7 Ways to Explore a New City

Whether you’re in a new destination where you don’t know anyone or just looking for something new to do in your own city, there are many ways to get to know the area better. I’ve listed my top 7 ways to explore a new city.

Woman in yellow jacket in a colorful Baltimore city park pagoda

Facebook Events

Even if you don’t log onto Facebook regularly, the Events tab is a convenient place to find all kinds of events in your area. If you don’t have a Facebook account, you can still see public events without having to log in.

I find it most useful to skim the Events tab occasionally, but also make sure I’m following my favorite business pages so I will see their events in my feed. If I’m in the mood for a specific type of event, let’s say an author’s book talk, I’ll visit the pages for the bookstores or venues that hold those types of events, like Busboys & Poets and Politics & Prose in DC or Red Emma’s and The Ivy Bookshop in Baltimore.

Meetup.com

Woman sitting on the stoop of a Baltimore City historic home

Meetup.com was created with the purpose of bringing people with shared interests together. Having attended a number of Meetup events over the years as an introvert, I realize how awkward they can be. For me, it’s important to choose events that involve activities rather than standing around a bar and approaching strangers. Plus, you can always attend with a friend.

If you’re still apprehensive, it’s at least a great way to see where other people are going and what they’re doing, even if you plan to attend separately.

A benefit of Meetup groups is that sometimes they get special privileges, like waived entrance fees or other perks. It’s also perfect for practicing skills that you can’t practice with anyone you know. So, if you don’t know anyone else who is learning French or the Argentine tango, you’ll probably find practice partners on Meetup.

Eventbrite

Woman in yellow jacket in an Alicante, Spain palm tree park and a lake behind her

Some of us are used to seeing Eventbrite invitations only for personal events like baby showers or the office holiday party. But it’s very useful for finding public events, as well. Eventbrite includes a wide range of events, from social and cultural events to professional development trainings and webinars. To skip browsing and have the information come directly to you, you can subscribe to the newsletter of upcoming events in your area.

Yelp

Yelp isn’t just for reading and writing reviews. It also has a page that lists events in the city of your choice and they are often, but not always, food and drink-related. If you want to take it a step further, you can apply to be a Yelp Elite after showing that you consistently write reviews. Once accepted, you’ll get invitations to Yelp Elite events at different venues in your city. They often include free food and drinks and require an RSVP to control the number of attendees.

Yelp Elite or not, you can check the event page for community-wide events organized by Yelp and others, and follow their social media accounts for ticket giveaways. For example, I once won two tickets to a pre-release screening of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 through a Yelp Baltimore Instagram giveaway.

Woman in a coat and scarf leaning against a mural brick wall in Washington DC

Local Magazines, Newspapers, and Websites

Many local print or online publications have a section that compiles all major events for the upcoming weekend or few weeks. In Baltimore, I might check Baltimore Magazine. In Washington DC, there’s Washingtonian Magazine, The Washington City Paper, and others. When in a new city, find the magazine and flyer stand in your hotel or simply go to the official tourism website for ideas. You can also check out low-cost travel services like AmazingCo that operate in multiple cities and offer multiple unique ways to get to know a destination.

Local Bloggers & Content Creators

A personal recommendation always holds more weight than an advertisement. If you’ve come across a content creator whose opinion you trust, look at their content for ideas. With the amount of content being shared these days, you’re sure to find some helpful tips for whichever location you are exploring.

Wandering the Streets

Take a walk. Often, the most interesting and unique experiences come organically from wandering a neighborhood. That can include a city or neighborhood you’re familiar with. This gives you the freedom to take advantage of spontaneous moments and break free from a rigid itinerary.

Woman in front of a Spanish-stye building and greenery on top of a mountain in Colombia.

All of these resources are helpful to keep in mind before and during travel, as well as in your own place of residence. Now you have no excuse to stay home when you actually feel like going out! Netflix will be waiting for you when you return.

Are there any resources or ideas I missed? Where do you get ideas for new things to do? Let me know in the comments.