Why I Started Saying Yes to Microadventures
Hello, fellow adventurer –
I've found myself overwhelmed with trip planning lately. Don't get me wrong, flying somewhere new, exploring an unfamiliar town, visiting a national park for the first time, that's all still one of my favorite things.
It's just the logistics for me. When I'm in between bigger trips, I crave a good adventure, but not one that is as major as planning a week in a place hundreds of miles away.
So I've found myself exploring more around my home. Seeing a new park I've passed by many times, fishing in a creek that I've never seen before, or even attending a weekend group activity.
Why don't we do this more often?
What is a microadventure?
A microadventure is a short, local outdoor experience that fits within the boundaries of everyday life, an evening, a lunch break, a slow weekend morning. No multi-day commitment and no major gear investment.
The idea was shaped by British adventurer Alastair Humphreys, who argued that adventure is more about mindset than distance.
The definition is intentionally loose. What matters is that you go somewhere close to your doorstep, spend time outside your usual routine, and immerse yourself. It's flexible!
Why Microadventures work
The biggest barrier to getting outside is the logistics! Long trips require planning, time off, and coordination. Microadventures sidestep all of that. Because the commitment is small, it's easier to follow through.
Regular short outings also build something harder to quantify: a habit of noticing the outdoors. The more often you go, the more you start to see the small things like seasons shifting, light changing, places you'd otherwise drive past without a second thought.
6 Ideas to start with
Explore a spot you've never stopped at. That park, trail, or waterway you've driven past. Go there and spend at least 45 minutes.
Sunrise or sunset walk. Pick a nearby open space and time your visit around golden hour.
Grab a hammock and a meal. Find two trees by a river, in a park, or in a forested area, hang up, and enjoy lunch in the open air.
Bike to all the local coffee shops around your neighborhood. This will help you see your community and get in a good workout.
Attend an event at a local state or urban park. If your parks do anything like birding 101, music in the park, geocaching, fishing 101, and more, those would be perfect microadventures.
Kayak or paddleboard at a local lake. There's something about seeing a place from the water that just hits differently than being on land.
I’ll leave you with this
Microadventures won't replace longer trips if that's something you love (like me). They're not meant to. Think of them as the connective tissue between bigger adventures, the thing that keeps you oriented toward the outdoors even when life doesn't allow for much more.
Start small. Go once. See how it feels. You can build from there.
Happy adventuring,
