The moment you step off a plane into another city, state or country you become a tourist. There is nothing wrong with that. After all, your visit is contributing to the local economy and that keeps folks working. If you want to enjoy your vacation, then you should embrace your inner tourist and go with the flow.
This is how to make it happen:
Book a Hop On and Off Tour
Every tourist destination has its sights to see whether those are movie star homes or ancient ruins. To get to those destinations, you’ll find roaming tour buses traversing the terrain. You should consider taking one of those tours to soak up the local color. The only condition should be to make it an “on and off” tour. This lets you literally hop off the bus at any stop that looks worthy of further exploration. The “hop on” part happens when the next bus from the same company passes through. Just be sure to check the schedules so that you won’t be stranded with the last “hop off.”
Take to the Water
If there is a waterway where you’re visiting, then chances are there will be waterway transportation. This is a fun way to relax and get from one end of the city to the next. Most of these operations offer round trip fares that let you get off and explore then come back on. You could also just take an excursion around the area to take in the scene. Duck boats are very popular in Boston, London and San Diego. Of course, if you’re in Venice, then you just have to try a gondola ride at least once.
Go to a Museum
It is hard to imagine any destination on your vacation itinerary that won’t have a museum. The bigger the city, the bigger the museum and they are always worth a visit. Just keep an eye out for the smaller museums. There will always be some kind of quirky collection to take in. Cheesy? Yes. Fun? Always.
Take a Hike
If you’ve got comfortable shoes, plenty of sunscreen, water bottles and maps on your phone, then there is no reason why you shouldn’t go for a hike. There are plenty of national parks scattered all across the country that all have hiking trails. Hiking is also a terrific way to explore a city. It’s also a terrific way to work off all those calories you’ve accumulated with your fantastic vacation meals!
Visit a House of Worship
The vast majority of Cathedrals, temples and mosques allow for visitors. Some go out of their way by offering guided tours of their “houses.” This is a great way to take in some of the local culture and heritage.
Go to a Game
No matter what time of year that you’re taking your vacation, there will always be some kind of sporting game going down. It doesn’t have to be professional sports. Going to a local soccer match or even high school football game is a fun way to mingle with the locals and make some new friends. You’ll find the best recommendations for eating out and other attractions from those folks.
