Traveling does so much to support the communities we’re visiting by spending our dollars there.
It’s not always realistic to “live like a local” and there is nothing wrong with taking a double decker hop-on-hop-off bus. (I am the first to admit that is a great way to to explore a new place.) But there are several ways to support local while traveling and I am here to help you do just that.
Try the local (or regional) fare
Just as Cincinnati is known for its Cincinnati chili and goetta, other places have their signature dishes that help you to better understand the local culture, people, and traditions of a place. Trying traditional foods is a great way to connect with the cultural experience of where you are visiting.
Some examples:
- Barbecue (Kansas City)
- Toasted ravs and gooey butter cake (St. Louis)
- Cajun/Creole, beignets, and po’boys (New Orleans)
- Poutine (Canada)
- Clam chowder, lobster rolls, whoopee pies (various places in New England)
- Buffalo chicken wings (Buffalo)
- Stroopwafel, bitterballen, raw herring, and poffertjes (Amsterdam)
- Currywurst, doner kebab (Berlin)
- Primanti sandwich and pierogi (Pittsburgh)
There’s also drinks! Such as:
- Starbucks (Seattle)
- Kolsch (Cologne)
- Altbier (Dusseldorf)
- Guinness (Dublin)
- Berliner weisse (Berlin)
I am hoping to travel to these places to try:
- Crab cakes (Baltimore)
- Spam musubi and loco moco (Hawaii)
- Cheesesteak (Philadelphia)
- Cheese curds (Wisconsin)
Dine at local restaurants (and go to breweries!)
Instead of going to chains, instead opt for eating at local restaurants, cafes, and bistros. Not only does this financially support the local economy, it bolsters small business owners and allows you to have quality fare and cuisine that is specific to the area.
Eating at local restaurants and going to breweries also allow you to have an authentic experience; to interact with locals and learn about their culture.
I know Yelp gets a lot of flack, but it really is a great tool to search for places to eat in the area where you are. You can search by map and there is even now a tool that will choose a spot for you.
Use public transit
Not only does using local transportation reduce your carbon footprint, going by bus or train is a much more efficient (and less expensive!) way to explore a new place. This is another way to interact with locals and learn about their culture.
Europe is well known for its comprehensive and robust public transpiration, bus, and train systems, but it is unfortunately not as common to come by in the US. There are, however, many options in cities across the country to utilize public transportation while you are visiting a new region.
Some examples in the US:
- KC Streetcar (Kansas City, MO)
- Light Rail and Inclines (Pittsburgh)
- Monorail and Link light rail (Seattle)
- Miller Ferry (Catawba Island, Lake Erie)
- Amtrak (intercity rail service)
- Subway (New York)
- Streetcar (New Orleans)
- Cable Cars (San Francisco)
- The “L” (Chicago)
- Anderson Ferry (Cincinnati)
- Connector streetcar (Cincinnati)
Note: riding light rail or train is excellent for strollers and ADA compliance
Shop local makers and at markets
This is a great option for gifts and souvenirs that are specific to the area you are visiting, and it will often give great insight to the community and the neighbors who live there. This includes:
- Visiting a local farmers market
- Going to breweries and wineries
- Shopping for local goods
- Seeing local groceries
Take part in local events, activities, and excursions
Most places have events throughout the year, and many of them are traditions that have been passed down through generations.
If you are someplace where there are mountains, go skiing in the winter. Prefer warm weather fun? Check out kayaking or canoeing at a lake or river. You can also rent a boat.
One way you can learn more about local events is to follow a local influencer who posts about on-going events in that area so you know what might be going on or an option to do while you are visiting.
Take a local food tour
Most places offer some sort of food tour to get a better understanding of their local cuisine, but especially larger cities. One of my favorite things I’ve ever done while traveling was take a Hungry Birds Street Food Tour in Amsterdam. It allowed us to cover a lot of ground on food and through our palate. On that tour alone we got to try:
- Bitterballen
- Surinamese sandwiches (lots of Surinamese influence in Amsterdam)
- Stroopwafels
- Poffertjes
- Pickled Haring
- Flemish Fries (frites) topped with mayo-peanut sauce and chopped onions
- Gouda and other kaas (Dutch cheese)
- Van Stapele Koekmakerij (dark chocolate cookie with white chocolate filling)
Other food tour examples: Cincinnati Food Tours, New York City Food Tours, New Orleans Food and History Walking Tour, and so much more.
More ideas for exploring and supporting local places:
- Research local parks
- See the local library
- Go to a sporting event
- Visit the area zoos and museums
- Take an architectural tour (self-guided or otherwise)
- Leave a positive review
- Be a thoughtful and respectful traveler
Somewhere along the way it became cringe to also be a tourist in another city. I am a huge advocate for seeing what makes a city unique, whether it be the Arch in St. Louis, Pike Place Market and the Space Needle in Seattle, or Navy Pier in Chicago. And, as I have previously mentioned, it is also okay to take hop-on-hop-off buses, as it is a great way to cover a lot of ground to see a new place.
