The great thing about nature is that, regardless of where you live, you’re never too far from a beautiful outdoor space. People seem to think that everything is built up these days, but this couldn’t be further from the truth: in the United States, it’s only in the region of 6% of the land that has been built on. Rest assured you’ll have somewhere “natural” within easy driving distance of your home. Now is an especially good time to get some outdoors in because all of the national parks are free to enter with this whole government shutdown business.
Find your squad
Everything becomes much easier if you have a core gang to explore the great outdoors. People bring different skills and attributes to the equation; it’s better (and safer) in numbers! If you don’t know anyone who has an interest in going for hikes and the like, look at a website like Meetup.com. You’ll find many groups that are dedicated to exploring the outdoors and other interests you gravitate towards. With that being said, it’s not as if every trip you take needs to be with others; there’s a lot of value in adventuring just by yourself, too.
Instead of visiting Disneyland or one of the country’s iconic cities for your vacation, why not look at spending the time on a longer nature trip. While a night or two in the outdoors is enjoyable and effective, you’ll really feel the power of Mother Nature if you spend a week or more in her company, far enough away that Postmates is unable to deliver your food. You’ll come back with plenty of ideas and energy, not to mention an even deeper appreciation of nature.
Overnight Adventures
It’s all good and well spending a few hours hiking through an area close to your home, but for the best adventures, I recommended that you spend the night. Yes, camping. There’s a lot of magic in falling asleep under starlight, and waking up to the sounds of the birds and the forest. Just be aware that this will require more equipment than what you’ll need for a day trek. With a tent, layers, cooking equipment, and the best survival tools in your backpack, you’ll be able to handle a night in the outdoors with ease. Once you’ve got your preferred way to set up camp (or glamp), you’ll find that you’re looking for excuses to sleep outdoors all the time.
