Why Exploring Your Hometown Is Real Travel
I was raised in greater Boston and spent the large majority of my adult life in New Hampshire until a recent move to Wilmington, NC, where I now consider home. Everyone has a different approach to this, but when traveling and someone asks where I am from, I now say Wilmington, NC. In a casual social setting, I am not expecting that they are asking for my background, they want to know where I call home. I am not ashamed of where I am from, I am just not there anymore. I feel at home and I want to share it.
The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.
(often paraphrased from Marcel Proust)
I don’t know much about Proust, but I know those words have a lot of meaning. I often seek new lands for many reasons, including finding new cultures on that land and an understanding of the land itself. That said, to me, traveling is learning. If you have read anything I have written here, that is the overall theme. While this blog is about to turn one and is still “finding itself,” that will always be the foundation. Explore and Grow. To truly learn and grow, you have to be open minded.
No matter where you call home, there is more to it than you realize. That is especially true here in the United States, where we are diverse and many cultures call this country home. Be open to that cuisine you never wanted to try, or go see a show you normally wouldn’t have thought twice about. Say hi to your neighbors and talk to a few strangers. You won’t regret it in the long run.
I have visited all 50 US states, most of Canada, and had the gift of visiting several other countries across Europe and of course Australia. There is more to come and more of this world to see, but right now, I am pausing and taking a deeper look at my new home, Wilmington itself and the state of North Carolina. Exploring your hometown, regardless of its size, can be just as meaningful and enlightening as traveling to the other side of the world. Let me peel back what the Port City is really all about.
Yes. Travel is about learning, perspective, and being open to new experiences. You can find all of that in your own city if you slow down and pay attention. Trying a cuisine you have never had, going to a local show, or talking to neighbors counts just as much as a passport stamp.
Yes. Over the coming weeks I am taking a deeper look at Wilmington and the state of North Carolina. Future posts will cover restaurants, beaches, history, entertainment, and the local spots that make the Port City what it is.
Explore and Grow is the foundation of It’s How I Travel. The idea is simple. Travel, whether across the world or across town, is about learning and growing through new experiences and perspectives.
Absolutely. Most people move through their hometown on autopilot. When you approach it with the same curiosity you bring on vacation, you start noticing things you have walked past for years. That shift in perspective is where the real discovery happens.
