BellaOnline Forums Travel and Culture Budget Travel New Article: Carry a Guidebook for Your Home Area

Hi!

I've just posted a new Budget Travel article:

Carry a Guidebook for Your Home Area

and to tell the truth, I can't believe it took me so long to figure out what a good idea this is.

If it's been a while since you had out of town guests, chances are you may have been overlooking your own home town attractions. Time to go exploring!

I know that having a local guidebook with me is going to make my regional and in-city travelling a lot more interesting.

For some reason, I find myself wondering if the Simpsons own a guidebook to Springfield...

Happy Travels,

jill

This is a great idea! We've lived in our area for 2 years and, while we've made it a point to take jaunts to other parts of Texas, we haven't yet done much exploring in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. And there is SO MUCH to see here!

I picked up a wonderful guide book about Dallas from the Dallas Visitors Association. Those places are great for picking up brochures or info on places you'd like to see in your own hometown.

Thanks for the note joanj -

Isn't it a shame that we tend to reserve the "best" places for when visitors come - we will spend lots of money to go away and see the museums, zoos, art galleries, gardens, sports facilities, etc. - but most of us (me included) just never seem to get around to it at home.

Good for you for getting out there. EVERY place has stories, from nature and from humans. The world is an amazing place.

Thanks for sharing your enthusiasm about Texas. Some day....

Cheers,

jill

I lived in Baltimore for 2 years and, since I knew I wasn't going to be there forever, I went a new place every weekend. When I went to work on Monday, everyone would ask me where I'd been that weekend and most of them had never seen the things I saw-even things within a few miles.

I've always made it a point to visit sites where I am. I love history so that's an option but little festivals and such are fun too. If you ever come to Texas, come in the Spring. It isn't very hot and humid and the wildflowers are beautiful!

You know what they say -- the grass is always greener... It's so true, our own hometowns are tourist attractions to everyone but those who live in them. Try travelling local -- you'll be amazed at what you find!

Cheers,
Megan

Traveling local is one good way to have a good time and save on travel expenses too.

Eat locally, work locally, travel locally... the mantra of our age.

George Monbiot in his book Heat says that the bus is the best way to travel, carbon-wise. I wish we had more buses going to the places I want to visit exactly when I want to visit them - but then there would be a busful of people there at the same time!

(I am sort of making a joke, but also ruefully wishing we could "have it all").

Our favorite London favorite is Timeout London - either the magazine or the book. Also its companion Cheap Eats in London.

Some visitors don't take to it, finding it a bit cheeky (its that cockney humor!) but we find it very local-oriented and often has good London sightseeing ideas you would not usually think of.

We posted it on our London travelog from our latest trip: