Microadventures

Microadventures

An outdoor adventure that is “small and achievable, for normal people with real lives”

What is a microadventure?

An outdoor adventure that is “small and achievable, for normal people with real lives”

“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. If this is true, then ‘adventure’ is not only crossing deserts and climbing mountains; adventure can be found everywhere, every day, and it is up to us to seek it out.”

Alistair Humphries

Wikipedia

The term microadventure was made common by British adventurer and author Alastair Humphreys and is defined as an overnight outdoor adventure that is “small and achievable, for normal people with real lives”. The New York Times described a microadventure as “short, perspective-shifting bursts of travel closer to home, inspiring followers to pitch a tent in nearby woods, explore their city by moonlight, or hold a family slumber party in the backyard.”

The concept is flexible enough in its definition to allow the individual to choose the location, duration, and overall scope of the adventure. Microadventures are generally considered affordable in that little to no specialized gear is required, travel costs are trivial or nonexistent, and only a minimal amount of provisions are needed for the outing. Often participants will sleep out under the stars using a bivvy bag, rather than a tent, and wild swims are actively encouraged. Microadventures have proved popular with people whose lives are busy with work and/or family commitments.

Wikipedia

Microadventure – an introduction. Alistair Humphries

Top Tips for Planning Your Microadventure

Top Tips for Planning Your Microadventure

  • Get up early while the rest of the family is asleep. Simply getting up an hour earlier may have you back from your adventure before the rest of the family is even awake
  • Embrace the weather. Don’t let a bit of rain slow you down. Remember you’re only out there for a short time so chuck on a jacket and get going
  • Plan ahead. A little bit of research can help you plan out a new route that’ll allow you to see something new and maximise your time
  • Return the favour. Encourage your partner to have their own microadventures. This’ll allow them to share in the enjoyment and you’ll feed off each other
  • Be creative and look outside the box. Something as simple as taking the family to a new beach can inspire you to explore a new rock shelf or climb over the next sand dune
  • Share your adventures with others. You never know, you may just inspire your friends or take inspiration from their adventures

Read more: Finding Adventure Again After Having Kids

Inspiration

“See the opportunities for adventures, not the constraints that get in the way”

“Sometimes all you need is to climb a simple hill, to spend time staring at an empty horizon, to jump into a cold river or sleep under the stars, or perhaps share a whisky at a small country inn in order to remind yourself what matters most to you in life.”

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