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Quick question: how much have you actually seen of where you live?
A few months back, my mother-in-law told me about her colleague who’d lived in Tacoma, Washington her whole life. But she’d never been to Mount Rainier National Park. It’s one of the state’s main attractions and just an hour from her house.
It wasn’t like this colleague disliked traveling — quite the opposite. Her spouse worked for an airline and she took advantage of this. She jetted off often, collecting miles, stories, and experiences like any dedicated traveler.
But somehow, this place just 50 miles away hadn’t made the cut. At one point, she asked my mother-in-law why people came to vacation in Washington in the first place.
Naturally, my national park-loving MIL took her to Mount Rainier. And her colleague was amazed to realize that one of the country’s top-rated national parks, which is pretty much in her backyard, really is that good.
That story got me wondering: How often do other travelers do the same thing? How often do we snub the places close to home in favor of the ones thousands of miles away?
The joy of discovering new places within my home state has always been part of why I’m always itching to explore. But I often downplay these adventures when talking about travel.
There’s just something about traveling to a place where everything is different — the culture, the history, the language — that makes it seem more worthwhile. Surely, these stories are more worth sharing than stories about, say, a weekend trip to a small town an hour from my house.
While I’m sure I’m not the only one who feels this way, I think this creates a sense of apathy for the trips we take that are closer to home. And that feels like a disservice to the memories, changes, and discoveries we experience while on them.
After all, traveling close to home can be just as rewarding as going to places further away.
I’ve met many people who don’t consider themselves travelers because they don’t have the ability to explore as much of the world as they’d like. But I think that’s a narrow view of what travel is. I’m not saying we shouldn’t go beyond the boundaries of our homes — everyone should see as much of the world as they can!
But I firmly believe that one way to become a better, more confident, and well-rounded traveler is to take a look at the world around you, too.
And there are benefits to doing so. Let’s take a look at ‘em.
It’s a Low Barrier of Entry for New and Anxious Travelers
I have certain family members who may never go abroad. Anxiety, fear of the unknown, cost, age, and general uncertainty are some of their reasons for this hesitation. But I don’t think any of that should keep them from seeing more of the world, even if it’s a smaller, more localized version of it.
Exploring locally is an easy solution for new travelers, people who don’t have the funds or those with travel anxiety.
Chances are, you’re not going to have to face much of the unknown if you’re simply traveling to a new city a few hours from your house. You likely won’t have to encounter a new language or get used to unfamiliar customs.
Some may find this boring, but you can still have an enriching experience traveling this way, and it can help you build the courage to do more. Approach it with a fair bit of curiosity as if you’re a tourist in your own home.
Not sure where to start? Almost every place I’ve visited has some sort of local history museum with tidbits of unusual information. These can help you discover fun facts about your home. Along with these are art galleries, statues and monuments, local festivals, and quaint celebrations you’ve probably never heard of.
Uncertainty about going somewhere new is understandable, especially if you’ve never done it before. So start close and slowly branch out. Before you know it, you’ll have the confidence to go even further.
You’ll Learn to Travel Better & Know More About What Kind of Traveler You Are
One of the keys to enjoying travel is getting comfortable with how you like to do it.
Knowing exactly what to bring to make your trip pleasant from start to finish is something that takes time. And you probably won’t get the chance to experiment with what works best for you if you only travel once or twice a year.
That’s where shorter trips closer to home come in handy. Treat these as experiments and practice for the big ones.
Learn how to pack small — do you really need everything you bring? Learn how to make a solid itinerary — how much do you even like to do in a day?
Taking local trips will also give you a good idea of how far in advance you need to plan things. Plus, you’ll have fewer letdowns if you miss something. You didn’t fly 5,000 miles to see something, only to find out you should have bought tickets 6 months ago. You can just schedule a trip to go back in a few weeks.
You’ll also learn what kind of travel you like. Do you prefer being out in nature, going on hikes, and chilling in city parks?
Or would you rather be mixed up in all the hustle and bustle of the city, bouncing between art museums and fine dining restaurants, and hitting up the nightlife? Maybe you’d like a mix of the two.
Knowing how to better plan your travels and how to personalize your experience to fit what you want is key to becoming a confident and able traveler.
It Opens Your Eyes to Cool Discoveries and Hidden Gems
Most people think of Washington as just mountains and forests, and I’ll admit that was my vision of my home state for longer than it should have been. But my travels to Eastern Washington have laid those thoughts to rest.
I thought I would have to go to the Southwest to see landscapes as interesting as the ones in that part of the country. But there it all was just 4 hours from my house: deserts, gorges, canyons, and coulees that made me feel like I was in Arizona.
I was surprised, to say the least. I guarantee you, there’s probably something about your home that could surprise and fascinate you, too.
Here’s what you do: Open a map of your home, point somewhere you’ve never been, and start researching the area, getting curious about what’s around you.
This is also how you uncover hidden gems. That incredible state park with a wide-open vista that no one is talking about. The tiny little hole in the wall that serves the best pho you’ve ever tasted. A cool community doing impactful things for the environment.
If you live in or near a major city, tons of people probably travel to your home every year — find out why.
You Can Travel More Often (And For Less Money)
And here’s the obvious one: traveling close by = traveling more.
Many people judge how well-traveled they are by the amount of “big trips” they take throughout the year. But the real key to traveling regularly and thus, becoming more well-traveled, is what you fill your time with in between.
Sure, you might not be able to do extended backpacking through various countries or even take a month off work to luxuriate on a beach in the Caribbean. But pretty much anyone can plan several weekend getaways or impromptu day trips closer to home.
Explore nearby cities and remote small towns. Visit underrated parks or take a solo road trip through a corner of your home you’ve yet to explore. These are great ways to stoke your curiosity and scratch that travel itch.
Also, it’s cheaper. Cut out the price of plane tickets, eliminate the need for weeks’ worth of lodging and rental cars, and bring food straight from your fridge. The amount of money you save will only make it possible for you to travel more.
And that’s the whole point, isn’t it?
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Again, I’m not saying you shouldn’t go on those trips you’ve been dreaming of for years. But why limit yourself to travel that’s only thousands of miles away?
Get curious. Don’t neglect the world around you. I’m certain there are places that will fill you with wonder that are closer than you think.
I’ll end with another quick story:
One of my fondest memories of living in upstate New York as a child was when my mom surprised me and my siblings with a trip to Stony Brook State Park. My siblings and I were the opposite of outdoorsy kids, so we weren’t exactly thrilled about it.
But upon arriving, something awakened within us. Suddenly, we saw this place filled with streams and waterfalls and fascinating rock formations as downright magical. It felt like something straight out of a fairytale.
In my hazy, child-like memory, we had journeyed across the border, hours away to somewhere in Canada. That was the only explanation for how a place this wondrous could be within driving distance of my house.
I recently looked it up and was surprised to discover the park was just 40 minutes away. What magic can you find less than an hour from your house?