Think about how you visit cities for a moment. You might find yourself drawn towards the big attractions: the monuments, the museums, what you're "supposed to see." Rinse, wash, repeat. The world becomes a homogeneous place filled with McDonalds, Starbucks, and the Gap. But what about the parts that aren't in the guidebooks, that doesn't get the attention it deserves? On your next trip, take a moment, or heck, take a whole day, and get to know the heart and soul of a neighborhood through its own eyes.
All that sightseeing gets tiring, doesn't it? Why not take a day off, spend it like a local, and really appreciate where it is that you are visiting. We like to spend the morning in a cafe in New York and watch the world walk by with their dogs, or spend a late summer's afternoon in a biergarten in Berlin watching friends and families come together for a snack.
So, on your next trip, plan some downtime. Hit up a bar at happy hour. Head to a coffee shop in the morning and see how people get to work. Grab a newspaper, a park bench, and enjoy a lazy afternoon watching everyone else. The possibilities are endless. We think you'll come away with a sense of the soul of a place and a lot of good memories.
What's your favorite neighborhood to visit? Some of our top favorites are the East Village in NYC, Prenzlaeur berg in Berlin, the Alphabet District in Portland, just to name a few.
The "Alphabet District" in Portland? That's funny, I've never heard it called that... Although it makes sense. Around here, it's usually just called Northwest. :)
I like people-watching in the Brera in Milan, Montmarte in Paris, and just about anywhere that's off the beaten path in Venice.
This is the only way I travel. An interesting thought I have, is how can a local tourism authority encourage travelers to take the time to enjoy these types of experiences? I think regional blogs written by locals could go a long way to encouraging folk to stop and smell the coffee, or the buns baking in the local bakery, or the maple syrup wafting up in the spring, or the tulips in bloom in the park . . .
It would be a really interesting Web site wouldn't it? mycityfavs.com , rich local experiences. Wouldn't it be neat if local tourism businesses could help travelers capture the magic of their community without being overtly commercial about it . . .
I think you touch on some great ideas Todd. It has to be good for the economy to get tourists into your local businesses. But, maybe the demand (or touristy desires) is too much and that's why the tourist centered parts of town exist. I don't know, personally I'd be tempted by a discount card geared for tourists if it was for good, local businesses, but those sorts of ventures tend to lead one to overpriced, inauthentic experiences. I'd love for a local tourism board to prove me wrong. What about a Yelp-like site where locals tell tourists where they should go? That is, if the locals are willing to give up their secrets!
Favorites of mine are Cannaregio in Venice, where locals actually live and you can get away from crowds, and Islington in London. Great nightlife and a bit out of the way.
Yes, off the beaten path in Venice is a MUST, I don't know how I forgot about that. And, Jessica (oh wait, there's two of you and you're both italophiles...so confusing!) our feeble understanding of Portland's neighborhoods reminds me I need to pick your brain before our next trip.
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