You don’t have to travel thousands of kilometres to have an adventure.
Sometimes you only need to turn down a road you’ve never taken before.
Most of us know our own little corner of the world surprisingly poorly. We drive the same roads, shop in the same places and visit the same favourite spots. Meanwhile, interesting places can be sitting an hour away — or even ten minutes down the road.
So here’s a simple challenge.
Go somewhere you’ve never been before.
Start Close to Home
You don’t need to plan a holiday.
Look at a map of the area around you and find somewhere unfamiliar. Perhaps there’s a small town you’ve always bypassed, a lookout you’ve never visited, a walking trail, lake, historic site or country road you’ve never explored.
Pick one and go.
Part of the fun is not knowing exactly what you’ll find.
Take the Road You’ve Always Wondered About
We’ve all driven past one of those roads.
You see the sign every time you go past and think, I wonder what’s down there?
One day, find out.
Obviously, we’re talking about public roads here — turning up uninvited at someone’s farmhouse probably isn’t the adventure we’re aiming for.
A different road might lead to a beautiful view, an old bridge, a tiny village, a peaceful picnic spot or absolutely nothing whatsoever.
But at least you’ll finally know.
Stop Instead of Driving Past
Exploring also means slowing down.
If you see an interesting sign, stop.
If there’s a lookout, pull in.
If a little town has an old bakery, second-hand shop, museum or park that catches your eye, have a wander.
Some of the nicest discoveries happen when you weren’t actually looking for them.
You Don’t Need Company
Waiting until somebody else wants to go can mean never going at all.
There’s nothing wrong with heading off by yourself for a few hours.
Take some lunch, your camera, a book or a thermos. Tell someone where you’re going if you’re heading somewhere remote, then enjoy having absolutely nobody asking when you’re coming home.
Well, apart from the dog.
Let Yourself Wander Occasionally
Modern life makes it very easy to know exactly where we’re going.
We have maps, navigation, reviews, photographs and directions before we’ve even left home.
They’re incredibly useful, particularly when travelling somewhere unfamiliar.
But occasionally it’s nice to leave a little room for discovery.
Choose the destination, but don’t plan every minute between here and there.
New Doesn’t Have to Mean Far Away
Adventure isn’t measured in kilometres.
It’s simply the experience of seeing, doing or discovering something that wasn’t part of your usual routine.
There are probably dozens of places near where you live that you’ve never properly explored.
So next time you have a free morning or afternoon, pick one.
Pack a drink, grab your hat and head somewhere you’ve never been before.
You never know what might be waiting at the end of that road.
