| Adventure travel is becoming more popular all the | | | | Find and summit the highest peak in your state. |
| time. It can be very expensive, though, and even | | | | This might be less-than-adventurous in some |
| a bit too dangerous for some of us. It doesn't | | | | states, but it will at least be an excuse to get |
| have to either, though. Here are a few ideas for | | | | outside and get some good exercise. Be sure to |
| small adventures you can afford. They are | | | | bring your camera for the summit shot. You |
| followed by a definition of adventure that will help | | | | might try the highest point in the next state over |
| you add your own to the list. | | | | for your next adventure trip. |
| Try treasure hunting. Rent or buy a metal | | | | Investigate and find the nearest hidden swimming |
| detector and spend a relaxing but interesting | | | | holes. The best ones are ones that require a hike |
| weekend finding coins, jewelry and | | | | to get to. Watch for people heading down a trail |
| who-knows-what in the sand at the beach. No | | | | with swimsuits and a cooler. Nobody hikes in |
| beach nearby? Look up the historical records for | | | | swimsuit and drags a cooler into the woods, |
| your town, to see where old picnic grounds were. | | | | unless there is water involved. |
| Treasure hunters regularly find old coins at places | | | | Play Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn. Locate the |
| like these. | | | | nearest river that is large enough and has some |
| Take climbing lessons. Whether this is on Mount | | | | public forest. Then build a raft from dead trees |
| Ranier in Washington, or Mount Washington in | | | | and float downstream for a day. We usually |
| New Hampshire, it's sure to be an adventure. At | | | | started by hiking upstream for an hour or more, |
| least it will be more exciting than my trip up a | | | | so we could float back to the car. |
| local sledding hill with my ice-axe and crampons. | | | | A vagabond trip. Pack enough clothing and snacks |
| Travel form monastery to monastery. Make it a | | | | for several days and just start driving, with no |
| spiritual adventure or just relax. Most monasteries | | | | destination in mind. Who knows where you'll end |
| take in visitors, and usually have reasonably priced | | | | up, and what you'll discover. Pack a tent or camp |
| accommodations. The Buddhist ones in particular | | | | in your car to keep it really affordable. |
| are most often in beautiful places. | | | | That last one is a classic adventure trip in my |
| Do a hot springs tour. This is for those who live in | | | | book. Adventure is any activity you engage in |
| the west. Get a guide to hot springs or copy | | | | that is new to you and doesn't have a predictable |
| directions off the internet. Bring swimming suits | | | | outcome. It doesn't need to be dangerous to be |
| (optional at some, for the more adventurous), | | | | interesting and fun, and could even include a trip |
| towels and a cooler full of refreshments. Want | | | | to the nearest large city for a weekend tour of |
| more adventure? Seek out the ones that you | | | | the nightclubs. Of course, depending on the places |
| have to hike into the wilderness to find. | | | | you choose, this could be fairly dangerous |
| The Cheapest Adventure Travel | | | | adventure travel. |