Get your gear, its tourist time!
Whether you’re planning on traveling a few hours from home or jumping on a plane to the other side of the country there’s no greater way to find adventure than to explore your own home.
You should really leave the flowered shirt, socks in sandals, fanny packs and the need to stop every 5 minutes for a selfie at home, but being a tourist, explorer, adventurer whatever you want to call it, in your own country is a total must!
In the last few years I’ve had the privileged to not only explore a few places in my own home (Manitoba) but also go west across Canada and check out Alberta and British Columbia.
I was out there taking photos every chance I got. I stopped at the major spots and took the welcome to (insert place here) shots. I’ve stood in lines, took the iconic photos and seen some sites and honestly it’s so worth it! If you’re in Canada, make sure you get your “oh sorry” on for when you’re bumping into people trying to get photos.
It’s easy to just say oh I live here I can go see this or that whenever I like but there are a lot of great reasons why you should be that tourist in your own country.
Here are 5!!
You will…..
- …APPRECIATE WHERE YOU LIVE SO MUCH MORE
I had a pretty bad mindset for a while that home was so boring. Everywhere else was so much nicer. I found out pretty quickly though that is not true at all. Maybe I needed to see it for my own eyes or maybe I just needed to get out and explore a little farther but it’s a cool feeling to think WOW home is really great!
Falcon Lake, Manitoba, Canada - …LEARN A LOT!
Did you know that Banff National Park is Canada’s oldest national park since 1885 or that 1/3 of BC is nothing but trees and no human contact? I didn’t. Right in the heart of Winnipeg (biggest city closest to my home town) there is a large French community dedicated to preserving their heritage and the beautiful landmarks across the city. I went on a insta meet one night, toured around for a few hours and learned so much!
Saint Boniface University, Winnipeg, Manitoba - …WILL WANT TO SEE MORE!
I’ve been fortunate to go west a few times and see some of Canada and now that I’ve seen a little bit, I want to see more. I hope to be lucky enough to see the Hopewell rocks in New Brunswick, explore Gros Morne National Park in Newfoundland and Labrador or visit Peggy’s Cove in Nova Scotia. When you start to explore at home I guarantee you will want to see more. An economic stand point, you’ll support your own countrys tourism.
Nova Scotia (photo credit, my boyfriend, Chris, he’s been there, not me!) - …RELIVE OLD MEMORIES
I went to Banff National Park when I was 4 years old with my brother, mom and dad. I really don’t remember much except really tall trees and huge forests. I have a vague memory of my brother trying to swing the gondola to scare my poor mother who really doesn’t like heights. Wandering through Banff, taking the gondola gave me that fun nostalgic feeling. That ‘so this what it was like’ feeling. If you can always go back to a place you were when you were younger! You may have a different perspective or go back to the good ol days.
My brother and I in Banff, Canada 20 years ago! - …FEEL VERY PATRIOTIC
I never felt the need to plaster a Canadian flag over anything when I was at home but actually while traveling, I try and make it known that I am Canadian. I assure you it is not so I don’t get mixed up with the United States (sorry my American friends) but it’s because I’ve realized now how amazing my home really is. Funnily enough, I didn’t realize that driving through the mountains or sticking my toes in the ocean in which western Canada displays such things very well, I realized that driving an hour and half through the good ol Manitoba prairies to one of our provincial parks to go float down a lazy river. I didn’t need to go to some Hawaiian island or check out the Grand Canyon state to have a great adventure. It was on Manitoba time, right in my backyard. No matter where you come from, there really is beauty, fun and adventure and once you find it and experience it all you really will be so proud of where you come from.
Pinawa River, Manitoba, Canada
I hope I’ve inspired you to explore your own home or country. Sometimes it’s hard not to think the grass is greener on the other side. There’s so much beauty out there!
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I loved this post. I’ve lived in NZ my whole life, and have seen a lot of the country, but there’s plenty I haven’t seen. I’m going to Dunedin next week for a wedding and am planning on doing some exploring while I’m there. People travel from all over to come here, so I shouldn’t take it for granted.
Thank you! Yea a lot of people say oh why do you want to go Dunedin, it’s beautiful. I haven’t been yet but it’s by the coast the architecture is wonderful.. why wouldn’t you right! Love you outlook! Thanks for reading!
We love being tourists in our own country! There’s soooo much to see here in Canada, we never run out of new places to explore right in our backyard. And it also helps cure the wanderlust feeling when we’re in between travels 😉
I wholeheartedly agree! I’m Canadian too! Yay Canada. Another reason: usually cheaper than traveling to another country 😉
Yay!! Haha yea for sure!!