unlike any other.

And that was where I erred. Because my friend had never been to Seattle before. She didn’t want to see unusual landmarks that no one had heard of (the Rainer Beer “R” didn’t interest her). Or bands that she was unfamiliar with. Instead, she wanted to see things that were quintessentially Seattle, like the Space Needle and the Pike Place Market. And she wanted to do tacky, touristy things, like take the Seattle Underground Tour and cuddle up with Rachel, the market’s infamous bronze pig.

Sigh.

These were things that everyone who came to Seattle saw. I tried to persuade her to see something different and interesting. Something that no one else who traveled to the Seattle would see.

She didn’t understand the point. After all, she had come to Seattle to do touristy things.

“But ... I’m a local,” I explained snobbishly. “I can’t go to the top of the Space Needle!”

“Why the heck not?” my friend countered. “If you’re a local, shouldn’t you know what your city has to offer?”

Damn her. She’s always been too smart for my own good. So I caved, and I, the travel snob, spent a few days visiting all the crowded, touristy attractions my city has to offer.

And holy cats am I glad I did. 

At the Ballard Locks. This was one of the hundreds of photos we took that weekend.  

At first, being a tourist in my hometown felt ridiculous. But after a while, I realized it was also a lot of fun. I was able to see my city in a new and different way while spending time with an old friend (and hey, I actually learned something!). Since then, I’ve realized there are lots of reasons to be a tourist in your hometown.

1.    You’ll be able to recommend attractions and activities to other people. When out-of-towners come to visit, they usually want suggestions on what to see (and what to skip). If you actually take some time to do the touristy stuff in your area, you’ll be able to give them an insightful, informed opinion on how they should spend their day. Plus, as a local, you’ll be able to tell just how good (and thorough) a particular tour is at communicating your city’s awesomeness.

2.    It will give you a new perspective on your city. I felt like I knew my hometown pretty well. But there are parts of it I rarely visit. After a morning spent touring Seattle, I was reminded of all the things about our city that I take for granted (boating on Lake Union! Our very own soccer team! Salmon - of both the smoked and swimming varieties!) You’ll be surprised at all the amazing things your city has to offer, when you take a moment to notice it all.

3.    It’s good practice. Vacations are stressful for lots of reasons - taking public transportation, keeping track of your camera, buying tickets for the right tour, not getting hopelessly lost ... why not give yourself a primer course by being a tourist in your own city? If you do get lost, you won’t ever be too far from home, and it will be great practice for when you are in a far-away destination. 

4.    Because locals get discounts. Many museums, ballparks, and other tourist attractions offer discounts for residents. Not only will you save some cash on admission, but if you stay close to home, you won’t need to shell out for a hotel or cab, either. And with the money you saved, you can buy postcards from the gift shop and send them to your neighbors (confusing for them, fun for you). 

5.    Tourist attractions are attractions for a reason. Destinations doesn’t usually become popular unless they’re worth visiting. And if you willfully avoid a place simply because a lot of people frequent it, you’re going to miss out on a lot of fun. Try to look at things objectively - does eating a steak the size of your head sound fun? Yes? Then go.  

6.    You deserve a break. Let’s face it - you probably need a vacation. Like, say, right now (or possibly you needed one months ago). But it’s hard to pick up and leave everything (not to mention expensive, too). Enjoying the touristy offerings of your hometown can provide you with a mini-vacation. And considering that you won’t need to brave airport security, risk losing your luggage, or have to tip a valet, it might actually be less stressful, too.

7.    Because fun shouldn’t just be reserved for vacations. I have this quiet belief that theater tickets, fancy restaurants, and cultural enrichment of any kind (and yes, I count Madame Tussaud’s as culturally enriching) should be saved for vacations. But that simply isn’t true. There’s no reason why you can’t enjoy yourself on a regular old weekend at home. Don your favorite novelty hat (for the Pacific Northwest, I suggest anything thematically-related to Bigfoot) and take lots of cheesy photos near local landmarks. You’ll be amazed at how much fun you’ll have. 

I can’t be alone on this one, folks. So fess up: have you been ever been a tourist in your own town? Share your stories in the comments section below!

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Geraldine is a freelance writer and founder of the Everywhereist, a travel blog for the accidentally adventurous. You can follow her on twitter here.