A Note on Exploring Locally

When I was younger, all I can remember about going on family vacations or school outings was that I thought the destinations would be lame, boring, or just embarrassing to be seen around. Though there are definitely still some places that I would still probably be embarrassed to go, on the whole I have learned to ditch the bad attitude when it comes to traveling—especially when traveling locally. Sometimes I can't believe that a mere four years ago I would have balked at going hiking near my house, or visiting a small town like Hannibal, Missouri or Le Claire, Iowa. 

Growing up in the age of expanding social media did not really help this attitude. However, both thanks to and in spite of the intense social media space that has developed over the past ten years, I am now more than ever an advocate for getting out of the house no matter what. Part of exploring locally still breeds fears of lameness or boredom, especially when everyone is constantly inundated with stunning travel photos on Instagram or outrageous vacation vlogs on Youtube. Social media functions to remind us that constant, lavish international travel isn't always possible for all. As an anthropologist of tourism, there is so much to unpack behind social media travel—something I would love to study in the future, even if in the moment it makes me something akin to envious. But instead of pitying myself or buying a ticket that would put me in debt, I decided to use that almost-jealousy to fuel the fire of exploring my own backyard. Obviously Hannibal isn't going to be quite as cool as Reykjavik, and even Chicago can't really rival London. But the unique, historical, and seriously quirky details of these American towns can still be beautiful in a different way. Get in your car, book a cheap hotel, and get on the road. There are weirdly interesting places everywhere. Make it a challenge to find an "international" level adventure two states over. I certainly was surprised at what I found. 

Chicago Cultural Center / Niagara Falls / Stan Hywet Hall
Dodge County Ledge Park / The Field Museum / Oshkosh
Devil's Lake State Park / Museum of Science & Industry / Cleveland Museum of Art

The number one thing to remember when going to local destinations is this: never let your preconceptions of a place get in the way of how much you enjoy it. I lived almost half my life thinking that way, and it only dragged me down. I ditched the anxiety and started living in the moment, and I found myself much happier and lighter. When I stopped worrying about my "content" not being as flawless as others', I realized that the content I was making was pretty darn amazing. I honed my photography skills. I let go of nagging feelings of insecurity and doubt. I started revisiting childhood places I never would have thought to go again—the Milwaukee County Zoo, the Mitchell Park Domes, the Hershey Factory, the Museum of Science and Industry. Rather than resenting road trips, I sought them out—Niagara Falls, Devil's Lake State Park, Gettysburg, Cleveland, Door County. These are not quite as historical as a city like Rome, or as beautiful as a city like Paris. But they are some of the coolest, singular things America has to offer. The United States are really exceptional places to explore, and even the Midwest has beauty that I tended to just take for granted. Now that I've stopped to notice the amazing nature and quaintness of where I grew up, it's hard to stop getting in the car and driving.

Brandywine Falls / Hilton Downtown Chicago / Niagara River
Baraboo / Cleveland Museum of Art / Milwaukee County Zoo
Holy Hill Basilica / Horicon Marsh / Biltmore Estate

♥