15 Tips for Exploring a New City

Well, I have been neglectful, haven't I? Sorry about the delay in posting; I have been absolutely obsessed with the TV series Mad Men, a show that I hadn't even considered watching until about a week and a half ago. I feel like being a Mad Men junkie is sort of a requirement when you come from an advertising program. I didn't really have enough time during school to watch it (besides, I was too busy watching The Walking Dead then!), so now that I've graduated, I've decided to catch up. I've also been thinking about updating the look of my blog. So if you come back soon and Wanderlust looks way different, no worries; it just means I've been playing around.

I got to thinking the other day that I haven't explored my new hometown of Springfield, IL, as much as I really should have. Tonight, in celebration of my birthday tomorrow, we're going to Taste of Downtown, an event held in downtown Springfield that showcases all of the culinary delights the city has to offer. Rest assured, dear readers, Matt and I will be the first in line.

But other than simply gorging oneself on local delights, how is one supposed to get to know a new city? After some reflection of my own travels--albeit drawing mostly from the ones overseas--I have put together a list of 15 things every person should do in order to truly explore a new city.

Enjoy!

So. You've waited for an eternity for this trip, and it's finally here; you've landed in [insert exotic, exciting location here]. You check into your hotel, have a giddy fit about being here, and after several minutes of opening all the dresser drawers, looking out the window, and jumping on the hotel bed with delight, you realize you are now left with a big question: What now?

Well, fellow adventurers, fear not; I have a list!

15 Tips for Exploring a New City

1. Wear comfy--but stylish--shoes. It's important to be comfortable, because you'll undoubtedly be walking a lot in this new city, but you don't really want to be the one walking around in blindingly white Reeboks, do you? Choose--or buy, yay!--a pair of shoes that is breathable, somewhat stylish (so that you can feel comfortable and confident as you explore) shoes that could go with several outfits and that have plenty of support. While exploring Florence, pictured above, I relied on a pair of understated sandals from Payless Shoes. Not at all fancy, but they did the trick, and I knew that if they got torn up I could just toss them and not feel too guilty. Before you get on the plane to your destination, be sure to break in your shoes. Blisters are not conducive to happy travels.
2. Dress for success. In the same vein as #1, wear clothes that are comfortable, but please don't walk around Paris in your sweats. In Europe, for example, you'll notice that the average street wear is much nicer than that which you'll see on the average Main Street in the good old U.S. of A. No, they're not all walking around in Gucci and Chanel, but they do tend to wear nice jeans and a good shirt. I stumbled upon a great blog on Pinterest about packing for travel, and now I can't find it. I'll post it here when I can find it! To cut down on suitcases and to be as efficient a traveler as possible, I try to pack basics and then a few accents to change up outfits. You can't go wrong with a good pair of nice jeans, a few comfy knit shirts, a maxi dress, and some scarves. 
3. Learn a few phrases before you go. Trust me, the first tourist to whip out the phrase book is usually the first to get pick-pocketed. In addition, it really frustrates folks when you ask for their help but spend minutes fumbling through the book to find out how to ask a question. Learn the basics before you go. For example: "Excuse me," "My name is...", "Where is the restroom?", "I need help," "I would like." While this isn't necessarily true everywhere, most people will really appreciate the effort to learn a few bits of their language, sans the phrase book. So learn before you go. Try a podcast and learn some phrases while you work out.
4. Watch and learn. My very favorite activity while traveling is people watching. There's nothing better than watching how the locals interact with each other, and observing the ebb and flow of life in whatever place you're in. I even like to give awards to people while I people watch (only in my head, of course), like "Cutest Couple," "Most Fashionable Person," and "Most Obvious Tourist."
5. Eat the local cuisine. Go on, live a little! In Sweden, I tried reindeer. Sorry, Santa. 
6. For the love of God, don't wear a fanny pack. This one should be pretty self-explanatory, but I still see them all over the place. If you're worried about having a safe place to keep your money and other valuables, invest in a good purse that you can clamp right under your armpit. My old reliable is a canvas purse with short, thick straps that I can keep right under my armpit with the zipper facing the front. That way, I know my belongings are safe, and that no one can unzip my purse from behind me. 
7. Be patient. You'll probably run into some snags. It happens to all of us. Be patient with yourself. One of my most cringe-worthy experiences was in Lyon, France, when the rest of my group wanted to stop for lunch. I wasn't hungry, but went anyway, and when the waitress--who was also the restaurant's proprietor--took my order and learned that I only wanted an espresso because I wasn't hungry, I got a tongue lashing that has haunted me ever since. I didn't know back then that it is rude in France to go into a restaurant and not order food, but I sure do now. You'll make mistakes and maybe even step on a few toes; be patient with yourself.
8. Stay hydrated. I can't stress this enough. Stick to bottled water, since in many places tap water is not safe to drink. At every opportunity--restaurant, gas station, whatever--pick up some water. Resist the urge to reach for the Coca-Cola; it won't help you in the long run since it'll worsen dehydration.
9. Get lost. Let yourself explore this new city. Getting lost in a new place is what travel is all about. If you see an interesting avenue or street, let yourself check it out without feeling scared. If you get lost, ask for directions. If you're too scared to ask for directions, consult your map.
10. Have a map. I know, I know, this one seems to conflict with #9, but hear me out. Make sure to check out your map before you board your plane, and then again before you leave your hotel room for the day. Put it in a safe place on your person, just in case you get lost.
11. Have a plan. Before you leave your hotel for the day, come up with a plan or itinerary. It doesn't have to be super detailed, but it's good to have an idea of what you want to see, where you want to explore, and when you need to be back at a rendezvous point.
12. Have a buddy. I know everybody dreams of having an Under the Tuscan Sun sort of experience, but it's always better to travel with at least one other person. They'll watch out for you, and they'll be your lifeline in case you get lost, scared, sick, or otherwise. 
13. Take pictures, but don't be that guy. Nobody on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or otherwise really needs up-to-the-minute updates on your travels. Travel should be a time for you, so whatever photos you take, take them for yourself, not for social media. You can show the folks who are really interested in your trip the photos when you return home. 
14. Make friends. Some of my most cherished memories of traveling come not from the places I went, but from the people I met there. There was the elderly French woman who leaned out of her second story window in Orange to ask where I was from and if I was enjoying my trip, to the French man who listened to me talk for a good half-hour about Nebraska, to the Mexican cab driver who took us on his "super secret" shortcut to ensure we got back to the ship on time. So make some friends; it's really easier than you'd think! Be nice, mind your p's and q's, and you'll never know a stranger anywhere.
15. Relax. If there's one major regret I've had from my travels, it's that I didn't relax and let myself have fun. I was often worried about this or that, and those silly worries held me back from enjoying my trips to the fullest potential. So have fun, relax, be safe, and make some memories!

I hope these tips were helpful for you! If you have other tips, please leave them in the comments!

-Betsey