Maybe your passport is being renewed, maybe your ticket got cancelled, or maybe (like me!) you’re saving for a wedding and that’s where all your disposable income is going. But sometimes, travel just isn’t an option.

Having the travel “bug” is natural—but when you’re stuck at home, it can be frustrating to not be able to leave your town or city. If you’re looking for ways to scratch that itch without leaving where you live, here are six ways I like to feel a bit more well-travelled at home:  

Search for walking tours in your town.

Sometimes you’ll find nothing—but other times, you’ll get lucky. Places like GetYourGuide or Meetup can offer walking tours with themes; important monuments, town history, or even ghost sightings. In my experience, the people who give these tours are passionate about the subject, like students studying the city’s history or those who love paranormal sightings. It can be fun getting to see a place you take for granted through an expert’s lens!

Get into Geocaching

Imagine a game of hide-and-seek played all over the world—that’s basically Geocaching, but instead of people, it’s items. Players use their phone’s GPS and the Geocaching app to find discreet hiding places in plain sight. Although many people use the app while travelling to add to their logbook, chances are, you have Geocaches in your town!

Make yourself a scavenger hunt

There’s a really cool company called CityDays that creates a scavenger hunt with clues to different statues and monuments, texting you clues that will guide you, and only giving you the next piece of the puzzle when you text the right answer.

This isn’t available everywhere, though. But you can always make something like this for a friend and switch itineraries; or make your own list and cross things off as you explore the city. You might make a list that’s “find a building for every colour of the rainbow”, “take a picture of a monument from every decade going back 200 years”, or “find at least 10 heart-shapes in town architecture”.

Look into local creative performances

Amateur theatre groups, improv groups, or open mic nights are a great way to check out local talent at a fraction of the price of major productions. Some theatres and operas will even allow you to watch them rehearse for free. When I travel, I like to check out local groups like jazz clubs and choirs—but it’s rare that I do the same in my own neighbourhood, because I’m not looking for culture the way I would seek it out when I travel (which means I’m missing out!).

Look into cooking classes

Heritage centres, cooking schools, bakeries, restaurants—many places offer cooking or baking classes for one-off dishes. This is the kind of thing I’d love to do on a trip—so why not try it in your hometown?

The discount-price version of this is going to an international market or store, and pick up an ingredient you’ve never used before. Use YouTube to watch a tutorial on how to prepare something you might look forward to eating on a trip!

Books, documentaries & research to get you through

When I get too bored at home and want to get up and go somewhere, sometimes immersing myself in other people’s stories is the best I can do. I read CN Traveller magazine; I read books about journeys and people in other parts of the world I’m unfamiliar with; I watch shows like Anthony Bourdain’s, where he travels the world tasting amazing food. And sometimes I get inspired to add to my “to visit” list, and do more research for trips I might take one day!

How do you deal with wanderlust when you can’t travel? I hope you’ll let me know in the comments—happy travels!