20 ways to know a place on a dime [Part One]

20 ways to know a place on a dime [Part One]


river taxi on the Mekong River, Luang Probang, Laos


I will never forget being six years old in a new city. My mother and I had just moved to Austin, Texas, her old stomping grounds from post-graduate days. Disposable cameras in hand, we drove through the neighborhoods taking pictures of Austin's iconic landmarks-- the cast iron bat on South Congress, the giant fork outside Hyde Park Grill, the busty woman with arms open at Maria's Taco Express, to name a few. Those pictures later became the inspiration for her book, Wildly Austin, Austin's Landmark Art, telling the story behind each landmark artwork.

I will never forget the joy of that day; all it took was $9 and a good idea. For all my fellow explorers out there who would rather rely on their sense of adventure than Yelp this post is for you! Here are 20 ways to know a place, accompanied with original photography. I hope you enjoy! More to come.

Brooke


1. Take a bike ride


@anwenbaumeister, Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica

2. Go on a beer crawl


Christiania, Denmark

3. Study the architecture


Asheville, North Carolina

4. Visit a local farmers' market


Siem Reap, Cambodia

5. Go on a neighborhood tour


Spring Valley Neighborhood, Washington, DC

6. Attend a city council meeting


Democracy Spring Convergence, Washington, DC

7. Find murals


DogStar Books, Lancaster, PA

8. Admire landmarks


Amor by Robert Indiana, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philly, PA

Elephant Super Car Wash, Seattle, Washington State

9. Attend a rally


Our Generation, Our Choice Youth Demonstration, Washington, DC

10. Explore local parks


Barton Springs Pool, Austin, TX

11. Go to a music festival


Roskilde Festival, Roskilde, Denmark

12. Visit an educational institution


The American University, Washington, DC

13. Find a hole in the wall restaurants or bars


Station Inn, Nashville, TN

14. Take local transit


Metro System, Washington, DC

Copenhagen, Denmark

15. Rent a boat


Waters near Aarhus, Denmark

16. Attend a community event


Art in the Alley, Trinidad Neighborhood, Washington, DC

17. Sketch a building


Bohemian Caverns Jazz Club, U Street, Washington, DC

18. People watch


Luang Probang, Laos

Malcom X/Meridian Hill Park, Washington, DC

19. Learn the local lingo, language and and/or dialect


Khmer Language, Siem Reap, Cambodia

20. Hitchhike


South Bend, Washington State

Have some exploring tips you want to share? Comment below!

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