Just because your life involves a 9-5 and you live in a suburb doesn’t mean you can’t have frequent adventures. For the most part, my days consist of laundry, cooking, cleaning, hitting up the McDonald’s drive through, and teaching my toddler how to put on his own underwear. What I love and share though is that I do try and do something every day. Even if just for 30 minutes, I always make sure we get some vitamin D, an energy burner, and brain-stimulation. Here are some ideas for quick and easy adventures:
1- Use a mode of transportation other than your car. Little ones love riding the bus or train! In downtown Dallas, there’s a free trolley line that my son can’t get enough of! I also try to go running and biking often. If anything, I am always surprised how refreshed I feel after just walking around our block.
2- Support Local Shops. What are your favorite boutiques in the area? The best home decor stores, restaurants, or nursery’s? We love hitting up historic downtown squares, Bishop Art’s District, Deep Ellum, and farmer’s markets for unique places to shop and eat.
3- Swim in natural waters. I mean, swimming in a pool is great too, but swimming in natural waters feels more free. Here in Dallas, there aren’t many options for jumping in a wild river, but, we don’t have to drive too far to find it. E.g. Little Elm Sandy Beach and Ray Roberts Lake State Park. Do you have a lake or river near you? Or the ocean! Consider yourself very lucky if you live within a short driving distance of the ocean!
4- Put down your phone. Disconnect. Let your kid lead. Take your time. Breathe in your surroundings. I find myself missing beauty way too often because my nose is stuck in a screen.
5- Pick your phone up! Take advantage of the internet and the blessing it is. Look up things to do near you. Is there a museum or historical marker you’ve never visited? What are the top rated things to do in your area? Playing tourist in my own city is one of my very favorite things to do!
6- Connect with people. Is talking to strangers scary for you? It’s super scary for me! Sometimes, talking to people who aren’t strangers is scary for me! Why do we do that- get scared to talk to other human beings? However, usually after one or two sentences of braving it, something good happens. I ALWAYS feel more fulfilled after talking to someone than I do when I’ve ignored my friends and the people around me. As a bonus, ask these people what they like to do and where they like to go! There’s a good chance you’ll find something new!
7- Change your perspective on adventure! People might see my stuff and think “she went to the park down the street and calls it exploring?” Yup! That’s how I stay sane between our infrequent grand adventures. There is seriously beauty all around and I can’t get enough of it. Finding a cool place to watch the sunset, making goals to try every taco in the city, taking my son on a bike ride. These things are realistic! and exciting! There’s no need to compare your ride on the bus downtown to someone else’s ride in a helicopter over the Grand Canyon if the ride on the bus was exciting for you. Embrace it! When I planned this post, I actually didn’t think of this number 7. As I’m sitting here typing though, the words are flowing passionately. I get that I am not “the most” well traveled, experienced, hard-core adventurer, but that doesn’t mean that I shouldn’t view my life as exciting and adventurous. I hope I can help you recognize the great opportunities that you have in your own backyard. Take advantage of them. and let me know what they are!
I love it! I think most people are terrible about getting so excited about grand places far away that they close their eyes to what is right out their back door!