Puffer Vest: North Face, also found here
Fleece Pullover: Amazon
Leggings: Spanx, also found here
Pom Beanie: Nordstrom
Winter Boots: Sorel
Do you ever look at someone’s Instagram page and immediately feel envious of their travels? I’m guilty of it. But I can see why they would share. Majority of people get so much more satisfaction sharing travel photos than everyday life. I’m also guilty of it, I even started a travel Instagram account. Going somewhere different just feeds your soul. I’m not trying to be hippy with you all, but just think about the last time you traveled (doesn’t have to be far). How did you feel? Some things change right? A different perspective, a different appreciation, and the list goes on and on.
As much as travel is high on my list of things to do every year (more like every month if I’m being honest with you all haha), there is a financial burden to it. Doesn’t matter if you are doing things in a budget savvy kind of way. You are still spending money.
What if I told you that you don’t need to leave your city (or town)? I bet finding wanderlust in your own city (or town) is so much easier than you think! I think we are so stuck with our day to day that sometimes we lose that ‘exploring motivation’ mindset that we get when we travel. However, there is so much beauty in where we currently live.
Finding Wanderlust In Your Own City
When I have the desire to travel but can’t at the moment, these are the things I do to feed my travel satisfaction. I hope these tips help you out too!
Be Free or Take Time Off
Before doing anything, make sure you make the time. Either take a personal day or block off your weekends just for you (or for you and your significant other). If you have plans to do things later that day, it defeats the purpose of emulating a travel vacation. In order to have the travel mindset, you have to plan like you are traveling.
Explore A Different Area
My favorite thing to do in Chicago when I want to travel is explore a different neighborhood. Chicago has several neighborhoods and each one is so different. They each have their own personality, and I do feel like I’m transferred somewhere else. If you don’t live in a city, maybe visit a neighboring town. Check out what it’s like, shop their local boutiques, and get immersed in their community. My favorite is checking out the neighborhood’s popular restaurants. If you do that when you travel, why can’t you do that locally as well?
Be A Tourist
Check out a touristy spot. Doesn’t matter where you live, I bet there is always a spot that is known to be ‘touristy’. Go to it. Do what travelers do. I know for me, I forget to check out touristy places until I have people who come to visit. And when I go to these sites, oh my I get so excited and have a feeling of gratitude. I’m so grateful that I get to live in a place that has something like this. I forget we have all these beautiful things. I bet wherever you live, there are beautiful places too.
Check Out Travel Guides
Read travel guides that were created for your area. I usually ignore travel guides to Chicago until one day I decided to read one. I assumed I knew it all, but honestly, it was fun reading these travel guides. There was some stuff admittedly I didn’t know existed (and I’m born & raised in Chicago). So I decided to follow their footsteps. It was fun to see what it’s like from their perspective. Bonus points, you won’t get lost because you are familiar with the area!
I came across this idea of finding wanderlust in your own city when I was talking to some friends who live out of town. They would tell me that where they live isn’t exciting at all. But I knew before visiting, I did some research and I had a list of things I wanted to see and do. That’s when it hit me that if I can find wanderlust in where they live (that claims to have nothing to offer), then I’m sure I can find something in my own city.
Chicago Views
This idea also came to mind because Chicago is in the dead of Winter and all I want to do is escape the cold. But after our Puerto Rico trip, trying to plan another trip is not realistic. So over the weekend, Tre and I decided to be tourists and check out our favorite spot to see the skyline! This is right by the Adler Planetarium. Even in the middle of Winter, this city is BEAUTIFUL! Fun fact, we loved the skyline view from the Adler Planetarium so much that we almost had our wedding at the Adler. But of course, we ended up finding another venue that we absolutely fell in love with. This is how the same exact spot looks in middle of the summer. That view never gets old.
Chicago In Different Seasons
And here are some other beautiful Chicago spots in different seasons. The first one is during the summertime at the Lurie Gardens and the second one is during Fall at The Bean (or Cloud Gate as some call it).
I hope this ignites your desire to explore your own hometown!
About This Outfit
I just had to point out this outfit because of my fleece pullover! Remember when I did an Amazon review on sweaters? Well this is one of them, and this pullover is so worth getting! It’s affordable, Prime shipping, and definitely cozy.
xo RD
I love this post!! Exploring my own city is one of my favorite things to do!
Thanks Hillary! Isn’t it fun!
Exploring your own city looks like a lot of fun and less costly. Lovely pictures, thanks for this review.
The Glossychic
Wonder Cottage
It is for sure fun! A great way to appreciate where you live!
I am all about Staycations and exploring my own city or near by towns. Just a day away from the routine can make all the difference.
❥ tanvii.com
So true! It really does make a difference!
Oh I love the idea of this! My new city has so many nooks and cranies that I’ve yet to explore.
I bet it does! That’s so fun!
This is a good idea! I’m definitely going to try this in the upcoming months!
Thanks Liz! Hope you have fun doing it!
