10 Ways to Explore Your Local Area with iBestTravel

At iBestTravel, we believe travel is a mindset and that it’s vital to explore the world just beyond your own doorstep. Here are 10 ways your family can start exploring your local world together.

Camp in Your Own Garden

If you’re fortunate enough to have your own backyard, spending a night camping in it is an excellent way for kids to gain a new perspective on their world, all with the comfort of their own bed nearby. When kids are old enough, it also helps develop their independence. Listening to the sounds of the night through the canvas introduces them to the natural world, and building dens in the tent can provide hours of fun.

Get Up and Out of the House at Dawn

If you’re trying camping in your garden, it’s relatively easy to add this idea to your plans. Who can manage a lie-in when camping anyway? Taking a local walk at dawn is a delightful way to get to know your neighborhood better. There is a calmness in the world as it is just waking up, and you might be surprised by what wildlife you can spot while others are still asleep. If the weather cooperates, be sure to have your camera – as every amateur photographer knows, dawn is one of the best times of day to capture stunning images.

Look to the Skies

Star-gazing may not be the first choice of activity for children who may have limited patience, especially in the cold. However, if you have plenty of blankets, a flask of hot chocolate, and binoculars or a telescope, you’re set for an adventurous night the kids will never forget. If you live in a warm area, even better! Your garden or local park makes a wonderful setting; alternatively, find your nearest dark sky site. If you live near a flight path, your skies can also become an education on air travel itself with apps like FlightRadar24 and FlightStats, which show you where the visible planes are heading.

Take Out a Sketchbook

Give everyone (including yourself) their own sketchbook and pencils, grab a picnic rug, and head to a park or a local landmark. Whether you are capturing a serene landscape or a bustling cityscape, you may find your family’s unique interpretation of your local area represented in beautiful artwork. It doesn’t matter if you don’t see yourselves as creative: this is your interpretation, and that’s what makes it special. Plus, it may awaken someone’s hidden artistic talent.

Go Geocaching

This activity is essentially a tech-powered treasure hunt you can find all over the globe. By using an app or GPS device, you search for ‘caches’ – usually small, hidden objects that hold little value – utilizing GPS coordinates. Loved by both kids and adults, this adventure can turn an average walk into an exhilarating challenge. This is an excellent way to approach your local exploration differently: you will discover things you might have overlooked. Learn more at Geocaching.com.

Talk to a Neighbour

While ensuring children’s safety is crucial, setting up opportunities for your children to interact with local residents offers educational experiences. They can learn about people who are different from themselves, gain insights about your neighbourhood, and practice forming meaningful bonds within their community. Furthermore, having them document these conversations in the style of a magazine or blog could turn into a fun ongoing project.

Go Investigating

Select a local name – whether it’s your house, street, village, or a nearby landmark – and research what you can uncover about it using the internet, a local library, or a museum. Exploring names is a fantastic way to deepen your understanding of a place. At the very least, you can introduce your children to new vocabulary, such as etymology and its related term, toponymy (yes, that may have surprised you too).

Watch Wildlife

Even the most urban locations can reveal abundant wildlife if you sit still and observe for a while. Given that kids might not have the patience for long waits, selecting an engaging location is crucial. Bring along a pad to record observations or that sketchbook to keep them occupied. Moreover, setting up a bird feeder in your backyard can attract more wildlife right to your doorstep.

Let the Kids Make the Plans

Finally, if you want to explore your neighbourhood from a fresh perspective, allow your kids to be the planners. Set a reasonable budget, provide safety guidelines, and determine time limits – then let them take charge. Not only will this build their independence in terms of researching, decision-making, and responsibility, but their ideas may be both refreshing and fun. Moreover, it feels good to relinquish control occasionally.