As summer begins to wind down, it’s typical to wonder if you have seized every day and made vacation memorable. We view Snapchat stories and Instagram pictures of friends and families traveling to exotic islands or Italy or Greece and instantly become jealous. While those travel spots are amazing and very entertaining, I spend a week every summer in one of the East Coast’s smallest cities and would not trade it for the world. Sometimes we get so wrapped up in what other people are doing and what is popular, that we miss out on what opportunities are just around the corner. Below are just a few of my favorite reasons to take advantage of small town living, even if it’s just for a summer.

The people. If anyone asked me why I love spending part of my summer in central Maine, I would say it’s because of the people who live there. With a population of right around 2,000, most everyone knows everyone or at least knows about them and their life stories. These people all share a history together and are basically a part of one another’s families. With often times little to no working cell service, people are out in the community spending time with one another. Whether it’s walking the dog or neighborhood recreational sports, people spend time with one another. People are non-judgmental, caring, and truly have your best interest at heart which is a refreshing change of pace.

Another major aspect of small town living is the local part of it. There is not a fast food chain within ten miles of the house we stay in. I never once saw a Chick-fil-A or a Wendy’s. People support their neighbors in local businesses. There is not even a Costco in the city. There are produce stands on every corner and locally owned restaurants and bakeries. People enjoy walking or biking to and from these places. Although it may sound like a land lost in time, I can promise you for a week or two it’s the best feeling to know the people providing for you live just around the corner. It offers a sense of reassurance and coziness.

I’m equally guilty of getting wrapped up in the craziness of summer. It quickly becomes all about working to save up money, trips to the beach, apartment or dorm shopping, and catching up with old friends. I challenge each person to step outside his or her bubble and escape from the real world. Do not pass up the opportunity for small town living. It may not appear to be glamorous but it can make for some of the best memories. To this day, I still pass the water park where my sister, cousins, and I would spend endless hours at throughout our childhood. I still eat the same flavor at the walk-up ice cream place just a few miles up the road. I still ride the same ferry out to a local island for a day of sight-seeing. It’s all about getting to know the tight knit community around you because even decades later, not much changes. It could just be the best decision you ever make and the chance for total renewal.