Five Ways a Local Newspaper Helps a Last Minute Planner

Headed on a trip and don't have much time to plan? Why not skip the guidebook in favor of a local paper? Many cities, big and small, feature an alternative paper that really gives you the flavor of the city. Written by passionate, interesting and offbeat locals, they are the easiest way to get up to date, and peek into the arts, culture, food and music scene. Best of all, they're free. Still not convinced? Check out our five ways that a local paper can help you plan your next trip.

Plan your day or evening.
I don't know about you, but planning a fun evening can be one of the most challenging parts of trip. Where are the locals going to get their drink on or to hear music? (Hint: it's not your hotel bar.) All local papers have a listing or section of events for the upcoming week. Whether you want to catch your favorite band when you're both in town, or find a happy hour, you'll be well served. But it's not just about the nightlife, plenty of listings will point you to exhibits, festivals and daytime events that you may have overlooked.

Find a good restaurant.
Whether you're reading the reviews or just checking out the ads, finding a good restaurant in a paper is a great way to get a good, local meal. The places you'll find in the paper won't be the tried and true guidebook recommendations. Instead, you'll find the newest, the smallest, and some of the hippest places to eat.

Learn what's cool/Get the zeitgeist.
One of the hardest things to do when you're visiting a place is to really understand the big picture. What are people like? What do they do for fun? What are the stereotypes, who are the cool kids, and how does it all fit together? Read the advice columns, see what people are upset about, excited about, and what folks are talking about the most.

Get an up-to-date schedule of events.
Forget what a place is well known for, what's all over guidebooks, and even in blogs. What is going on NOW? Read the arts section, keep an eye out for festivals, and once again, look for interesting ads. Free papers tend to be published every week, along with a week's worth of events, all in one easy to find place. It couldn't be any more convenient, especially for the lazy, or unprepared, travel planner.

A primer on local businesses.
While some guidebooks make a valiant attempt at pointing out interesting local businesses, it's hard to really get a sense of what places are worth your time, and money, to go visit. Here's where ads are really key, local papers are prime real estate for finding the local hotspots for shopping and services.

Here's just a few local papers, just to get you started...

Seattle:
Seattle Weekly
The Stranger

Portland, OR:
The Mercury

Austin, TX:
The Austin Chronicle

Washington, DC:
The City Paper

Charlottesville, VA:
C-ville Weekly

San Francisco, CA:
SF Weekly
SFBG

Asheville, NC:
Mountain Express

New York:
New York Press
Village Voice