Finding Adventure Near Your House

The realities of the work week can make us feel cooped up and stressed out. Decompression from the cubicle and the computer screen is necessary to maintain our health and mental wellness. But, where can someone go to get away from the city or suburban setting and grab a little adventure? Here are some ideas finding adventure near you.

State and Federal Parks

The United States has a great system of state and national parks that your taxes give you access to. You own them! We should use these lands for our own health and sanity. State and federal parks can be easily searched on the internet. You are never too far from one of these parks, and they provide the opportunity for all kinds of adventures, like camping, rafting, kayaking, rock climbing, hiking, or fishing. You can look at descriptions of what the park offers to customize your trip to your interests. With just a little research, you can have incredible adventures on the weekends, and most of the ideas below can take place in a state or federal park.

Hiking & Backpacking

Hiking and backpacking are great ways to find adventure.  The most incredible adventures can happen “off trail,” but it is important to asses the risks and make sure that you are not creating a dangerous situation for yourself. If you are a novice at hiking or backpacking, it is a good idea to stay on the marked trails to prevent any dangerous or life threatening situations. Always let someone know where you are going, so that, if you are lost or injured, there is someone who knows how to find you. There are several trails and trailheads that you can find with a simple internet search. There are even great hiking trails in some city parks as well. It will likely require a bit of a drive to find a trail near you, but the rewards of getting out into nature and finding adventure will be worth the drive.

Water Adventure

Rafting and kayaking are great ways to get into nature, get the heart beating, and increase your adrenaline level. It is important to understand that rafting and kayaking can be dangerous, and even life threatening, if you do not know what you are doing. It is important to go with a guide that knows how to direct you and help you in case of an emergency. There is nothing quite as exhilarating as riding on a piece of plastic or rubber through raging white water. These activities do not only have to happen on raging waters. You can raft, tube, kayak, or canoe on calm lazy rivers too. If you have never tried it, you should research if there are any rivers near you that are usable for rafting and kayaking, and then find a reputable company to take you out on your adventure. There are many companies now that have man-made practice rapid generators for kayaking practice. So you may not even need to leave your city to start finding adventure.  

Rock climbing

This is an adventure that can be done in the city or the country. Many cities have indoor rock climbing gyms that will allow you to get the adventure in a controlled setting. Just like many of these other activities, it is important that you know what you are doing, or that you go out with someone who knows what they are doing. It is not good enough to tie a rope around yourself with a square knot and think that you will be safe if you fall from 20 feet. Make sure you have the right ropes and equipment, and make sure that you know how to properly use it before you get too high off of the ground. The start up cost of climbing is pretty high, so it is often a good idea to go to an indoor gym, go out with a friend who has the equipment already, or look for a good climbing guide company that can outfit you. There are few better functional fitness options than rock climbing, and it is a great may of finding adventure.

Whatever you decide to do, please be careful. If you don’t know what you are doing, then go out with someone who does. It is worth the time and money to get out into nature and start finding adventure from time to time. We hope that you will find a good way to recharge and decompress.