Going on an adventure doesn’t have to be an epic, once a year experience. You don’t need to tackle a 6 month thru-hike on the Pacific Crest Trail or embark on an around the world trip to every country on the planet.
Adventures can be as simple as trying something new that you have always wanted to try but never found the time or energy for. The beauty of adventures is that they can be found everywhere if you look hard enough.
These outdoor adventures range anywhere from mixing up your daily routine to taking a leap out of a perfectly good plane with a parachute strapped to your back. There is guaranteed to be something you can do to get your adventure juices flowing!
37 Everyday Outdoor Adventure Ideas
Getting the Hollywood idea of adventure out of your mind is the first step in planning an adventure of your own. Adventure is what you make it, they can be big, small, and everything in between.
1. Participate in a 5k
A 5-kilometer run is equal to 3.1 miles and with a little practice, anyone can finish one. Running is good for your health and accomplishing something you set your mind to is good for the soul. Take a look around in your neighborhood and you’re bound to find a 5k nearby.
2. Take a digital sabbatical
This may be the scariest and most difficult adventure on the list. Take a week and let your friends and family know your going radio silent for a week. Spend your time reading, taking walks, and getting to know places you normally would overlook.
3. Float a river
Best completed with a large group of friends and a cooler full of your favorite drinks. Park your cars at the end of a float and the beginning so you don’t have to hike back to the car at the end of the day. Find a river, grab your favorite floaty, and jump in and enjoy a relaxing float.
4. Go on a brewery tour
First things first, always drink responsibly and use a designated driver. Get a large group of friends together and hit up all your local breweries. This is best done a summer day with the sun shining and a great group of people.
5. Go skydiving
Jumping out of a perfectly good plane is a hard sell. Once you try it, you’ll understand the rush. There are skydiving facilities in nearly every country, make an appointment and take a leap of faith (with a reputable outfit, of course).
6. Tackle a tough mudder
A tough mudder is basically an obstacle course in the mud. There are things to climb over, climb under, climb through, and swim across, all while in the mud. Test your endurance, fitness, and strength in this extremely fun and messy race.
7. Camp on the beach
Beaches are the best in more ways than one. Camp on the beach, have a late night campfire in the sand and wake up to the sound of waves crashing on the sand.
8. Go to the airport and buy a plane ticket to anywhere
Take a few days off of work and head to the airport. Walk up to the counter and explain to the teller that you want a flight in the next 3 hours and ask what your options are. This takes a little money, however, the possibilities are endless and the adventure is priceless.
9. Go kayaking
If you don’t have a kayak, rent or borrow one. Head out to the nearest body of water and toss your kayak into the water. Your goal is to enjoy the journey and not think about the destination.
10. Skinny dip
Safety first, don’t jump off a boat in the middle of the ocean without telling anyone. This is best attempted of a dock at the lake with a few friends that you are comfortable with. There is something liberating about swimming naked, so get in your birthday suit and get wet.
11. Take a sunrise hike
Get up super early and head to a hike that has a high vantage point to enjoy the sunrise. Time the hike so you get to the payoff just in time to enjoy a snack and the kaleidoscope of colors that come with the rising sun.
12. Tackle a waterfall hike
A long and grueling elevation gain without the payoff is both rewarding and disappointing. Do a quick google search and find the nearest waterfall and plan a day hike to enjoy one of natures most magical displays.
13. Experience an escape room
Escape rooms have been growing in popularity in the last few years, at least the ones you get out of. The concept involves a large warehouse space that is set up like a maze with different themes and you have to wander around hope to find a way out.
14. Go camping
Camping is an awesome adventure, whether you do it alone or with friends and family. You can make it as comfortable or uncomfortable as you want by choosing your location. Camping is best in the summer, however, it can be enjoyed in any season with the right gear.
15. Participate in or put on a scavenger hunt
Put a spin on your camping trip or beach day by having a scavenger hunt. You can make it kid friendly or adult oriented by the adjusting the items you search for. Scavenger hunts are a great way to get back to your roots as a curious child on the hunt for the unknown.
16. Go rock climbing
You can start small on a tree and then work your way up to a local rock wall. Climbing is a cardio and strength building workout with a little danger added to the mix. Take a class or find a tree, either way, get out there and climb.
17. Go on a bike ride
If you own a bike, hop on it and get lost. If you don’t own a bike you can rent one from a local sporting goods store. The ride can be as short or long as you choose, the important part is that you start peddling.
18. Hitchhike
To often the idea of hitchhiking is marred by the many horror movies that we have all been exposed to. Truth is, most people are pretty cool and as long as you don’t look like a vagrant and are picky about who you ride with. Hitchhiking is the adventure of a lifetime (no it won’t be your last).
