30 Adventures to Try ASAP
10 Adventures to Start Out
Is the idea of ‘adventuring’ new to you? Don’t worry at all! These 30 Adventures to try ASAP (as soon as possible) will take you to new places and let you explore like you never dreamed imaginable. But are you wondering, ‘Why should I adventure anyway?‘ Start out with the suggestions below, and then watch as your Adventure Bucket List starts growing to bigger, better adventures. No matter where you are, never stop adventuring.
Park Date
Park dates don’t have to be boring! If you frequent your local park a lot, try switching it up by visiting different parks around your county. Make your park visit into a treasure hunt or game for a special bonding time between you and your kids. Food is pretty much essential for a good adventure, so always pack snacks for the park date. Create a kid friendly food-board if the inspiration strikes, or smack together the PB+J for a quick bite so the kids can get back to playing 🙂 Park Dates are also great meeting places for a walk with the husband, or a catchup run with the girlfriends.
Trail Walk/Run
Depending on your location, you may be blessed with miles of gorgeous trails up and down coastlines, around mountain bends, or along the river. Or, depending on your location, the ‘trail’ might look like the local highschool track. Look for trails near you where you can get out for a quick walk or run, either with your kids, or by yourself.
Bike Ride
Biking is a great way to get around an area and see new places. Whether you’re exploring your home town, or trying out a new place for vacation, pedaling around the area lets you notice things you wouldn’t see if you were driving. One thing I love to do is to ride around to coffee shops, libraries, ice cream parlors, or local farm stands for fresh produce. If the whole family is riding together, search for paved or gravel trails, especially if you have little bikers.
Horse Back Riding
Get a little closer with nature and step onto a thousand pound animal for a ride around the farm or into the woods. Horses are (mostly) gentle beasts that are kind to their riders. Trail Horses are especially good for beginners as they have been trained to carry novice riders. Don’t be scared! Saddle up and feel like a western cowgirl as you feel the rhythm of the horses hooves below you.
Jog in the rain (feels really good!)
I’ve always loved working up a really good sweat. Pair a hot summer day with a casual jog and the taste of accomplishment feels really good. Or a gloomy day with gray skies, but the great outdoors are begging you to come out. Sweating while running, and then getting ‘rewarded’ with a shower from heaven is like a special gift. Be it a stray rain cloud, or a constant drizzle from start to finish, getting wet while running is liberating. I feel like a little kid again splashing through puddles. It’s so fun.
Day at the Lake
Lake days can be chill, relaxing, and refreshing, or straight up gnarly (if you’re already enjoying the “crazy” adventures like wakesurfing or wakeboarding). Start out easy by packing a picnic lunch, some toys for the kiddos, and a lawn chair for relaxing. Enjoy the breeze, watch the boats float by, and count your blessings. Not all adventures mean you’re exhausted by the end of them.
Beach Day
I LOVE beach days! I have fond memories of getting up early (I grew up about 3 hours from the beach), driving for hours, stopping at a gas station for bathroom breaks and cold drinks, then hitting the sand. We’d lie there for hours, occasionally hopping in the salty water for a swim. We’d get fried, have a grand time, then drive 3 hours home:) Don’t let distance or kiddos stop you from enjoying the beautiful ocean! Make it a weekend trip or week vacation to make it worth the drive if you live farther from the beach. Everybody needs to enjoy the ocean at least once in their lives
Treasure Hunt your Grocery Store (Kid friendly)
This one’s specifically for the kids, and you get to be the coordinator that hands out the prize at the end. Make a list of things for the kids to find at the store. Can be practical by having them shop for your week’s groceries, or simply put together a list of fun things for them to ‘hunt’ for. Have a ‘treasure’ at the end such as chocolate ice cream bars or donuts. Or fruit of course for a healthier option 🙂
Visit local creameries, take the kids or your grandma
Ahh, sweet treats. Local, hand dipped, farm-milk, ice cream parlors are the absolute best! Sweet, cold, creamy, refreshing, memorable. Make it an extra special trip by inviting the grandparents or taking the neighbors’ kids with you. Visiting the Lancaster area? You must try these amazing creameries.Try New Cuisine
We all have our restaurants that we crave, but have you ever considered that you might fall in love with Thai Peanut Noodle Soup? Or your tastebuds could never thank you enough for trying Himalayan Curry? You don’t know what you are missing when you just go with what you know. Try something different, step out of the box, and explore new cuisines! I promise you, it will feel like an adventure by itself.
10 Adventures to Step it Up
You’ve done a few adventures, and you know you like trying new things and exploring new places. Take your adventure to the next level by trying these activities solo, or with loved ones.
Adventure Hike
Adventure hikes are more than a walk in the park or along a gravel trail. Trail hikes should have elevation, interesting sights and sounds, and perhaps wild creatures. Pick a trail that’s a few miles, and enjoy the hike.
Corn Maze or Escape Room
Get lost, on purpose! These activities require thinking, strategy, and communication. Best done in groups, but could also be tried solo. If you diddle daddle too long… you might just not make it out.
