Museums are great, but to truly get a taste of modern local life you’re going to have to earn your cultural education elsewhere.

Not sure where to begin? Here are five quirky ways to learn more about local life while you’re traveling.

Massive crowds of tourists are not only a pain to deal with as a visitor, but they can be hugely problematic for the locals as well. So how can we, as socially-responsible travelers, help fight overtourism? Be part of the solution rather than the problem by opting for off-season adventures, infusing as much of your trip cost as you can into local businesses and accommodations, and exploring alternatives to overcrowded destinations.