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