Be a Tourist
By Rachel Ryan

November sounds like the perfect time to pack up and leave the real world behind, but most of us can’t do that. Even if you can’t take a plane, train or automobile to another location, you can get away in your own backyard.

Play the role of a tourist with your significant other or some girlfriends and visit the hot spots in your hometown. Visit www.citysearch.com or www.thingstodo.com to find out about popular restaurants, entertainment and special events in your city.

Have you visited the local historical sights? From the Molly Brown house in Denver, Colorado to the Portland Head Light in Cape Elizabeth, Maine — or the Alamo in San Antonia, Texas to Seattle’s Pike Place Market, there are places to go and things to see. Even if you live in a smaller community, you can often explore the history with some internet searching or a visit to the local library.

Museums, planetariums and landmarks offer great opportunity to get away and learn about the world just outside your front door. Some even offer special discounts (or free days) to local residents.

So, strap on your fanny pack, grab your camera and get out there and explore your community. Or forget the fanny pack, and just enjoy what your city has to offer!