6 IDEAS FOR ADVENTURE TRAVEL WITHOUT LEAVING TOWN

When your wanderlust is fighting to be free, here are some ways to satiate your adventuring soul.

Check out a local bike trail. It’s sure to clear your city mind!

It’s been a few months now that our world came to a screeching halt, and everything turned upside down. Plans were derailed, and a new reality set in. If you’re anything like me, as lockdown measures begin to ease up, the wanderlust is settling back in. Hard.

Outdoor public spaces are starting to open back up, and not all of them are crowded. Plus as a bonus, you won’t need a passport or even much money. Or maybe you’re reading this long after the pandemic is over and for some reason won’t be able to leave town for a while. For whatever reason, here are a few ideas to keep your adventure travel soul happily fed with chicken soup (remember those books?) while still living safely in this uncertain time.

Microadventures

If you haven’t heard of microadventures, let me just direct your attention to Alastair Humphreys who created the term. (Also, wrote two books about his bike trip around the world that I can’t recommend enough.) In its simplest form, a microadventure is the idea that an adventure doesn’t have to be expensive, long, or extreme to be fulfilling. As Humphreys puts it, “Adventure is more of an attitude than anything else. And if that’s true, then surely you can find adventure anywhere”. So strap a bivy onto your bike, ride a few hours, and camp on the top of a hill under the stars. Create a running path that draws a picture. Camp in your own backyard. If it’s exciting to you, it’s an adventure and you’re right on track.

Camping in a forest is a microadventure that satisfies my soul.

Day Hikes

This is an oldie but a goodie. This is made especially easy if you have a car or can convince an automobile owner to join you. You’d be surprised how many beautiful day hikes exist just outside of your city. Because our homes are just that: home, and not a destination, we tend to forget that the places we live have plenty of beauty and excitement to offer. But maybe now is the time to discover what makes your surroundings full of adventure. Dust off your hiking shoes, lather on that sunscreen, and go explore. Just remember to bring lots of snacks, water, and leave no trace, because many of the facilities on the trails might still not be open.

Meander Through the Neighbourhood

This one may not seem that adventurous, but leave the map (or google map) behind and just walk. If you’re like me with a certain lack of directional sense, this can actually be quite an exhilarating adventure. Learn what your neighbourhood has to offer that you might have been to busy to discover before. This is something I love doing when I visit new cities, so why not try it in your own backyard. Honestly, I did this the other day and discovered a tiny wooded area full of trails that I would never have expected, which has now become one of my favourite places to sit in and read.

Ride Some Trails

Maybe it’s time to chuck some oil on the bike that’s been sitting in storage since before winter. We’ve all (or at least I have) been pretty stationary staying indoors during the initial stages of the pandemic. Now’s the time to get the blood pumping again, and as a bonus, many bike trails are still fairly empty so you’ll have plenty of space to safely enjoy the outdoors. Plus, it’ll get you back into the swing of pedaling so you’re ready as soon as the borders open and flights start up again.

Head out and do something different. If you’ve got a river near you, consider taking a swim!

Do Something New

Climb a tree. Take a dip in a river or a stream. Learn a language. Take up painting. Anything you’ve kind of wanted to do but been too busy for now’s the time to go for it! Part of adventure travel is pushing and challenging yourself, heading into the unknown, and exploring something new. Just because it’s in your house or your neighbourhood doesn’t mean it won’t help you grow and satisfy the need for discovering new and exciting things. And the best part is that if you fail, you can just have a glass of wine, a bubble bath, and curl in your own bed, no harm no foul.

Armchair Adventures

Some people scorn the idea of being an armchair adventurer. Sitting home, cozy and warm (or in the summer, cool and air-conditioned), experiencing someone else’s adventures instead of getting out and making your own. To those people, I say phooey. I personally love reading travel books. Not only are they thrilling and a great read, but they also help ignite my passion. They can introduce us to new people, places, or modes of travel that we might not have imagined before. They inspire us to have our own epic adventures and remind us that we’re not alone in the desire to explore the world. Frankly, it was travel books that gave me the confidence to get out and try my first bike tour, despite a complete lack of knowledge, skills, or fitness. So pour yourself a cup of tea or a glass of wine, crack open the book you’ve got sitting on your shelf, and let your mind soar.

So there you have some ideas to keep the need to travel from exploding out of your body. And who knows, you might be amazed by what you find.