The basis of our gap year is the foundation of simple and inexpensive adventures we do as a family. Within this episode, you’ll discover 10 curated simple adventures that can be embarked upon with ease. From hidden trails to local landmarks, from unique flavors to thrilling challenges, each adventure is designed to ignite your family’s imagination and create lasting memories. I know this because over the past 10 months (and quite honestly past 5 years) our bustling family of five has tested these simple adventures.
Why simple adventures, you may wonder? Well, they are the perfect remedy for our busy modern lives. These bite-sized escapades offer a wonderful opportunity to escape the ordinary, to bond as a family, and to uncover the magic that lies within the seemingly mundane. They allow us to see the world through fresh eyes, appreciating the beauty in every detail and cherishing the moments shared with loved ones.
Simple Adventures, I’ve learned, are the key to unlocking the magic of everyday life. Simple Adventure brainstorming led to joy audits, which eventually led to a career break and family gap year traveling North America in an RV. From exploring nearby trails to visiting local museums, trying new activities and uncovering hidden gems in our own region. Simple Adventures infuse joy and wonder in our everyday lives.
CTA: Simple Adventure Subscription
If this episode is helping you think differently or infuse a simple adventure into your lifestyle you might enjoy the Simple Adventure Subscription. You can register at any time using the link: https://ordinarysherpa.com/simpleadv
The first 25 can use the code YES to get $2 off per month. Each week you will receive adventure tips, ideas, or support via email to help your family take small steps toward big memories.
Our gap year is based on the foundation of simple adventures. These are some of the fun and simple ways we have added simple adventures into our life slowly adding building blocks toward a more adventurous life.
- Take a different route: Grocery Store
Sometimes in the mundane of life we do what is easy. What if we changed the route. Simple things like changing your route or changing the grocery store is a path to a different perspective. Simple changes help you notice what is different. Our fun grocery store adventures is a 1:1 excursion with one of my kids and they get to choose 3 things they would like to have in to eat. - Complete a Food Rating fo some of your family’s favorite foods?
On our untourist quest to taste the best ice cream in all 50 states we rate each one based on the Overall Experience, Price, Selection, Texture, and Flavor (Quality) - Play Frisbee
As a challenge, set up a target or box and try to hit it with the frisbee, like a mini version of frisbee golf. How might you take an activity you’ve never done and create a “minimum-viable-product” version without the need to get the right things. - Explore Outdoors regardless of the weather.
Our untourist adventures Portland Maine during a rainy week led us to the Head Lighthouse which a great brown sign with a craggy beach, a lighthouse, and old abandon historic buildings. Letting my kids explore and guide our adventure was a great adventure—even while raining. Perhaps a Tip: Buy bright colored rain jackets! The contrast on a gloomy day makes for great pictures. - Watch an adventure movie or documentary
Some suggestions: Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark, Free Solo, Into Thin Air, Call of the Wild, Jungle, A Walk in the Woods, Goonies, National Treasure - Bring the outside in. Do an activity where you can add a little piece of nature to your decor for a minimum of 24 hours.
For example: Freeze blooms or grass in ice cubes, Find an interesting rock to serve as a paperweight for 24 hours - Jump around
Either on a trampoline, taking trapeze lessons or having a few jumping contests such as standing long jump or who can jump the highest. Blast the music from House of Pain and pretend you are attending a Wisconsin Badgers Football game. - Fly (something)
A kite, volunteer to crew a hot air balloon, a model airplane. - Try or Witness a unique sport or skill that most people don’t know about.
We’ve enjoyed learning how to luge on free slider search days (https://www.usaluge.org/try-luge/slider-search), watched a blacksmith create art, a folk music school teach banjo, or participate in a pyrotechnics fire art show. Learn the stories about how they became interested in the activity and honed their skills. - Take a Holiday Hike
This might be a hike in your costumes, a haunted/spooky hike around Halloween, a night hike with luminaries, Singing Carols at Christmas, Looking for bunnies and eating jelly beans, First Day of Spring flower walk
Call to Action: If this episode is helping you think differently or infuse a simple adventure into your lifestyle you might enjoy the Simple Adventure Subscription. You can register at any time using the link: https://ordinarysherpa.com/simpleadv
The first 25 can use the code YES to get $2 off per month. Each week you will receive adventure tips, ideas, or support via email to help your family take small steps toward big memories.