Going on an adventure doesn’t need to be the event of the year. I
mean, it could be. But for many of us, there always seems to be a reason
or excuse not to do a big adventure – that’s another story though. So
sometimes just doing something different, anything, might be enough of
an adventure for you. After all, adventure is different for everyone. So
why not start small and do one thing that you feel is a little outside
of your usual routine. A little different. Something that will excite
you and maybe even scare you a little. With some great adventure ideas
at the ready, there’s one less excuse to step out of the same old habits
and enjoy the freedom, challenge and fun that comes with every kind of
adventure, great or small. It’s there for the taking, so you just need
to go get it!
Adventure ideas for families
The
best part of adventuring with your kids is that once you get into it,
you easily end up feeling like you’re 8 again too. And often, once that
child-like imagination kicks in, the adventure doesn’t even need to be
that exciting for it to be really enjoyable for everyone.
1Explore the coastline on paddleboards
Paddleboarding
is a great way for families to explore the calm waters of secluded bays
and hidden coves together. Bring a packed lunch and you can stop for a
picnic on a deserted beach.
2Build a den in the forest
Use
whatever the forest floor has to offer to make a hideaway that the
whole family can fit into. Make it even more exciting by dressing up as
Peter Pan and his Lost Boys, or wearing camo gear and painting your faces.
3Go camping
Camping
is the ultimate adventure for kids (and adults!). The sheer simplicity
of sleeping under canvas is ‘den making’ in reality and something that
the whole family will remember forever. Read our guide to
camping with kids to help make it the best adventure for everyone.
4Hike to a waterfall
Hiking
for the sake of hiking can become tiresome for kids. But if you have
something to find then it turns it into a quest that is much more
exciting than just taking in the nice views. And if it’s hot, then bring
your swimwear for a cheeky dip once you get there!
5Build a treehouse
It
may take all year to do, but most kids (and a lot of adults too), dream
of having a treehouse to hang out in. If you don’t have access to a big
enough tree, or your building skills aren’t quite up to it, then seek
out an already built treehouse and visit it (with permission of course).
6Do a scavenger hunt
Turn
a day at the beach or a walk in the woods into a challenge of discovery
and exploration with a scavenger hunt. Invent your own or
print one of ours.
Adventure ideas for couples
Sometimes
it’s far too easy to just snuggle up on the sofa with your loved one
and not make the effort to do something different. In 5 years time, you
won’t remember that night where you spent all evening eating yummy food
and watching TV together. But you’ll most certainly remember an
adventure with your other half.
7Get up early and hike a mountain for sunrise
Sunsets
are great, but you end up sharing them with loads of other people. Make
the effort to get up early and you’re guaranteed to
enjoy a sunrise all to yourselves. Much more romantic, and you’ve still got the rest of the day for snuggling on the sofa if you want!
8Go wild swimming
Spend a summer’s day lounging on the river banks,
dipping in and out of the water
to cool off. Choose somewhere secluded and there’s no need to bother
with your swimwear at all. Or go to the other extreme and put on a
wetsuit to swim from A to B along a river.
9Climb a tree
You
don’t need to go a million miles to find a great tree to climb – if you
can’t get out into the wild, then your local park will do just fine.
Help each other up (and down), and you’re guaranteed to feel like a
little kid again. Just don’t forget to enjoy the views whilst you’re up
there.
10Forage for sloes and then make some gin
As
soon as the first frost appears, get out to the forests and hedgerows
and fill a basket full of juicy sloes to turn into delicious
sloe gin. Unfortunately it will be a couple of months until the tasting adventure begins. But it will be well worth the wait.
11Rent a rowing boat and cook your lunch on the river banks
Not
to mention romantic, exploring the river in your local town or city by
boat is also a super easy and accessible way to go on a mini adventure.
Stop on the river banks and make a meal of it by whipping up a
one pot camping meal cooked on your camping stove.
Adventure ideas for teenagers
When
you’re in it, teenage life may seem like it’s the toughest time ever,
but it’s the one time in life where the holidays seem endless and every
new day is just another opportunity to get out adventuring. Sounds like
heaven!
Whether it’s 10 or 100 miles to the beach, cycling there in a day is a great challenge. Find a secluded and
discreet spot on the beach to sleep, and you’ll be snoozing in no time after a big ride. You can fit everything you need in a small backpack or bike bags. So
pack up your bike and hit the road.
13Float down a river on an inflatable tube
Such
a classic adventure for teenagers, but it never fails to be awesome fun
and a great way to stay cool in the summer months. Attach a dry bag
full of food and supplies and you can make a day of it.
14Get the train somewhere cool and hitch hike home
Take
a day trip to somewhere you and your friends have never been before –
the nearest city, the sea, a mountain, a lake or to visit a friend or
relative. But make your journey there or back a little more exciting by
thumbing a ride.
