Learn To Be A Tourist In Your Own Backyard

When we think about booking a trip, our thoughts usually turn to foreign lands. But next time, why not try an adventure on home turf instead?

“When we travel overseas, we have a tendency to push ourselves out of our comfort zones,” explains Wanderlust editor Phoebe Smith, who is also the author of Wilderness Weekends: Wild Adventures in Britain’s Rugged Corners. “What we need to do is take that same mentality and apply it when we’re back home – that way we can all be tourists in our own backyards.” So how do you plan an unfamiliar travel experience in a country you know well? Read on…

Where to go

When looking for inspiration, you’ll be sifting through familiar names of places. “But remember, anywhere is a travel destination if you’ve not visited it before,” says Phoebe. “Get a map and look for a town, village or city you’ve never been to – or only passed through on a train – and head there. You never know what you might find.”

And don’t just think about the places you want to visit. Consider some locations that have negative reputations and treat them like places you know nothing about. Research and make it your mission to find somewhere beautiful or interesting in those areas.

“Force yourself to visit places you wouldn’t necessarily think of going to. In the past, that’s where I’ve found some little gems,” says Dixe Wills, author of Tiny Churches.