Be a Tourist in Your Own Town
People fly across the world to see the place you live, and chances are you have skipped half of what they come for. A local-tourist staycation fixes that: for a few days, you do exactly what a visitor would.
- Take the tour. A city walking tour, a food tour, a boat or architecture tour.
- Visit the big landmark. The observation deck, the famous bridge, the historic fort.
- Do the museums properly. Pick two or three and give each a half day.
- Eat like a visitor. The famous diner, the market hall, the dish your city is known for.
- Catch a show or a game. Theater, a concert, minor-league baseball.
- Stay over in a different neighborhood so evenings feel like travel.
Where to Find Ideas
Your official tourism office is the best first stop, along with its free visitor guide. For tours and attraction tickets in cities and ports worldwide, see Shore Activities. Our city guides cover several major metros in depth, from Los Angeles County to Honolulu, and Best of the USA highlights the best places in every state.
Make it feel different
- Use transit, a bike share or a ferry instead of your car.
- Carry a camera and take the photos a visitor would.
- Buy a postcard or a visitor guide — it helps you see the place fresh.
- Keep a list of what you discovered for when friends visit.
A three-day local-tourist plan
| Day | Morning | Afternoon | Evening |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Guided walking tour of the old center | The city’s best-known museum | Dinner at a restaurant visitors rave about |
| 2 | Boat, ferry or bus tour for the views | Market hall or food tour | Show, concert or ballgame |
| 3 | A neighborhood you never visit | Botanical garden, zoo or historic house | Sunset from the highest viewpoint in town |
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find things to do as a tourist in my own town?
Start where visitors start: your city or county tourism office website, its visitor guide and its events calendar. Then look at guided tours, museum calendars and library programs, and ask friends who have visited what they did.
Are walking tours worth it if I live there?
Often more than for visitors. A good guide will show you history, architecture and stories behind streets you walk every day, and food tours are an easy way to discover neighborhoods.
Plan a Local-Tourist Staycation
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