Even though summer is slowly winding down, the start of the new school year is rapidly approaching and reflections on the previous few months have hit their peak. It’s always a good practice to ask yourself what truly made this summer memorable. Whether it be constant free time, the many laughs held between friends, the precious family time, or the annual vacation, it is always good to pinpoint the one aspect that truly meant something to you.

Oftentimes in the blur of life, we forget to stop and ponder in the moment. We forget to properly seal the tender memories brought onto us, and we continue on in our wired way. I have found myself to be the guiltiest offender of this misfortune, so I’ve tried to make it a point to really embrace the summer as more than just freedom from homework and exams. This summer, in particular, I have found one way to guarantee a top contender for my own list of what makes my summer so great, and I’ve decided to share it with you.

I am so grateful to have been raised in a family who praises traveling. My parents have set the example for me and my sister to seek the greater unknowns, to test ourselves in new places, and to really learn from what the world has to offer. Traveling is so, so important, but what is even more important is making a point to actually travel. Far too often, families take a trip by embracing tourism rather than accepting the challenge of experience. In my opinion, this is a tragic waste. When you have the opportunity, take it. From my own experiences, I have generated three simple steps to guide your time in any place you go, and to ensure not only a plethora of learning opportunities, but plentiful memories, too.

Step 1: Make everything about food.

Food is a core piece of traveling, but the places chosen are even more vital. What my family and I have found to work best is getting out on the street, finding the locals, and striking up a conversation about the best places to grab some local fare. Not only will this be a guaranteed way to truly find the best places in town, but it encourages you to step out of the “tourist box” and embrace what is around you. Nobody will turn you away, help is always waiting, and memories are just a few steps and a simple “hello” away.

Step 2: ALWAYS take public transportation whenever there is an opportunity.

Taking a taxi over grabbing the metro is nearly always the distinguishing feature between a tourist and a traveler. It is so easy to wave a cab, tell him your hotel, and pay an outrageous fee for sitting at every traffic light, but what makes a true traveler is experience. Again, the locals are everywhere and they have the answers. It is not only the easiest thing, but it makes the most sense too; tell someone, anyone, where you need to go and how they recommend you get there. I promise it will cost a fraction of a cab, you will have engaged with the people once more, and you will have experienced how the city gets around.

At first it is scary when you fumble with the map trying to count the number of stops till you get off, but please trust me, you won’t regret it. Public transportation is a real experience bound to generate newfound confidence, more money in your wallet, and lots of memories made in the process of mastering it.

Step 3: Take pictures and buy art.

Taking pictures, although it’s the ultimate tourist stamp, is absolutely necessary. Embrace the cliché, and snap the memories. When looking back days, weeks, months, and years later, each photo will be a commemoration of the memories you made and still hold close. One of the best things about following the food and listening to the locals is that you will find yourself in places not once advertised in the travel book. You will find real places with real experiences waiting for you to take hold. Getting lost, solving problems together, and laughing through it all are what really matters when your traveling; the memories are what are most important, so remember them in tangible form, too.

Second to capturing your family and all that you do is to avoid the souvenir shops. To be a traveler, you can’t succumb to visages made for tourists. The t-shirt and shot glass can wait... forever. When traveling, my family has made it our mission to find something meaningful that captures our time, and that will remind us for years to come what this trip has meant to us. More often than not, this is held within a piece of art, and we have begun our own little collection as a result. Buying an art piece is so unique because not only does it have to speak to you in order for you to consider it, but it speaks to the people, the places, and the experiences you had while on your trip. You are supporting the place, thanking the locals, and giving yourself the gift of a commemorating piece that will last you a lifetime. When you bring it back and add it to your home, it will sit there as a constant reminder of what you did, and it will remain a story piece forever.

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Apply these rules wherever you go, whether it be Europe, China, Chicago, or simply the neighboring state. Make the memories, step out of the box, and never stop learning. The world is waiting to teach you, to show you, and to give you experiences that make life precious gift that it is. Being a tourist is overrated, so get out there are travel!