>> Where do people go when they're trying to find out more information about a new city/state/country? <<
Okay, this has several broad branches: 1) Its tourist info. They all have some, and you'll find cool stuff there that won't pop up anywhere else. Use websites or hit a rest stop for paper flyers. Good for occasions like, "My character is vacationing in Kansas, what is there to do there?"
Search (name of location) + tourism OR attractions OR "things to do in"
2) Geographic type stuff. This search approach will get you maps, demographics, and statistics useful for things like "I'm writing a Korean character, where in America are Korean immigrants common?"
Search (name of location) + maps images OR demographics OR statistics OR "everything you need to know about"
3) Resources for people moving in. This gets you a smattering of housing info, jobs, local laws, weather, etc.
Search (name of location) + "moving to" OR "welcome to" OR "I'm new in"
>> Or even careers that you don't know anything about.<<
College websites. They often have "what you can do with a major in X" and on a good site the careers under it will be links to pages about those jobs.
Search (name of career) + "majors" OR "degree" OR "how to become a"
Job websites. These get you information on what the job is about, how many people do that work, whether the field is growing or shrinking, common pay levels, etc.
Search (name of career) + "job prospects" OR "salary"
Also hit the writer section of any bookstore, because there are "careers for your character" guidebooks.
Thoughts
Okay, this has several broad branches:
1) Its tourist info. They all have some, and you'll find cool stuff there that won't pop up anywhere else. Use websites or hit a rest stop for paper flyers. Good for occasions like, "My character is vacationing in Kansas, what is there to do there?"
Search (name of location) + tourism OR attractions OR "things to do in"
2) Geographic type stuff. This search approach will get you maps, demographics, and statistics useful for things like "I'm writing a Korean character, where in America are Korean immigrants common?"
Search (name of location) + maps images OR demographics OR statistics OR "everything you need to know about"
3) Resources for people moving in. This gets you a smattering of housing info, jobs, local laws, weather, etc.
Search (name of location) + "moving to" OR "welcome to" OR "I'm new in"
>> Or even careers that you don't know anything about.<<
College websites. They often have "what you can do with a major in X" and on a good site the careers under it will be links to pages about those jobs.
Search (name of career) + "majors" OR "degree" OR "how to become a"
Job websites. These get you information on what the job is about, how many people do that work, whether the field is growing or shrinking, common pay levels, etc.
Search (name of career) + "job prospects" OR "salary"
Also hit the writer section of any bookstore, because there are "careers for your character" guidebooks.