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

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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

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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!