20 Ways to Find Adventure in the Everyday

For some of us, adventure evokes a sense of exciting possibility. For others, it can sound overwhelming, or maybe even a little daunting. Others might still fall somewhere in between, but adventure is often something much simpler than we make it out to be. In a literal sense, it’s a challenge, a risk, or altogether just… out of the ordinary. Put differently, it’s likely that adventure is something we each experience in our own way every day.

By its very nature, summer tends to accentuate this, shaking up our routines and recalibrating our comfort zones so that adventure can be found anywhere. It happens when we’re prompted to grow, maybe from ordinary moments, and transform the unremarkable into something that feels meaningful.

So, this season, we encourage you to lean in and follow curiosity’s call wherever it takes you. Below, we’re sharing 20 easy ways to add a dash of adventure to ordinary summer days.

1. Set aside some time to wander. Whether on a bike or on foot, let the moment lead wherever it wants to go. Psst… you could also try letting a furry friend choose your route for you.
   
2. Take the most important meal of the day with a side of sunshine! Fill a sturdy tray or serving board with your favorite breakfast items, then enjoy outdoors.
   
3. Set a “compliment quota” for yourself and offer thoughtful encouragement to as many strangers as you can throughout the day.
   
4. Get a new view of your city or town. Find an overlook, valley, or bridge to give you a different perspective of home.
5. Organize a themed gathering or outing, like a social in honor of National Ice Cream Day or a tour of the best dumplings in town.
   
6. Set yourself up to say yes whenever curiosity calls by keeping your “adventure tools” all together. For example, this trinket dish keeps your keys, cash, and other necessities ready to play.
7. Enjoy a movie outside at a drive-in theater, local event, or in your own backyard.
8. Try on outfits or clothing items that are outside of your normal style. Better yet, let a friend or store employee style you—just for fun.
9. Find a quick, enjoyable way to document each day. You could describe it in a couple of words, take a quick photo, or collect something small to add to a scrapbook or memory box.
10. Take up geocaching, bird watching, or foraging to foster a deeper connection with nature.
    
11. Enjoy some friendly competition at a board game cafe. Tip: If there isn’t one near you, look for local events and pop-ups (like Mahjong at Magnolia) for a different way to play. 
    
12. Learn a new skill or hobby using your hands—like a project or recipe from one of our expert-led workshops.
    
13. Spend time outside at an atypical time of day for your schedule, like stargazing, hiking or walking at sunrise, or night swimming.
    
14. Grow a new variety of plant or produce in your garden. If you don’t have one, try handpicking wildflowers to put on display in a playful vase.
    
15. Challenge yourself mentally by taking a class or digging into a new genre of book or podcast.
16. Grab a blanket, a basket, and some fresh air to make any meal feel extra special as a picnic.
    
17. Make a bucket list for your hometown. Visit museums, zoos, and state/national parks near you or support local plays, artists, and shows.
    
18. Channel your inner kid and climb a tree—or take up a recreational sport with some friends.
19. Hunt for a few vintage postcards to send to faraway loved ones.
20. Give yourself a challenge for the day, month, or season. This could be as simple as taking yourself on a solo date or as ambitious as conquering your fear of heights at a ropes course.

Some of our greatest adventures can start close to home. Set yourself up to enjoy whatever comes your way with everyday items that are as playful as they are practical:

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