15Go Geocaching
I
don’t know anyone that doesn’t love a good old treasure hunt, no matter
their age. And Geocaching is a really easy and accessible way to
explore new places, with the added excitement of discovering some
treasure at the end of it. So get your phones out and follow the GPS to
whatever awaits.
16Go foraging for mussels and cook them on a beach fire
This
is an ideal adventure for the cooler months. Choose a quiet rocky beach
and pick the mussels at low tide. Then warm up under a blanket around
the fire and
cook up a feast.
17Follow a stream to the river
Put
on your water shoes and swimming gear, hop into your nearest stream,
and follow it until it reaches the river (or until you can’t walk in it
any longer!). Be prepared to get pretty wet and to do some serious
scrambling through areas of dense vegetation.
Adventure ideas for adults
Adult
life can be so serious sometimes, and getting out adventuring is often
the only way we can truly switch off and let our childlike instincts
come alive again. If you think you don’t have time to be a big kid every
now and then, then maybe you need to think outside the box a little. Or
maybe just try to realign your priorities occasionally.
18Go on a night hike
If
you’re tired of the same old Friday night watching TV or going to a
bar, then get some friends together and head out into the wild for some
nocturnal exploration.
Hiking at night is a great way to stay active during the dark evenings of winter, and your non-active friends might just love it too!
19Go on a microbrew adventure
If you like to sample local ales, then take your
overnight adventure to a microbrewery
in the middle of nowhere. Tour the brewery in the daytime, then take a
bottle or two up a hill for some ‘tasting’ before you settle down for
your wilderness sleep.
20Commute in a new way
Get
some adventure into your mid-week routine by journeying to and from
work via an alternative means to what you usually do. Cycle through a
park, walk the backstreets, run, hitchhike, borrow your kids’ scooter,
skip, or roller skate. Just get there in a way that is much more fun
than the train or car.
21Hire some canoes and hit the river for the weekend
If
you’ve got some camping gear, then there is little more preparation
needed for a mini river adventure than simply renting some canoes and
stuffing all your gear into dry barrels.
Wild camp wherever you fancy and enjoying floating (
and paddling) the days away.
22Go stealth camping
Camping in the forest
with minimal gear is a great way to enjoy the quiet that getting away
from the real world brings. Brush up on your survival skills, while away
the hours with a
whittling project,
cook a delicious campfire meal, and generally disappear into wilderness life.
23Build a raft and paddle it to a deserted island in a lake or river
This is a sure-fire way of making you feel like a kid again. The sort of adventure
Tom Sawyer would love to join you on! Practise your
knots before you set sail on the raft equivalent of the Titanic, and be sure to put all your gear in dry bags – just in case.
Winter adventure ideas
Getting
out on adventures during the winter months can be a little more tricky
to do. But once you’ve done one winter adventure, you’ll realise just
how doable they are. Often part of the challenge is not just dealing
with the bad weather, but embracing and enjoying it. Being prepared with
cold weather clothing and outdoor gear will really help, but winter adventures also need to be approached with a positive mindset.
24Winter hiking
Getting
out hiking in the cold or snow is one of the more straightforward ways
of stepping into the world of winter adventures. Start with something
short and easy if you are worried about it, and read our guide on
winter hiking to get you started.
25Winter camping
In moderate winter climates where there’s little chance of snow or high winds,
winter camping
can be done with much of the same gear as during the rest of the year.
But if the conditions are less clement, then you’ll need some
cold weather camping gear and a little know-how on how to enjoy living in and on snow for a night or two.
26Build an igloo
Before
you set about building an igloo, make sure that the snow is deep
enough, and that you have a good shovel. Next, you’ll need a good few
hours, a good deal of patience and some
knowledge on how to make it.
But don’t be put off, as it is a really satisfying way to enjoy being
outside in the snow all day with a very cool result at the end of it!
27Go snowshoeing
You
can rent snowshoes from winter outfitters who will recommend local
areas that are safe to explore without avalanche safety gear or
know-how. Don’t be tempted to go exploring in high risk areas unless you
know exactly what you are doing.
28Dig out a fire pit and ice bar
If
igloo building is proving too taxing, then use your neatly cut snow
blocks to build a fire pit and seating area in your backyard. Whilst
you’re at it, you may as well build up an ice bar too… mush up the snow
on top, throw some beers in and invite your friends over for a winter
party with a difference.
29Go tobogganing
Even
if you don’t have a proper sled, there is still loads of fun to be had
sliding down a snowy hill, and a plastic bag or tea tray will work just
as well. Hiking up to the top of the hill is always well worth the
thrills and spills of the slippery high speed descent right back to the
bottom again.
30Rent cross country skis
Avoid the queues at the ski hill and enjoy sliding around at a much more pedestrian pace. Cross-country skiing is an
excellent way to keep fit during the winter and is a good way to explore the local trails. Pack a flask of hot soup and make a day of it.
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