I enjoy savoring the neighborhoods in which I stay when I travel. It doesn’t work well when I stay in a mostly commercialized area, but when possible, I choose hotels placed within a path of everyday people living their lives. I was recently in Brooklyn for one night. I booked a hotel perfectly positioned among family-run businesses and residences. When I woke up the next morning, I went for a walk. The primary goal was to find NYC bagels, but I was going to enjoy the journey.

It was a Saturday morning, and many locals were out and about on their errands. I merged into the traffic of the local community, not to disturb it but to respect and observe it. As I searched for the bagel shop, I noticed people picking produce from favorite street vendors, catching up on weekly conversations. Couples and friends chatted as they walked. People dipped in and out of local shops, filling their bags with weekend and weekly items on their lists. The Saturday pace was slow but with a little urgency since it looked like rain could fall at any time. A delivery bike sped by with a full backpack cooler. A dog walker stopped at a stand to pick up a drink. The dogs were happy to be out and about. A firefighter walked out of a small local station with a tired face and weary body, presumably going home after a long night or at least a restless one. A carpet cleaning van hummed with power, and I stepped over the tube running up the stairs into a house getting a good clean at the start of the day.

I walked into the bagel shop, and it was a good choice. There’s nothing like a fresh NYC bagel, and this place had the best standard options—salt, egg, whole wheat, and (anyone remember the story about my least favorite flavor?)—along with the best options to round out the treat: fresh orange juice, freshly whipped butter, and more. I chatted with a couple people in line, packed bags with options for others back at the hotel, and began the journey back. The return walk was a bit more challenging as I balanced a drink carrier and bag of goodies. But the effort was worth it. I arrived at the hotel before the rain, shared the bagels, and enjoyed my own. But the best part of the morning was the local walk.

Neighborhoods can be grounding even when their not our own.

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