Do you ever feel that urge to jump on a plane and go? Here are some ways to find adventure in your own backyard.

As a professional traveler, one of the questions I get asked most often is, “What do you do when you’re not traveling?”

The simple answer to that? I never stop traveling even when I’m at home.

Travel is a state of mind. You don’t have to go far to Explore and discover. You can have adventures anywhere, whether that means trying out a new activity, doing a short hike in the countryside or rediscovering your neighborhood with friends. As long as you’ve got the curiosity, you can find adventures even in a place you’ve called home forever. 

For some of you, it may be hard to find excitement in hiking the same mountains again and again, or biking the same trails week after week. But trust me, it’s all about changing the mindset. Look for the magnificent in what could be seen as the mundane, and you’ll be surprised. You really don’t have to go far to inject some adventure in your ordinary life. 

Here are some ways to get out there and have an adventure in your backyard!

Explore Your Own Neighborhood

I have found in my travels that when I’m in a new place, even the most ordinary things and moments take on new meaning. My eyes are tuned to the frequency of wonder and awe, and every single thing becomes amazing.

So what if you looked at your own neighbourhood this way? The streets that you walk every day won’t ever be as exotic as those in a new place you’re discovering, but there’s beauty in the quotidienne that you miss when you don’t look for it.

Go for a walk without any purpose other than to explore. Step slowly and gaze carefully. Take your camera and a notebook and make sure you’re really looking beneath the surface. Enter a shop you’ve never been or turn down a street you’ve never walked before.. Don’t worry about getting lost — that’s the point.

Be a Tourist in Your Hometown

Some of you may have lived where you currently do your whole life. But there are always new spots or hidden corners that you must have missed.

Think about it: What would you recommend tourists do when they visit your hometown? When you have visitors, where is the first place you take them, to show off your community?

Where are the best restaurants, stores, beaches, hikes, or bars? Are there any new activities in town you can do, like paintball, go-karting, or Escape Room? Check your town or city’s tourist websites to find new places to explore and discover a different perspective of where you live.

Head Out to the Back Country

Ever through I was raised in a big city, I’ve grown to love the back country and I much prefer being in nature. I believe that the best adventures are always in the countryside.

My family and I try to spend all our weekends outdoors, whether that’s hiking in the mountains nearby, frolicking in the rivers or bumming around the beach. That’s one of the reasons why we chose to live in Granada, Spain — it’s just a hop away from both the mountains and the coast.

Gather a bunch of friends and explore a different hiking trail every weekend, or just head out on your own to seek out new areas you’ve never been. If you know every single trail around your home, then maybe head out further and go to new territory. Perhaps join a hiking club or biking group to explore with like-minded people — it’ll give you new perspectives.

Tick Off Your Bucket List

Have you always dreamt of skydiving, bungee jumping or paragliding? Maybe canyoning, white-water rafting or scuba diving? It doesn’t have to be an extreme adventure; just think about something you’ve always wanted to do but never had the chance to do. How about surfing, hot air ballooning or sand-boarding?

Come up with a wish list of things you want to do before you die, and pick the ones that you can do near your home. You don’t have to travel abroad to try something for the first time. The longer you wait, the less likely you are going to ever do it. You’ll be surprised by what you can actually do in your home town.

Try a New Activity

If extreme adventures are not for you, consider anything that’s new to you. It doesn’t need to be completely crazy. How about wine tasting or clamping (glamorous camping)? Maybe zorbing (pictured) or stand up paddle boarding? Go karting or paint ball?

There are constantly new activities being created, think along the lines of quirky activities like  Escape Room, wine bath or beer yoga. These can be so much fun, especially when you try them with your friends. They’ll let you feel refreshed and give you new perspectives.

Connect with New People

Meeting new people and hanging out with inspiring people in your own backyard can create wonders to your life. Open yourself up to new people and experiences will expose you to new opportunities as well. Sometimes meeting foreigners who live in your home town, or other people who love to travel just like you, can give you the sensation that you’re somewhere else in the world.

Look for meet ups in your own town on meetup.com, or search for social groups on Facebook or Couchsurfing. There are plenty of groups and clubs you can join online. Just do some research and I’m sure you’ll be connecting with new, like-minded people in no time.

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