Freshen Up...Your View of Your Own City

Unless you live in a great big city or a tourist trap, you've probably said "There's nothing to do here. I live in the most boring place on earth."

With a few legitimate exceptions, that's probably not actually true. (We have learned, in our county-tour-planning that indeed some places are borrrrrrrrrrrrrrrring. We're sorry for those folks. But we've also learned those places are few and far between. Most places have more to do and see than their residents credit them with.)

We've tried to make a habit of finding the fun things to do in our own city so we can see our hometown with fresh eyes. Sure, we love traveling somewhere else for the day as much as the next people, but we also appreciate finding things to do right here in our own backyard! It helps us enjoy date days/date nights if we don't have time or the desire to go out of town.

Maybe you can have a spring/summer staycation if you hunt around for things to enjoy in your very own space!

1. Find the parks and trails.

I'm learning the people to ask about this one are photographers. Our photographer has introduced us to little outdoor gems I didn't even know existed in this county! Trails, nooks, and crannies that are absolutely beautiful!

Anyway. Our city has a couple of parks that are both beautiful in their own way, and we enjoy taking walks through them. (In an odd twist, we actually miss the park in Marion since we've moved. It was one of the best things about that city. It was gorgeous!)

We also have a trail that used to be part of a railroad, and they've been working hard to lengthen the trail and beautify it for walkers, runners, and bikers. That is actually one outdoor space we haven't explored yet, but I think it would be a great thing to visit this summer, don't you?

Look for nature preserves, parks, trails, lakes, ponds, and any other outdoor gem where you can spend some time as the weather warms up! Whether you're going for exercise, hanging out, or even pictures, it's never a bad day to discover a new little spot!

2. Music for the win!

Photo by 42 North on Unsplash

Our park has a summer concert series, and I know that's becoming an increasingly popular thing everywhere. Often those concerts are free, and while every style of music may not zing you, trying them out might introduce you to something new that you might actually like.

Live local bands and open mic nights are another popular thing. There's a coffee shop downtown here that invites local artists to come in on Friday nights and play some acoustic music. We have been there before during their sets and even though we don't usually know the music, we appreciate their talent and enjoy the entertainment.

Look around and see what you can find. If you live in a college town, they sometimes do concerts for low-to-no cost. I used to go to concerts and plays at IWU when I lived in Marion. (Big churches also bring in artists, and while you may have to buy a ticket to go, you aren't fighting arena crowds!)

3. Check out the local attractions.

Is there something in your city that people come from other places to see? Have you ever seen it? (Probably not, right?)

We have a beautiful mansion here in town that has a rich history. I've never been there on a regular day, but Ryan and I love going at Christmas to tour it all decked out for the holidays.

We also have a glass manufacturer that gives tours, and I think it would be so much fun to tour that one day. (They only offer them on weekdays, so we haven't been because Ryan works. We need him to have a weekday off so we can go!) We actually got to see a sneak peek of it on the HGTV show Good Bones, because the designers made a trip up here (from Indianapolis) to get glass for the house they were flipping.

4. Hit the local restaurants!

Skip the chains and visit a place unique to your own city. I've hinted at this on a couple of other posts, but it fits here too. Try the hole-in-the-wall breakfast diner all the regulars visit every day. Try a locally-owned coffee or ice cream shop.

Ask what items on the menu are their "famous" dishes and order that. Then if people come to town, you can recommend not only a place to go, but a menu item to order!

This is another area where we need to step up our game. Like I said in the dining out post, we tend to go to the same restaurants all the time. We need to go back to Louie's (coney dogs), Cook McDoogal's (Irish food), and Artie's (tenderloins). And of course - Dan's Donuts!

5. Check out the festivals, races, and First Friday events.

The first summer we lived here, we went to Ribfest, which featured all kinds of BBQ - and live music! We try to make sure we get to the Strawberry Festival every summer too, so we can get one of the delicious shortcakes! Though we normally have alternate plans, I know Kokomo has its own ball drop on the square on New Year's Eve, and they have a couple of festivals each year that also include parades.

Though we haven't run any of them here, there are some 5K races that take place throughout the year - each for a good cause.

And we've been to First Friday a few times. We've learned a lot about our downtown business district by going to First Friday!

Sure, it's not a massive city, but Kokomo has a lot to offer, and my guess is your city has more to offer than you've tried, even if it still can't be accused of having a lot to offer. Check out some of the places you've never been!