We've all been tourist trapped. You have the perfect trip mapped out, with all the right stops lined up. But when you finally get there, guess what? Those TripAdvisor reviews lied, that "top 10" blogger never actually visited your destination, and now you're stuck on your laptop, ordering in from a pizza chain, looking for what's actually local. Maybe the next trip will be better... NEAR is a community of adventurous travelers all committed to exchanging what's local. It's easy to find the tourist stops in a new place; you don't need a local to tell you to go to the Louvre. But what's on the street *behind* the main street? When and where are the best markets, festivals, and mom-and-pop shops? Started by a husband and wife pair who love to travel (currently living in Scotland!), NEAR has been built on the belief that memorable travel experiences shape who we are for the better. Getting to know a place, its culture, and the unique people who make it special gives us newfound empathy for others. The best adventures are always unexpected, but they only happen when you're ready to give back a little of yourself, wherever you go.