5 Ways to Entertain Out-of-Town Guests

Entertaining out-of-town guests usually just means showing them what makes the area worth visiting, not trying to schedule every hour they’re here. It’s often enough to give them an understanding of the place they’re in, how it feels, and why you like living there. 

Here are some fun and simple ways to show visitors around your home base.

1. Take Them on a Tour of the Area

A quick tour early on can help your visitors settle in and get an idea of the area. It doesn’t have to be overly detailed or busy — just kind of show them where things are, and maybe point out which parts tend to be busy and which are quieter. After that, everything else you do during the visit may make a little more sense without needing explanation.

If you’re in the Collingwood area or anywhere else surrounded by water, a boat tour can be a great choice. You see a lot in a short amount of time, everyone stays comfortable, and it gives guests a view of the area they wouldn’t find on their own.

2. Walk Around Downtown Shops and Cafés

Downtown wandering is one of those things that may seem a bit lazy on your part, but most visitors don’t need you to meticulously plan every second of their stay. Besides, who couldn’t use a little fresh air and exercise (and maybe some retail therapy)?

Take everyone out to walk a few of the most interesting blocks, and let them poke into whatever looks interesting. Then, just stop when someone needs coffee or a break. If they’re on vacation, no one’s really checking the time or feels like they’re behind schedule.

When you’re trying to entertain out-of-town guests, this is often where things start to feel easy.

3. Visit One Local Attraction You’d Miss If You Didn’t Live Here

It can be tempting to skip the obvious attraction because it’s always there. You tell yourself you’ll get to it eventually, then before you know it, years go by, and you never do. The nice thing about out-of-town guests is that they don’t have that blind spot. They actually want to see the thing the place is known for, even if you haven’t thought about it in a while.

So, the fix is simple. Pick one local attraction, and just go. It doesn’t have to be for a full afternoon or anything. It’s just one stop, enough time to look around, then you move on. 

Not only will it satisfy their curiosity without hijacking the visit, but it also keeps you from awkwardly explaining why you never bothered to see it yourself.

4. Take a Scenic Drive They Wouldn’t Think to Do

Scenic drives can be a great idea for out-of-town guests because not all the routes worth taking are highlighted on a map. Without your local knowledge, they’d likely miss out on some beautiful spots.

Maybe it’s a stretch where you get a great view at sunset, or a pull-off people stop at when the leaves change, or even a quiet road with interesting houses. That kind of local knowledge lets visitors get a better sense of not just the community, but your community, and what you see in the area.

5. See If There Are Any Community Events Going On

Community events are often perfect for out-of-town visits (especially unexpected ones)  because they don’t require a lot of planning on your part. They let you just drop into something that’s already happening and let it carry the time.

They also give visitors a clearer picture of the place than most attractions do. They can get a sense of who actually lives in the area, what locals do on a normal weekend, and how the town feels when it’s not trying to impress anyone.

Some community events to consider include:

• Local markets

• Seasonal festivals

• Small fairs

What makes them even more convenient is that they’re often easy to enter and leave, which matters more than it sounds when you’re trying to entertain out-of-town guests without locking yourself into a whole afternoon.

Ready to Show Your Out-of-Town Guests a Great Time?

Entertaining people from out of town doesn’t have to mean planning every day or filling every gap. A few familiar moves are usually enough to give them a real sense of the place and keep things feeling relaxed.

And if you’d like a hand showing your guests around the Collingwood area, we’d be happy to have you aboard! Check out the Collingwood Charters events calendar to book one of our sightseeing, sunset, or dinner cruises today.