Take a tour of your home region

As the chill leaves the air and we retire our winter coats to the back of the closet, this is a reminder to try being a tourist in your hometown for a change.

Spring is quickly approaching, the days are growing longer, bees will be buzzing and flowers are soon to be in bloom so this is the perfect time to try it.

This area is rich with parks, trails and beautiful places to hike, bike or walk. Seeing nature in full swing in the spring months here can be truly amazing.

I love to kayak in the summer months, hitting the river, music and s’mores around a campfire afterward; my idea of an absolutely perfect day. This area has enough trails, campgrounds and hiking areas to keep anyone busy for quite sometime.

If nature isn’t your thing, there is an art gallery, a train museum, the Memorial Wall and the historic Rodgers Theatre, as well as several new restaurants and boutiques in the area.

The live music scene has also picked up tremendously here. On the weekends you can almost always find some type of live entertainment.

The point of being a tourist in your hometown is not only to help you see with new eyes, but also to help stimulate the economy in your community. There are always places you have yet to explore, paths you have yet to venture down and experiences you have yet to have.

You may learn valuable historical information in our local museums and libraries, find alternative stress relief options at a not so typical sound spa, stumble upon a restaurant where a king serves the absolute best Brussels sprouts you ever had, or meet your soulmate on a hike; you just never know what life has to offer until you get out there and live it.

So next time the weather forecast says sunny and 65 and you have some free time on your hands take a day to consider the wonders around you that are close to home. They are everywhere if you just take the time to explore.

Misty DeJournett is a staff writer at the Daily American Republic. She can be reached at mdejournett@darnews.com.