A lot of times you want to go to a destination to see or do specific attractions - like see the Eiffel Tower in Paris, Time Square in New York City, or Space Needle in Seattle. Other times, you want to go off the beaten path to see some of the more non-touristy spots. Personally, I think that you need an equal amount of both so that you can can get your great pictures, stories, and also really immerse yourself in the destination by doing what the locals do. These are often where the real gems are found, but are not always easy to find. Let's talk about 12 different ways for you to find these "non-touristy" locations!
1. Local blogs and articles
Before every trip, I do myself a bit of googling to determine some of the best places to check out by using phrases like "top things to do in ____" or "things you must do in ____". This research is critical to make sure you have a bit of a game-plan on your trip, but to also find a mixture of both touristy spots and non-touristy spots. When you find a list from a place like Tripadvisor, they are primarily going to be touristy locations that everyone and their dog plan on visiting (which is fine). I would also recommend looking for smaller, local articles and blogs in addition to these more popular lists.
Let's take Seattle, Washington for example - when I look at Tripadvisor, it lists the top 15 locations as "The BEST Things to Do in Seattle" like the Space Needle, T-Mobile Park, Pike Place Market, Museums, Parks, and Woodland Park Zoo.
When I do the same search, but looking specifically for local blogs, I found an article by Curbed Seattle that includes "The 26 best things to do in Seattle" like Scarecrow Video, Discovery Park, Suzzallo Library, Center for Wooden Boats, and the Seattle Pinball Museum.
Or you can search for one of the city's magazines like Seattle Magazine where they will have things like "The Best New Seattle Restaurants in 2019" for some new places that may not be included on some of the other lists.
Also, try google searches using the following phrases for your destination: "top non-touristy things to do in ____" or "unique things to do in ____".
Basically, don't rely on a single search to plan your trip. Do a lot of web-surfing and come out with 15-20 eateries, museums, parks, bars, etc. that you are interested in.
2. Social media
Another way that you can research some undiscovered places would be to visit the city or location's Instagram, Facebook, or other social media page. A lot of times they will shine light on new places that may have not quite had the spotlight just yet or special events that are worth checking out. If you find a place that you are interested in, you can also check out their social media page to see if they have anything fun coming up while you're traveling there. For example, we wanted to visit Baileson Brewing in Houston and were pleased to find out that a local Texas BBQ spot with a Vietnamese twist called Khói had a pop-up while we were in town.
3. Podcasts
Check out one of the many travel podcasts to help you find some of the coolest spots. A couple of cool ones to check out are The Thought Card, JUMP, or Andy Steves Travel Podcast.
4. Youtube
When we were going to Asia, I had no idea where to start. One evening, I spent about 2 hours on Youtube just searching for the coolest things to do in Beijing, Bangkok, and Phuket. When I would find somewhere that seemed interesting, I'd add it to my list and do more research. The best part of Youtube is that it will continue to recommend similar videos that will keep you busy for hours looking for need-to-go spots. This Youtube video is how I found a company that gave us the most beautiful private tour of Phang Nga Bay and James Bond Island (instead of having to fight tourists flooding the island).
5. Find a niche
What's a niche that you enjoy? Art museums, operas, local parks, zip-lining, and concerts are just a handful of examples that can get you started on your next trip. Personally, I like looking for local breweries everywhere I visit. Whether they are on a "top things to do" list or not, I know that I can go somewhere new and still have the comfort of knowing what I'm getting myself into. Find one thing or place that you want to see or do in each destination regardless of its popularity because they will often lead you to some wonderful and obscure locations. Chances are, you can find a social media page to follow that supports your niche like @beercation or @craftbeeray that will give you ideas on where to go.
6. Look up the city event calendar
Most cities have event calendars that are generally directed to the people that live there. Look through the city calendar on the dates that you're visiting to discover cool festivals, parades, or events that would be nice to check out. Shreveport is a great example of a city that has a calendar full of fun events.
7. Talk to strangers
Despite what your mom told you when you were a kid, it's great to stir up conversation with the locals. If you're in an Uber, at a bar or restaurant, just introduce yourself to someone and figure out what they like to do in their hometown. If they have always lived in that location, they will surely give their perspective of how the city has changed and give you old or new spots to check out. Sometimes you will find a person who is new to the city and is willing to share some of the places they've recently found. Or you may end up chatting to a fellow traveler that found a hidden gem that they're excited to discuss. Regardless of who you chat up, you will likely walk away from these conversations adding a few more locations to your list.
I've done this in multiple cities and found a cool brewery in Minneapolis, great bar in Amsterdam, nightclub in Portland, and a phenomenal restaurant in Miami (those are just the ones I have top of mind).
Even if it's not asking about things to do, it pays to openly talk to others and ask questions. When we went to Oktoberfest in Munich a while back, we were saddened to find out that tables in the main tents were sold out far in advance for Day 1 of the ceremonies. We could have just walked around and still had a decent time, but we decided to ask questions instead - and boy did we luck out! At the Spaten tent, they had a reserved table that the guests did not show up for and we were able to really enjoy Oktoberfest to its fullest. You don't know until you ask!
8. AirBnB
It's not always about "location, location, location". In fact, try taking the proximity factor out of your decision making all together. If you are looking for an AirBnB or hotel, try considering only places that look neat and that have good user reviews rather than proximity to a landmark. We did this in New Orleans and were lucky enough to be walking distance to a whole lot of places that we would have not otherwise found with great food and hip nightlife.
If you use AirBnB during your stay, the host will often have a list of suggestions on where to go that is local to your stay. They will generally have some of their favorite places that you won't find on a "top list". If they don't, just message the host directly through AirBnB and ask for suggestions.
9. Get lost
Be open-minded and prepare to stop in places that look interesting to you. In Asheville, we were walking around town because restaurants and bars weren't open yet and stumbled upon a neat art shop with coffee, beer, and local art for purchase! I've also driven around and purposely taken wrong turns to follow signs of viewpoints that sounded interesting. One time in Mexico City, we walked around until we finally found the only non-crowded bar in the area that was still open after midnight and it ended up being one of the coolest bars I've ever been to.
10. Go with the flow
Keep your eyes open for things you see around town - when we were at a gas station in Vermont, we saw a flyer for a wine festival that was not on any of our "lists". We all decided to go and had an amazing time drinking local wines with the beautiful scenery of changing leaves and mountains. You don't always need to stress about following an itinerary, sometimes it's good to just go with the flow.
11. Go where a friend lives
Do you have a friend or family member in a different city? Maybe they're moved for work or are planning on teaching in a different country? Well, it's time to go see them! Not only do you need to make the effort to visit your amigo (or amiga), but they will also likely be excited to show you all of the places that they've found in their new "home away from home".
12. Ask others!
Whether it be in person, on social media, reddit, or a blog - don't be afraid to openly ask others about their favorite things to do at a destination. It goes full circle because as soon as you find some of these amazing places that no one knows about it, you'll want to share, too!
The Wrap-Up
I hope this helps in finding new and cool places that are off the beaten path. Again, I truly believe there is a lot of value in seeing and going to the normal "touristy" places, but don't just get caught up in these attractions - there is so much more out there to see and do!
*All pictures from this post were from places I "stumbled upon" and were not part of my original travel plan or itinerary.
