7 Ways To Be a Tourist In Your Own Town

We travel to find new experiences and create memories together. But don’t underestimate the opportunities for adventure and fun experiences that can be found in your own backyard and take the time to discover and create wonderful family memories in your own town!2018 Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring AWD

We had so much fun test driving the new 2018 Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring AWD this past week. From the moment it arrived, we could not wait to take it for a drive. Taking advantage of the fact that we had this sexy, fun and sporty automobile to enjoy for the week we decided to drive downtown and rediscover our own city together as a family. We have lived in the Fort Myers area for over 10 years now and I felt like we never really take the time to spend time downtown and discover everything it has to offer.

2018 Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring AWD

When you travel to a new destination you are excited to explore it and do all of those touristy things but most of us don’t take the time to explore our own city or town. You don’t need to spend a lot of money,  worry about airports, or packing when you take a mini-vacation close to home. Here are some great ways in which you can become a tourist in your own town:

Take a drive. Since we moved to Southwest Florida ten years ago the city has grown so much and for some reason, we always tend to go to the same places and drive through the same streets over and over again. Hop on the car and take a drive through your town or city and take the time to discover new streets and neighborhoods. We found lots of interesting new stores and restaurants on our drive that we’ve never been to and now we are planning to go back and try them out. We had so much fun just driving around and showing off our beautiful new ride, the CX-5 Grand Touring. And it really helped that this car is gorgeous, a joy to drive and super comfortable, which made our drive even more enjoyable!

2018 Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring AWD

Discover a new place. Make an effort to discover something new about your city or visit an attraction that you’ve never been to. Go to that new restaurant that just opened instead of always going to your favorite spot and try something new, you’re sure to discover some new favorite spots to eat and have fun at!

Bring a camera. It’s amazing how your point of view can change when you are seeing your town or city through the lens of your camera. If you like photography like I do find cool places to take photos around your town and turn it into a family photo session. You’ll not only end up with great family photos but you’ll also be making your hometown part of those memories that will last a lifetime. We usually take family photos at the beach but it was so much fun to do a mini photo session in downtown Fort Myers and I loved the result. We walked through these streets so often we forget how beautiful our city is and looking at it as the backdrop for our family photos really helped us rediscover its beauty.

father and son

Attend a local event. Whether it’s the local farmer’s market or a music festival or an educational fair for the kids, check out the calendar for your local events this weekend and plan a fun outing with the family with the family. There are so many fun events happening in Fort Myers, especially during “season” and we rarely attend them. Lately, we have been making it a point to check these out on weekends and we’ve had so much fun!

Take a tour. We have lived in Southwest Florida for 6 years now and although the River District in Fort Myers is one of our favorite places we had never really had the chance to learn about its history. We decided to take a historic walking tour of downtown Fort Myers and we were surprised to earn how rich and interesting the history of Fort Myers really is. It was so interesting to learn what the City of Palms was like back when Edison and Ford decided to make it their winter home.

Downtown Fort Myers

Turn it into a staycation. Changing scenery and removing ourselves from our usual routine will make it easier to disconnect and relax. Book a hotel in your own city and spend the weekend there. Weather you’re staying in Fort Myers, FL or looking for the best hotels in Birmingham, AL, staying in a local hotel is a great way to relax and disconnect without traveling far. This is a great way of having a vacation without having to worry about spending money and time on getting to a far-flung destination. And since you’re a local and know your city you can take advantage of those low-season offers. In Southwest Florida, low-season is in summer making a staycation in our own hometown the perfect summer activity!

People watch. Have dinner outdoors or just take the time to sit on a bench and people watch and absorb that vibe that is unique to your city. We’re often rushing from one thing to another and we don’t take the time to just sit down and enjoy and appreciate the town we live in.

downtown Fort Myers mother and son

The 2018 Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring AWD

We’ve always been fans of the Mazda CX-5 but the 2018 Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring AWD is truly a fantastic car. After test driving it for a week, we both agreed that this is one of the best options when it comes to small crossovers. This car really has it all: from it’s beautiful, sleek exterior design and gorgeous interior to a myriad of safety features and great crash test scores. And best of all the 2018 Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring AWD is truly a joy to drive, so you’re not sacrificing comfort or fun for safety; it’s all included here!

2018 Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring AWD

When you are looking for a family car safety is your number one concern and that is why we love that this car handles so well on the road. The CX-5 Grand Touring has all of the safety features that I look for in a family car and so much more from the backup camera, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitor, and lane-keeping assist to forward-collision warning and Smart Brake Support (an automated emergency braking system). The CX-5 has consistently gotten top crash test scores and great rating from The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

2018 Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring AWD

The Mazda CX-5’s interior is just gorgeous, elegant and modern. All of the interior materials and details are exceptional. The leather upholstery looks elegant and feels luxurious, this is one of those cars that you feel amazing in and just want to keep driving!

2018 Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring AWD

The CX-5 Touring also has all tons of features that make it not only stylish but also modern and practical like keyless ignition and entry, heated front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control and a power-adjustable driver sea. The Touring’s two additional speakers will have you jamming on those family road trips and the two extra USB ports (for a total of four) are a must for families with older kids like mine so that everyone can stay connected all the time!

2018 Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring AWD

To learn more about the Mazda CX-5 visit Mazda’s website and follow Mazda on Facebook.

7 ways to be a tourist in your own town

Paula Bendfeldt-Diaz

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