There’s nothing better than packing a bag, hitting the road, and waving goodbye to the humdrum of the everyday. Indeed, could there a more exciting way to spend a week or two than by traveling? If there is, we sure haven’t heard of it. And perhaps the best part of traveling is that there’s no one single way to do it. It takes many different forms, and there are few rules; if you’re experiencing a new destination, then you’re traveling! If you’re looking for some inspiration for your next trip, then take a read below. We’ve put together some fun and adventurous ways to see the world that you might not have thought of before.
This is a contributed post and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Meet The Harris Family.
Step Outside of the Comfort Zone
If you’ve been traveling for a few years, then you’ve probably got into something of a routine about the way you travel, the type of destinations you like to visit, and so on. For your next trip, why not have a think about mixing up your way of doing things, by stepping out of your comfort zone? If you’re usually found at a stunning beach destination, then consider spending a few days in a city next time you take a trip. You lose nothing by changing your scene slightly, and indeed have much to gain.
Explore Your Area
We tend to think of adventure as always existing somewhere *over there*, just beyond the horizon, or essentially anywhere that is different from our home area. But to someone else, a person who doesn’t live where you live, your area probably seems pretty exciting! So put on a different type of glasses for a second, and have another think about the land that you call home. Are there attractions and destinations there that you haven’t visited before, places that you’ve driven past countless times but never really looked at? If so, get to know your area – it’s cheaper, and you can do it on the weekend.
Hit the Road
When most people think of traveling, they usually imagine that there’ll begin their trip navigating airport security lines and boarding a plane. But remember: people have been traveling for thousands of years without those metal birds in the sky. In any case, traveling overland, while slower, is much more fun. It’s all about the journey, not the destination! And if you’re going to take a road trip, then the US might just be the place to do it; some of the world’s greatest routes are found here. Invest in a reliable car or motorcycle – you can browse vehicles here – and begin preparing for your trip. You’ll see beautiful sights, meet fellow travelers, and feel the magical freedom of the open road. Life doesn’t get any better.
On the Seven Seas
We may have called ‘earth’ the wrong name. Take a look at the map, and you’ll see that the majority of it isn’t earth at all, it’s water! And truly, there’s nothing quite as inspiring as taking a trip on the ocean. We know that cruises aren’t for everyone, but if you’ve been keeping them at arm’s length, it might be time to have a rethink, because there’s a different type of ship journey for everyone. Whether it’s rolling through the Arctic waters or cruising the sun-kissed Mediterranean, you’ll discover the magic of looking up at a star-filled sky, knowing that all the chaos of the world is far behind you.
Culture Shock
When it comes to traveling, most people have a reasonable expectation of what they’ll find when they land. If they’re staying on the same continent, then they be confident of what they’ll find; the differences will be in degrees, nothing overly major. But when you leave the comforts of your home continent, these expectations are thrown out of the window. Things can be very different indeed, which is a bewildering experience. It’s not always fun but is exciting, and you always come out the other side a little more knowledgeable and experienced. If this sounds attractive to you, then go ahead and book a flight to Mumbai, or Bangkok, or Tokyo; you won’t know what’s hit you.
Into Nature
There are certain things you need when you travel. You want to have comfort, clean water, culture, friendly people, and so on. But if you’re only ever visiting those places that man has conquered, then you’re going to be missing out on the bulk of your home planet! For your next trip, consider taking a trip into nature, which is beautiful in all its forms. Whether it’s taking a tour of the national parks, or simply going off-piste and seeing what beautiful tracts of land lie within your state, you’ll always be well-served by nature – providing you treat her with respect. And, there are also plenty of other benefits to spending time in nature too, such as improved mental and physical well-being.
Stay for a Longer Time
There’s one obviously sad thing about traveling: we have to return home, and it’s usually pretty soon after we’ve arrived, too. But what if you could get to know a place over a much longer period? Well, maybe you can. There’s a growing travel movement called “slow travel,” which involves staying in one place for around a month. Instead of seeing nine or ten places in that time-frame, you see only one, getting to know it in a much deeper way in the process. Of course, this isn’t possible for everyone – but if you have a job that you can remotely, then take a look at long-term accommodation bookings (homes/apartments are much better for this purpose than hotels) and get going.
Attending an Event
And then there’s the art of traveling with one specific event in mind. Love NFL? Build your next travel trip around the Superbowl. Love music? Then hit up Glastonbury in the UK, and explore the country at the same time. Doing this will give you a unique insight into a local culture, and also make two of your dreams come true with one trip. Nice!
