10 Exciting Adventures You Can Have Without Leaving Your City
In these uncertain times, when traveling to a faraway land is no longer a safe or feasible option, do not fear — there are still many adventures to be had. In fact, you can embark on an entire escapade from the comfort of your hometown or city!
Whether you believe it or not, the possibilities for exciting adventures are endless — it all comes down to perspective. With a little bit of imagination and a sassy partner in crime, any mundane outing can transform into an unforgettable experience.
So, without further ado, let the exciting adventures begin!
1. Camp in Your Backyard (or Living Room!)
Unless you live in a crowded urban area, camping in your backyard is completely doable! All you need is a tent. If you don’t have a tent, there are many stores that sell tents for less than $30!
However, if you want to err on the side of caution, you can also just camp in your living room. Build some sort of pillow and blanket fort and you will instantly feel like a little kid again (in the best possible way.) Invite a friend over and make it a whole camping extravaganza. You can even ‘roast’ marshmallows in your oven and enjoy some uncooked ramen.
2. Visit Your Local Library
The library is truly a magical and illuminating place to explore: aisles and aisles of books, movies, music, audiobooks, and history. Renting from a library is completely free of charge — as long as you have a library card.
You can look for a book you’ve been wanting to read or just endlessly browse the shelves. Or make a game out of it! For example, close your eyes and choose a book at random — whatever it is, you have to give it a chance!
Libraries also have special clubs or events sometimes. You can check out your local library’s website to see what they have coming up.
3. Explore a Historical Graveyard
The older the graveyard is, the more exciting it is to explore. There is something magical about walking through an area of so much untouched history. It’s not a museum where certain famous artifacts are preserved — you can actually learn about the forgotten. If you are from New England, stumbling upon a hidden historical graveyard while on a hike in the woods is a common occurrence.
Stumbling across a graveyard is not the only way to discover one — you can also purposely seek a historical cemetery out. Do some research online to find the oldest cemetery in your area.
When you get there, you can walk around, read the names and ages, and learn about people from centuries before. Maybe you’ll discover a long-lost relative. Or, if you have distant ancestors that lived in your area, you can look them up here and actually visit their grave.
4. Try a New Type of Outdoor Activity
From kayaking to skiing to paddleboarding to flying a kite, there are all kinds of outdoor activities to have a go at. Check out the outdoor sports available in your area! Here are some ideas to give you a start.
5. Explore Something Historical and Abandoned
Besides historical cemeteries, you can probably find plenty of other historical or abandoned places to explore in your city.
It is important to traverse something that is open to the public and safe to walk through. Make sure to bring companions unless you are 100% sure your destination is safe to explore alone.
6. Take a Hike
Find a beautiful location nearby where you can go for a hike! Whether you live in the middle of a bustling city or in the middle of nowhere, there is always some beautiful nature to enjoy. Find a new trail or path that you have never explored before.
This website is a good place to start, but it probably does not have all the hikes in your area. There are most likely dozens of hidden trails near you waiting to be explored. Search nearby woody areas or lakes and see what you can find!
7. Road Trip…In Your Own Town
Plan a road trip to visit the most popular tourist destinations — all centered around your town. From bizarre-looking fire hydrants to beautiful lake views, every town has something worth seeing. Research tourist destinations near you and plan a route to go see them. Make stops along the way for coffee and snacks (as if you’re on a real road trip.) And, if you want to take it to the extreme, end the day with camping in your home.
8. Find the Highest Rated Restaurant in Your Town and Eat There
It has the best rating for a reason, right? If you have never been, now is your chance to give the ‘best’ restaurant in town a visit! Head out with your friends, partner, family, or just yourself (with a good book, of course.) Also, make sure to ask the server what the most popular meal on the menu is. That way, you are truly having the ‘best’ experience.
9. Go Somewhere in Town You Have Never Been
This idea goes hand in hand with road-tripping, except it is more of a one-stop kind of adventure. Pick a place at random on a map and go check it out. Try something completely new or out of your comfort zone.
10. Get Lost on Purpose
Drive, walk, or bike around your neighborhood until you get lost. Getting lost will let give you the opportunity to discover something wonderful and new. If you want a little help getting lost, try this app! It will lead you on a walk with random instructions (take a right, walk east, etc.).
Whatever you decide to get up to, try to fully embrace the novelty of adventure. As Dr. Seuss once said, “You’re off to Great Places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting, so… get on your way!”
