I’m drawn to the magical. Places that are beautiful, peaceful, exciting, jaw-dropping…someplace that inspires me and makes me feel happy to be alive. Aren’t we all? What makes you feel that way? How often do you go to someplace that makes you feel so vibrantly alive?
While time and money are 2 of the biggest factors in holding us back from having the trips of our dreams, there are smaller action steps we can take that will help keep us inspired.
Adventuring at Home!
Summer and Fall are perfect times of the year for just getting out and seeing what’s happening in your own hood.
Make a list of all the nearby places suitable for day trips from your home town, then print your list and hang it on a visible place. That way you will always have ideas for where to go in your day-off or for the weekend.
Google and search for things to do and see in your region, you may be surprised at what you find. Another tip would be to take full advantage of the time you have on weekends, instead of leaving Saturday morning leave Friday night to get an extra few hours of daylight on Saturday to explore your destination.
To find more opportunities to explore your own backyard find your local bloggers who can keep you up to date with new activities and major events, follow your local chamber of commerce or downtown partnership for “themed” weeks coming up, or Google whatever activity you’d like to try. If you Google “hiking Sacramento” you find so many amazing trails all within an hour drive.
Serene parks, amazing festivals and foodie delights may be waiting for you just down the street! Take the plunge and try something new in your city every weekend. Ask friends, follow local social media accounts and check out your local tourism board. Walk a new trail, picnic in a park, go for a dinner cruise, do anything to get you off the couch!
You know that adage ‘explore your own backyard‘ ? Isn’t it true that there are things to do in your area, maybe even famous things, that you have never done? Do them! Choose a random area by closing your eyes and putting your finger on the map, or list.
Say YES to new opportunities and activities. If someone invites you to try something new, go! You never know what you might discover. It might even end up becoming a hobby for you, but you won’t know unless you try. Look at social coupon sites like Groupon, SoFar or LivingSocial to see what kind of activities there are nearby. AirBnB has a local activities addition now! Adventure is within footsteps if you just look for it.
Travel doesn’t have to mean going somewhere far away. The adventure of exploring the unknown that comes with traveling is what makes it exciting, and you can do that anywhere.
Be more mindful: of what you have, what you do, what you say, of yourself! You can have more adventures, big or small, and enhancing the world around you by simply clearing your mind and looking at things from a different perspective!