19. Take a new route to work
One of the most mind-numbing parts of most of our days is the drive to and from work. Mix it up and find a bus route, ride your bike or carpool with someone want to get to know. It may not seem like a wild and crazy adventure, however, it’s a great way to mix up your routine.
20. Try stealth camping
We don’t condone illegal activities. That being said, stealth camping is camping in a place that is technically not a campground. It adds an element of risk and adventure to your evening and when done right is a great way to spend an evening while feeling like your getting away with something naughty.
21. Discover an alpine lake
Alpine lakes are mountain lakes that are hard to reach and easy to enjoy. Do a quick google search and find the nearest alpine lake and grab your hiking shoes and hit the trail.
22. Climb a mountain
Find your nearest mountain and start training. Join a climbing group and set a goal to accomplish within the next year. Depending on the difficulty of the mountain you may have to train longer, however, the feeling of accomplishment once you reach the top is hard to beat.
23. Go mushroom foraging
Mushroom foraging is a mix of hiking and a scavenger hunt. Mushrooms are a tasty treat and anytime you get your own food it’s always more rewarding. It’s super important to take a mushroom book with you to identify which mushrooms are safe to eat and which ones are not.
24. Go bungee jumping
If skydiving is a little too crazy, bungee jumping is the next on the list of adrenaline filled adventures. Strap some rubber around your ankles, close your eyes, and hold your breath… Just make sure to open your eyes to enjoy the view.
25. Learn how to sail
Depending on where you are, there should be a sailing club near you. Contrary to popular belief you don’t have to be a millionaire to enjoy sailing. It’s the classic form of boating and there is a special feeling when the wind fills the sails and you’re at the helm.
26. Enjoy a night hike
The best time of year is when the moon is full and there is no rain in the forecast. Find your favorite trail, pack your headlamp, and head out! Taking a night hike is a completely new way to experience your favorite trail.
27. Try your hands at spelunking
Yea, we know, it’s a silly word. Spelunking is the act of exploring the world beneath your feet, an easier term would be caving. Find a cave system nearby, strap on your headlamp, and explore the world that lies in the underworld.
28. Mountain biking
Mountain biking never loses its cool. Head to the mountains with your bike and tackle the trails in a different way. There are hills for everything from beginners to advanced, pick your poison.
29. Go water skiing or wakeboarding
This takes having a boat or knowing a friend with a boat. Get together with a group of friends, pitch in for gas, and have a blast. If you don’t know how or have never gotten up now is the time to learn!
30. Whitewater rafting
Don’t try this one alone. There are countless excursions and adventures all over the world. Find a good guide and hit the rapids for an adventure you’ll never forget.
31. Learn how to scuba dive
The certification for scuba diving only takes a few days in the water. Enroll in a class and experience the water in a way that you never have before. The best part of learning is you don’t have to shell out massive cash for an activity you may not love, but at least you can say you’ve done it.
32. Learn how to surf
This is obviously only possible in certain places, that being said, if you ever have the chance, go for it. Surfing is the closest you can get to flying and anyone can get up with a little practice. Plus, who doesn’t have dreams of leaving the rat race and becoming a surf bum?
33. Rent a canoe
Ready for a relaxing day on the water? Rent a canoe and get to paddling. It’s a great way to enjoy a summer afternoon from the view of a small boat powered by your own arms. You might be a little sore in the morning, but it’s so worth it.
34. Experience a hot air balloon
If you are afraid of heights this may not be for you, if you are don’t keep reading. A hot air balloon ride will have you suspended thousands of feet in the air with nothing more than a basket between you and the ground. It’s a thrilling way to experience the world from a perspective that few get to see, plus it’s a great adrenaline rush.
35. Ride a stand-up paddleboard
You don’t need to take a class to use a stand-up paddleboard. Contrary to popular belief, it’s extremely easy to stand up and once you get the hang of it you can cruise the coast and explore new places.
36. Cliff jumping
Cliff jumping is a test in adrenaline and fear. Find a safe spot to leap off a ledge into a body of water. Cliff jumping is a way to mix coastal exploration with a hit of adrenaline.
37. Ride a zip line
Zip lining is screaming across the sky between the canopy of the trees. You are strapped into a chair that is suspended from a pulley attached to a steel wire and you fly through the air at high speeds. There are zip lining courses available in most places, at worst, you may have to make a weekend of it :).
Conclusion
Taking an outdoor adventure isn’t about doing the craziest thing you can think of to amass a pile of likes. It’s about doing something that you haven’t done before or don’t do very often. It’s about getting out of your comfort zone.
Outdoor adventures can be as simple as changing your route to work or as involved as planning a thru hike. No matter what type of adventure you choose to embark on, remember, enjoy the journey, therein is where the real adventure lies.
Get lost and keep wandering.
