PCS moves can be daunting tasks. Moving means more than just finding a new place to live and work; it can also mean finding a new favorite restaurant, hair parlor/barber shop or place to shop. While some duty stations have full selections right outside the gate, the reality is that some duty stations are a little harder to love. Here are 5 foolproof ways to find hidden gems in your new city.
Pinterest Boards
Pinterest is far from just the visual dream board that it used to be. Pinterest is now a highly functional search engine that can provide you with the resources you need to make your new duty station, the best duty station. By just typing in your city name followed by keywords like Restaurants, Day Trips, or things to do; you’ll find blogs and other publications that offer listicles of new places to try and explore around your area.
Instagram Hashtags
The power of social media can be amazing if used correctly. Instagram is great for connecting with other people, but it is also a fantastic way to find geo-specific companies, businesses, and services. By using hashtags related to your new location, you can easily find out where the locals like to eat and play in the area. You can also find people who offer specific products and services. Example: If you’re PCSing to Fort Bragg, you’ll want to hashtag things like #FortBragg #FayettevilleNCFoodie #FayettevilleNCPhotographer #FayettevilleNC
Yelp for Local Favorites
Yelp is an excellent free app used to find the best products and/or services in your new area based on peer reviews. Yelp has reviews on a rating system for things like local restaurants for delivery, auto, and home services. When you move to a new area, you’re walking into everything blindly, and it’s nice to know that there’s a reliable app that offers honest reviews to help you make the best decisions based on your needs.
Facebook Groups
Military families know that Facebook is an essential hub for PCS moves. Most duty stations have category based groups in which you can connect to other people who are already stationed in your new city. There are groups based on activity, family dynamic, products or services and much more. Simply, request to join the group correlated to your need and ask questions. Joining the spouse Facebook group is one of the best ways to get in the know about your new area. Soon, you’ll be living like the locals!
Try your New City’s Local Tourism Bureau
Tourism Bureaus are often overlooked ways to find the very best that cities have to offer. They are not only for visiting tourists, but newcomers can gain quite a bit from a visit as well. Regardless of size, each city should have a tourism bureau (Office or website) to guide you and provide information about the best places to go in or around the area. A military alternative could be stopping by your MWR or family community services office on the installation. They generally offer the same information and usually know of discounts you can benefit from.
These are our 5 Ways to Find Hidden Gems in Your New City. How do you find your new local favorites when you PCS?
Written by Sierra Redmond Exclusively for Military Crashpad®
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