The Art of Romanticizing Your Hometown
Whether you consider the place you currently live to be your forever home or you hope to move somewhere else one day, setting the intention to romanticize where you are will bring joy into your daily life and help you feel more grateful.
Where you live is where you work, play, relax, and generally spend most of your time.
While some of us wake up with an abundance of gratitude for our surroundings every day, others overlook the beauty around them by yearning for a sense of newness.
Traveling to new places is one of the most enriching experiences you can have, but constantly dreaming of those special-occasion adventures can leave us feeling disappointed about the mundaneness of the everyday life we have grown so accustomed to.
So I’ll let you in on a secret: you can achieve the same sense of wonder at home that you do when traveling by setting the intention to romanticize your town.
Whether you live in one of the biggest cities in the world or a tiny village most people will never know the name of, this approach will shine a light on the magic that exists around you.
Here are 5 ways to romanticize your hometown:
1. Develop a personal ranking of your favorite local restaurants, coffee shops, and bars
The experience of exploring different eateries in your town can be elevated by reframing a simple meal out as a mission to curate a list of your all-time favorite restaurants, cafes, and bars.
If you start taking inventory of the places you’ve been, the age-old question of where to go can become an inspiring decision as you put on your critic’s hat, Google ‘food near me,’ and take a chance on something new.
Enjoy the slow process of evaluating one establishment at a time, and eventually, you’ll know exactly where to go for the best atmosphere, the lowest prices, or the most delicious food and beverages your town has to offer.
2. Become a second-hand store enthusiast
Every town is home to a second-hand store or two, filled with displays of treasures that appear differently each time you visit.
The act of browsing through a collection of unique items is a fun activity in itself, and you never know if you will be welcoming home your next favorite vintage lamp, well-loved book, or wall art.
To be perfectly honest with you, thrift shop hopping has become my favorite weekend activity, as well as my primary means for purchasing clothes and home decor, which has been great for my wallet, the environment, the slow collection of unique items, and my love for my hometown.
Whether you’re alone or with a friend, if you’re looking for a fresh way to spend a few hours in your town, exploring second-hand stores is the perfect activity.
3. Lean into the tourist traps
Certain towns and cities are more touristy than others, but chances are, your locale has some sort of attraction that you may have overlooked or underappreciated.
Are there any museums, exhibits, galleries, aquariums, or parks that make your town special?
Some of these locations even offer seasonal passes, which can be an affordable strategy to have a unique space escape to any time you have a spare chunk of time.
I have a membership at my local lighthouse that even allows me to bring a plus one, and climbing to the top and admiring my town from above is one of my favorite things to do.
Even if you’ve been to these attractions before, by appreciating the sites your town has to offer, you will likely learn something new with each visit and feel more connected to the people who lived there before you.
4. Frequent your local farmer’s market
One of the coziest and most heart-warming environments you can find in any town is a Saturday morning farmer’s market.
Farmer’s markets have it all: delicious fresh foods, hand-made art, and the opportunity to people-watch humans from all generations, from newborn babies on their first family outings to elderly couples dancing along to live folk music.
One of the many perks of visiting a farmer’s market is that filling a canvas tote bag with goods and produce is a great way to support small businesses and positively contribute to your local economy.
Even if you don’t buy anything, it is a fulfilling activity to simply stroll past the stalls and chat with members of your community that you may not otherwise have the opportunity to connect with.
5. Attend seasonal festivals and local gatherings
If your town offers pop-up events, whether that is a film festival, concert, or charity drive, taking part in the festivities is an enjoyable way to spice up your activity roster.
Seasonal gatherings are especially memorable because they shake up your routine in a way that cannot be replicated at any other time of year.
Even if the event is something you wouldn’t typically be interested in, stepping out of your comfort zone and exposing yourself to new festivities will help you see your town in a new light and remind you that excitement can be found if you take the time to look for it.
The practice of romanticizing your hometown will not only prepare you with the perfect itinerary for the next time someone from out of town comes to visit you, but you will likely develop a greater sense of appreciation for your surroundings.
What will you do this week to romanticize your hometown?