How to Make an Old Place Feel New!

You know that feeling you get when it’s been a while since you’ve explored somewhere new? It’s an itch that can feel so intense. A longing that can physically hurt if you’ve become accustomed to frequent travel. Obviously those of us with stationary jobs can’t always be going to new places, but that doesn’t mean we can’t find new adventures close to home. Here are some tips for how to make a frequently visited place on the map feel like a completely new experience!

Find a Festival or Special Event

• Search blogs. A great way to experience something new is going to an annual festival or event. Big and small cities alike have these going on all the time, with only a little digging needed to find them. I have a couple favorite blogs in my local cities and will occasionally take a look at their calendars. I’ve also heard about a lot of cool stuff on the local radio stations, so don’t just change the station every time the music stops. Some favorites that we have attended recently: Memphis Pride Parade, street festivals in Memphis and Nashville, and a weekly artistan market in Boston.
• Catch a sporting event or a concert. My mind was blown a year ago when I changed my Ticketmaster account from my hometown zip code to my current one. All of a sudden tons of concerts and events started popping up that I had no idea about. I couldn’t believe that musicians I liked were going to smaller venues I had never known about. Minor league sporting events are also a fun option. Their ticket prices are lower than the big leagues and usually allow you to get closer to the action. So take a look on Ticketmaster, SeatGeek, or whichever ticket website you prefer. Our family favorite in this catergory was the annual open practice with the Memphis Grizzlies where you could stand right next to the court!
• Check local college event calendars. Colleges are constantly hosting a variety of interesting events. They’re bringing in cool speakers, organizing community gatherings, and opening student activities up to the public. Go to their website and search for the calendar of events. Note: each school has varying levels of useful calendars, so some are much better than others.

Explore New Places  

This could mean finding a new park or going into a building you pass all the time, but have never stepped foot in. This type of adventuring will reap rewards, even if it doesn’t seem all that exciting on the surface.

One of our favorite traditions came from just meandering and exploring. We walked into the Peabody Hotel in Memphis one day to see their special duck fountain in the lobby, but then we decided to explore more of the giant downtown hotel. We searched the stores there, explored the fancy lobby, and went up to the Mezzanine to people watch over the hotel bar. They don’t make luxury hotels like this anymore, and it is like walking into a time machine. We have had some great times looking at old pictures from the early days of the hotel, staring at cool murals on the walls, playing around in old phone booths, and rolling around pretending we were spies (this seemed like the appropriate thing to do with the kids late one night after a Grizzlies game). Each time we go in we find something new. If we’re ever downtown and forget to swing by, the kids are quick to remind us of this “tradition” that arose out of us just opening a door we never had before. They also love taking new visitors in whenever friends or family come to town.

Eat Somewhere Different

We all have our favorite places to eat, but trying something new can be an adventure. Initially for our kids, anything that wasn’t a burger or pizza was usually pushing them outside their comfort zone. But after years of it, they now love to try new restaurants and new food, and even if it doesn’t end up being their favorite they always enjoy the experience. But I do love when my kids realize they like something they never knew existed. Lately that has included Thai and Indian dishes, along with some more adventurous sandwiches. With the amount of good restaurants around and new ones always opening, there are plenty of options. Some of our kids’ most memorable meals are times they picked something they weren’t sure they’d like, but then ended up loving.

Tip for those with families: be sure to check prices ahead of time! Our boys typically pick dishes with shrimp, so if we don’t check the menu beforehand it can get expensive.

Be a Tourist in Your Own City

I know tourists are the worst (or so says my sister whose apartment in Boston is constantly being Instagrammed), but allow yourself to see your city like they do. There are often so many museums or historical places close by that we have never been to ourselves because “we know the area” and “only tourists go there.” I usually use a visiting guest as an excuse to check some of these places out, but sometimes I just go to check cool places off my list. Here are some ideas of tourist activities you may be overlooking:

• historic tours
• brewery tours
• art/architecture tours
• ghost tours
• baseball stadium tours
• museums
• public parks
• cooking classes
• college campuses

Whatever you choose to do, have fun giving your usual place another look! I hope you enjoy the adventure!