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The Year of MicroAdventures

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Last year I took my mega trip around the Upper Peninsula in Michigan. It was an amazing trip, and I am so glad I did it. I also added a bunch more places I want to visit. This year I am focusing on microadventures. Making the most of my time after work and the weekends. I want to explore the area that I live and see everything I can.

While I was driving to Michigan I found the podcast Will to Wild from REI. One of the episodes I listen to was with Alistair Humphries about Microadventures. This is something that I do frequently, but never thought about it has a micro adventure. MicroAdventures doesn’t have to be something big and planned out. Some of my favorite adventures and trips are ones where I was going with the flow and didn’t have any time restrictions. (plus taking the back roads is my new favorite thing to do.)

What is an Adventure?

Adventure: an unusual & exciting experience or activity. Taking each experience, regardless if you know the outcome or not, and facing it head on.

Mini Adventure/Micro Adventure: an experience of trying new things or going somewhere new. It can be as simple as going on a night hike or walking home from work instead of driving or taking a new route home. Something that you could do on your lunch hour.

According to Humphries, a mini adventure should be: be close to home, be easy & achievable, be affordable, be exciting, occur outdoors, something I wouldn’t normally try to create memories.

My Definition: MicroAdventures is doing something new and reexperiencing things I have already done and making the most of my time.

Rules/Guidelines for Microadventures

“Adventure is a loose word that means different things to different people. It is a state of mind, a spirit of trying something new and leaving your comfort zone. Adventure is about enthusiasm, ambition, open-mindedness and curiosity.” -Alastair Humphreys

My Rules

  • Visit, try, or go to something every week. Peoria has so much to offer, but there has to be an open-mindedness to want to try new things.
  • It doesn’t have to be expensive.
  • Getting suggestions from others is a MUST! When I am traveling and I stop, I always ask a store owner or bartender what is something I should do before leaving that is unique to the town.
  • Look for the unusual. I got this idea from The Lost Alpothecary by Sarah Penner. One of the main characters went mudlarking. The guide said look for the unusual.
  • Be in the moment. This goes along with the looking for the usual because I feel if I am rushing to do something or to check something off my list I am going to miss stuff.
  • Have fun! obviously.

Benefits of Micro/Mini Adventure

This is going to be an ongoing list because I haven’t done a lot of microadventuring. Plus, I want to be more in the moment. Not focusing on the future or the past.

  • cost effective
  • convenience
  • variety
  • physical & mental benefits
  • connection to nature – One of my favorite things about hiking is being in nature. I am able to be in the moment. My hiking bag always has a notebook and pen to write down new ideas or thoughts. I love to journal things out as well. I am able to be in a spot where I can write freely, and not have to worry about someone reading it.
  • personal growth
  • quality time with loved ones
  • unique experiences
  • flexibility
  • adventure & excitement
  • explore & surroundings ( I don’t like the word surroundings but I want to be something to describe local)

Eco-Friendly Adventure Ideas, Challenges & Experiences

Tag – Veggie Vagabonds & other posts I like from them; Mamabear Outdoors; Begin to Adventur

-Beginner’s Adventure Ideas:

  • Spend the day outside
  • Go Off-Roading
  • Watch the sunset/sunrise (include favorite places)
  • Go to the park
  • Go for a hike (LINK MY FAVORITE PEORIA TRAILS)
  • Go Geocaching
  • Shop local
  • Take a scenic drive
  • Go to Farmers Markets
  • Take a lunch time walk

One Day Adventures:

  • kayaking
  • bike-riding: I want to do the whole trail from Dunlap to Washington (?)
  • Go to the tallest peak in your county/region
  • go for a night hike
  • Check out all the obscure things (Altas Obscura)
  • Go geocaching
  • Take a scenic drive
  • Drive a historical byway (LINK IL river Road)
  • Explore a state park
  • Take a survival class

Weekend Adventure

  • Visit the closest State or National Park
  • Plan a 3-day backpacking trip, starting & finish from your home
  • Float a river
  • Hop around to different historical landmarks in your area
  • Photojournal:
  • Scavenger Hunt

Adventure for City-Dwellers

  • Get on public transportation and get off at each stop. Explore the area
  • Walk along each street in your downtown
  • Visit a new neighborhood

-Overnight Adventures:

  • Stargaze or something unique going on at night – eclipse,
  • Primitive camping: but I love what mamabear outdoors calls it – Wild Camping.
  • Car camping
  • Backyard camping

Challenges

I love challenges because most of the work is done for me. Here are some challenges that I plan on going doing or or found from research.

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