Stand Up Paddle Board
SUP’s are not the smallest thing to tote around, but oh the places you can see on your Stand Up Paddle Board. My husband and I recently purchased an inflatable SUP, and I forgot how much I loved it! It’s stable enough that our toddlers can sit on with an adult as well. Start out with slow water such as a pond or lake and explore the unknown!
Canoe or Kayak
Canoes and kayaks are another great way to adventure on the water. Ride the river, or float around the lake, canoes and kayaks let you explore, enjoy the outdoors, and get a workout in. Find places to rent at first to see if it’s a purchase that fits your lifestyle.
Indoor Rock Climbing
Rock climbing is a fun, adventurous sport that has taken off over the past few decades. Now there are indoor climbing gyms around the world, besides the natural rock formations that are climbed outside. Get a taste of the sport by starting at a local gym. Check out a beginners course, or simply grab the holds and see how far you can get up the boulder. It’s not too difficult, because even our 2 year old can do it!
Dance Lessons
Dancing is a form of communicating. Maybe you inspire your heart at home with impromptu dance sessions in the kitchen, but how about dancing at a wedding? At a club? At your neighbors 30th birthday party (and she’s got the moves!)? Get out of your comfort seat and learn dance from professionals. Dancing with confidence is liberating and exciting.
Geocaching (World Treasure Hunt)
What is geocaching anyway? It’s a world-wide scavenger hunt! Treasures hidden all over the map (literally) for you to go and find! In your hometown, your vacation spot, or visiting Grandma and Grandpa’s farm. Download the app, and go explore! Kids love this too!
Roller Skating
Throw back time! But don’t throw your back out! Loosen up, put on the skates, and rock and roll to some oldies music. Roller skating is a fun activity that’s different from the norm, but lets you get out there, meet some people, and get active.
Slack Line
Yoga helps, but is not required for this activity. Slacklining entails hanging a long piece of webbing from two strong endpoints, usually trees or buildings. The webbing stretches as weight is put on the line, making it difficult to stand on or walk across. This activity builds core strength, balance, and focus.
Color Run or Glow in the Dark Run
Running might be your most favorite past time ever, orrrrr it might be that thing that someone has to pay you to do! No worries. There’s so many ways to make running fun and entertaining. A Color Run is when you get splattered with paints as you run the road, and glow in the dark run is a party of black and glow. Get in a run, have fun, and done!
10 Adventures to Get Crazy
These expeditions may or may not require additional tools, resources, or finances. You know you love to adventure, and you’re always looking for more! A bike ride is just a bike ride now, you need mountains or obstacles to overcome. You’ve always loved heights, but you want to see how much you can really stomach! Come on, Mama! Let’s go adventure!
Wakeboarding, Water Skiing, or Wake Surfing
These sports require a motor boat in the water, but are soo fun! If you have the chance to try it, do not pass it up! A little scary starting out, but completely liberating once you learn to ‘fly’! Resorts and lakes have rentals, or perhaps a friend or family member has a boat. I’m speaking from experience – you’ll want to try this!
Rock Climbing Outdoors
Once you’ve hit the gym, it’s definitely time to take your climbing outside! While certain areas are known for the best rock climbing, there are often smaller walls that can be found locally. Check out these climbing spots around the Lancaster area.
White Water Rafting
Time of year and location are two prerequisites for a grand time rafting, but again, take this opportunity when you get it!
Bungee Jump
For very serious adventure-seekers, bungee jumping is a thrill-fest! I did it, I’m alive. Go live a little.
Sky Dive
After bungee jumping, skydiving felt like a walk in the park. But seriously, you’re fully strapped to a professional, they push you out of the plane, you don’t have time to think about it. The biggest step is getting on the plane – they’ll push you off.
Mountain Biking
There’s biking on a trail, and then there’s mountain biking. Up and down steep terrain, through water and mud, dodging trees and boulders like a computer game, except it’s real life. Get on your bike, go ride for the thrill of it.
Scuba Diving
Breathe deep. Well, breathe controlled. Be calm, confident, and relaxed. Being submerged 60 feet underwater is not for the faint of heart, or faint lungs. You will see some of the most amazing things in the ocean deep, but you can’t freak out.
Tough Mudder or Spartan Run
Get serious, get dirty, have fun. Obstacle runs can range from fun and light, to hardcore and intense. You know you, choose your challenge. Cover ground, throw things, climb things, pull on things, it’s like a full-on playground for adults.
Canyoneering
What better way to appreciate a canyon’s beauty than right in the depths of it’s soul? Canyoneering is exploring canyons by rappelling, hiking, climbing, swimming, and by any other means that will get you out of the canyon! 🙂 Don’t worry though, you can ease into it by starting easy, then progressing to more intense canyons.
Long hiking trail like the AT or PCT
Now that you’ve walked the park, the paved railroad, and have a few day hikes under your belt, the next adventure to try is the Appalachian Trail (East Coast) or the Pacific Coast Trail (West Coast). These trails are two of the longest trails in the US, and while they’ll probably give you some blisters and backaches, they will certainly give you sights, stories and memories you will never forget!
What are you waiting for!? Get out, Go adventure!