Hosting for Dummies: 3 tips for entertaining your out-of-town guests
Being an adult means you have a whole lot of responsibilities: Working late, paying bills, scheduling your own doctor’s appointments and hosting out-of-town guests. Parents and college buddies living across the country will eventually suggest an impromptu visit, saying they miss you and would love to see Charlotte.
You could ask friends and coworkers where you should take so-and-so, and feel overwhelmed by filling a blank itinerary. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Entertaining company can be fun and easy.
If you find yourself playing host, I suggest ditching the Yelp reviews and asking yourself the following questions to create a great experience.
Where do I feel most at home?
When brainstorming ideas, the knee-jerk reaction is to reserve a table for four at a swanky eatery. You may be tempted to show-off the Queen City’s glamorous side, but a meaningful experience starts at the places where you feel most comfortable.
The first question to ask yourself is, “Where do I feel most at home?” and then go there. It can be as simple as your favorite coffee shop, yoga studio or Thai Taste, which is where I take my parents visiting from Connecticut. When I point to the cork board-shrine of the Panthers or suggest we share the spring rolls, I’m inviting them to experience a slice of the home-away-from-home I’ve made for myself in Charlotte.
Invite your guests to do the same. They can eat fancy anywhere, but only here can they taste your favorite java blend or connect with you on your yoga mat.
What have I been waiting for?
As a host, you are responsible for providing clean towels and good directions, but not for knowing the ins and outs of every item on your hosting schedule. That is to say, you can plan an activity you’ve never done before. When presented with an entourage that will go wherever you take them, ask yourself, “What have I been waiting for?” and do that.
The look on my college roommate’s face as she watched me awkwardly struggle into a harness for the first time at the U.S. National Whitewater Center’s climbing wall was priceless.
Later over drinks, instead of reminiscing about our college days, we laughed endlessly about the new memory of me trying (and failing) to climb a rock wall. Selecting adventures that are new for both you and your guests is a unique opportunity to continue building memories together, despite living far apart.
When am I happy?
While guests insist that they just want to spend time with you, it’s hard for hosts to accept that quality time can be achieved without spending a lot of money. To honor the simplicity of your guests’ request, ask yourself “When am I happy?” and recreate those moments with your visitors.
Sharing your hobbies and passions gives guests access to a deeper, richer side of Charlotte that no official tour could ever give them. If you’re an aspiring painter, share a canvas and your favorite landscapes. If you’re obsessed with beer, tour The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery and educate your guests on Charlotte’s bustling brewery scene over a flight. If you’re training for a marathon, run your favorite trails. You have the opportunity to expose visitors to some of Charlotte’s greatest subcultures and give them a lasting impression of our city.
Hosting isn’t free from stressors (especially if you have a mom with an eye for excess dust), but planning activities doesn’t have to be one of them. Just ask yourself the aforementioned questions to create an eventful Charlotte experience.
Photos: Courtesy of the USNWC; Anna van Erven
This story was originally published January 24, 2017 at 12:18 AM with the headline "Hosting for Dummies: 3 tips for entertaining your out-of-town guests."