Ask the Locals

This post was inspired by advice we received while in south Jersey for my wife’s birthday when we asked our bartender where she goes to eat and drink when not working.

Asking the locals is something my wife and I do whenever we are not local. Wherever we go, we seek out information from bartenders, servers, bellhops, valets, and front desk staff – only consulting the concierge for help with reservations or tickets as their role is to steer guests to the more commercial places. Cab drivers are also great sources for information on the best bars, restaurants, etc. All of these folks have their favorite local spots which have one feature we desire – local culture. Oh, and they are off the tourist trail. Even in our home state there are several regional and local cultures to experience - once you get off the Turnpike.

In our most recent experience we were pointed to a local steakhouse that turned out to be a throwback to the 70’s. Movie posters on the dark red walls, those small drink glasses, and a full salad bar. Yes, a full-blown, old-school salad bar with all the fixin’s those old enough will remember from trips with mom and dad when we were kids. The place lived up to the recommendation and we enjoyed making our salads while our steaks were being cooked. And they were cooked to perfection. It had been a long time since we had a good steak dinner and this one was a fantastic birthday dinner for my wife. Sticking with the old school theme, dessert was included with the meal. Remember those days?

As a bonus, a local brewery was only 2 miles from the restaurant and having tried one of their beers at the hotel bar the night before I made my pitch to stop in for a couple of flights before dinner. My wife, being a good sport, and while preferring wine to beer, is usually game to try a new place. It turned out to be a neat little spot that had some good beers and plenty of local culture to soak in.

We’ve learned a lot in our travels and much of it has been because we took an interest in where we were and took the time to talk to the locals about the area. Whether it’s just another part of NJ or in a small town in Germany, we have always gotten good guidance on the best places for what we are looking to do. Sure, when in foreign countries we’ve run into some glitches due to language barriers but there’s always a way to communicate when focused on a common subject. And some of those glitches led to fond memories.

In this new year of continued craziness I hope you can get out and travel a bit and that whenever you are not a local, you will take the time to talk to someone who is (and if you are the local that a visitor asks advice of, give them your best suggestions). You’ll be surprised how much you will learn about where you are, just by showing an interest in the area and the person you are speaking with. There’s so much more to experience beyond the stuff on the beaten path, so be bold, be open to adventure, and ask the locals….