Such a cute post, mahal! I love to rediscover our own city too!
xoxo, Vanessa
http://www.WhatWouldVWear.com
thank you V! It is really fun!
I love this!! We love travelling but it just seems impossible due to our work. So we started exploring our own city more often especially in summer and it really feels like we were somewhere else outside the city. Such a great idea! x
have a lovely day!
Isn’t it the best! There’s always new places to discover in your hometown!
We were just talking about how we don’t do this often enough! We’ve only lived in NY for 7 years so there’s still lots of places we want to visit & experience.
Hopefully when the weather is warmer, you can start doing this. I bet there’s lots to see!
Exploring your own city is such a great way to see new things! Houston is so large and there is still so much for me to see!
xoxo,
Kim
Oh I bet! I hear Houston is a fun city!
Lovely pictures , thank you for sharing. Exploring your own city is always a good idea.
XO 💋
Olivia
http://www.livingbetterwitholi.com
You’re welcome! Hope you get to explore yours soon!
See, I LOVE my city. I’m really proud of it, actually – and it’s so fun to explore. My challenge is that I always want to try new places to eat – but never have the money to do so haha. I guess I gotta keep it to just the free things for now!
Yes! Going to new places to eat is sooo much fun but costly haha!
I’m definitely into it, be a tourist in my own city. The bean during Fall looks spectacular, hope to see it one day.
http://www.busyandfab.com
The red trees in the Fall is stunning! Hope you get to visit soon!
These are such good reminders!! To think my next big adventure could be simply going to another town or the next city makes me excited to pull out the map of NY!
Yes! I bet there are lots of places to go!
This is SUCH a great post! I love this reminder – so many of us get stuck in the grind in our own cities that we forget that they are worth ‘traveling’ to and we should explore them as if we were!
EXACTLY! Have fun exploring your city!
Love everything about this! Exploring is the best! These pictures are so fun as well! 🙂
Thanks Mariann!
It’s easy to become blind to your own city – both of the good and the bad! I think it’s such a fun idea to act like a tourist and think of all the fun things you can do without booking a plane ticket. Of course being in a big city helps, but I’m sure there are plenty of touristy things you can do in any town.
Chic on the Cheap
It is so much fun! Oh I definitely think there are fun places in small towns. I have friends that live in small towns and I get so excited exploring them haha.
I live in Los Angeles and we definitely have a lot of places to visit!! I love this post!!
Lesley Kim
I bet!!
This idea is wonderful. I also wanted to explore my own city more, because there is still so much left to see 🙂
Greetings from Vienna
Dorie from http://www.thedorie.com
Yes, every place has something to offer!
These are all such great ideas. There are so many places I want to visit around metro Detroit and even downtown, but never do.
Thank you so much Jennifer! Hopefully you can make some time to check them out!
Sometimes is necesary to be a turist in your own city, you find magical places.
Have a great day dear! xx
La ilusión de Nina – http://lailusiondenina.blogspot.com/
That is totally true!
It’s always good to explore a different area in your own city. I find that when you live somewhere, you don’t always take advantage of the touristy things simply because they’re touristy. And I’ll have to go check out your Instagram travel page!
New Post! – http://www.ohtobeamuse.com/2019/02/musical-muses-of-note-sza-her-ella-mai-eryn-allen-kane.html
That is so true Cheryl! Hope this inspires you to explore your city!
This is such a great idea! And Chicago is such a great city to do this in!
Xo, Deanie
Deanie Michelle
Thank you Deanie! Chicago is amazing!
Love this- sometimes we don’t explore our own cities the way a tourist would and it’s such a missed opportunity!
-Ashley
Le Stylo Rouge
It is so true!
I love this idea! We get so caught up trying to leave and discover the world when there’s still so much to discover here at home! Thanks for inspiring girl!
xx, mel
http://melinspired.com/bedroom-transformation-part-2-final-reveal/
Exactly! Thanks Mel!
I love to travel Rach! It ranks high on my priority list like food! Foodie lover as well. Hehe But, I do agree, that travel can be costly. Exploring our own city is a great way to do and get the travel bug in us excited. I have been to Chicago once and I love it. One day, I’d like to revisit and meet you as well.
Maureen | http://www.littlemisscasual.com
Traveling is for sure so much fun! You definitely need to visit again!
I love exploring our city. It’s always fun to do.
It definitely is fun!
Great one.
xx
https://theonethattravels.wordpress.com/
Thanks!
I love staycations, and we do it from time to time. Thanks for the lovely read dear!
Jessica | notjessfashion.com
Aren’t they so much fun!
I love the ‘be a tourist in your own city’ movement and the whole philosophy behind it. I wrote about it on my blog once. Sometimes a walk in a different neighbourhood can be a fresh experience as well. We don’t always have to go on a vacation to have a change of scenery, sometimes having a cup of coffee in a different cafe can be refreshing as well. Lovely photos and a fantastic word of advice.
Isn’t it the best?! And I agree that going to a new neighborhood gives you a new perspective!