Foursquare Vacation Planning

I have an addiction.

It’s called Foursquare.

If you haven’t heard of it, you clearly aren’t following me on twitter. Pretty much, the idea is to check in from different locations. You can get points the more places you visit, and if you visit somewhere enough, you can become the mayor. As well as becoming the major, you can also attempt to get different badges for doing certain things.

Now, I know some people look at the concept and think it’s weird, or that people could stalk you. But really, I think that this new social networking system does something that is much better than Facebook and Twitter:

It gets people OUTSIDE again.

Okay, fine, you have a phone in your hand. But the goal is to explore your city. Brockville is a city that didn’t even blip on the Foursquare map. Nothing was on the map except the Tim Hortons on the 401 and the Starbucks because every Starbucks is marked. I had a great time getting to go around Brockville, mapping out all the different places. Now, if you go to Brockville, you’ll find most major places already put into the system, complete with the address. And I am probably the mayor of that place.

When my sister left for the summer, her dog Howi needed walking. As a rule of thumb, I hate going for walks. But I discovered something fun that would work for both of us: I took Howi swimming. I got the check ins for different parks and lakes in the area, and at the same time, Howi was taught how to swim, and I acquired a decent tan.

The badges have been really fun too. I might have never got into going to the YMCA if there weren’t the Gym Rat badge. Go to the gym 10 times in 30 days? Well worth it if I get a badge! And amazingly, I got into a decent routine workout routine. I don’t see Facebook or Twitter affecting my physical health for the better.

With this trip to Japan coming up soon, it has taken on a whole new dimension of excitement by getting to check into locations in a whole other country.  There are some badges that I can get on this trip, as long as all goes well.

Jet Setter: Five airport checkins! I should juuust be getting this, since we leave from Toronto, arrive in Narita, and then on the way back we’ll go Narita to Vancouver to Toronto. There’s 5, so this one should be in the bag.

Photogenic: 3 photobooths. Purikura is SO being tagged as a photobooth, BECAUSE IT IS, and we’ll be going to one three times. Because I love purikura. And I want that badge.

Don’t Stop Believin’: 3 karaoke spots. We’re going to be in the home of karaoke. This will be happening.

Swarm/Superswarm: This one is a big hope. We’re going to be going to the Edogawa Fireworks. The crowds there are absolutely huge, thousands of people. I am aiming low here by hoping that 50 people check in during the fireworks. But given the crowd? There’s a chance I might get the superswarm. FINGERS CROSSED!

I’m on a Boat: This badge is always on my goal list.

Barista: I would love my 5th Starbucks the one at Shibuya crossing, which is my favourite Starbucks.

Btw, friend me if you join!