The Smaller Explorer
  • Adventure
    • Activity
      • Camping
      • Climbing
      • Cycling
      • Expedition
      • Festivals
      • Running
      • Walking
    • Environment
      • Beach
      • Mountains
      • Nature
      • Snow
      • Water
      • Woodland
  • Explore
    • Farms
    • Garden centres
    • Galleries
    • Museums
    • National Trust
    • Parks
  • Travel
    • Responsible travel
    • Overseas
    • UK
  • Seasons
    • Spring
    • Summer
    • Autumn
    • Winter
  • Age ranges
    • Teeny
    • Primary
    • Secondary
    • Going solo
  • What’s on
  • Reviews
  • About

The Smaller Explorer

family travel and adventure

  • Adventure
    • Activity
      • Camping
      • Climbing
      • Cycling
      • Expedition
      • Festivals
      • Running
      • Walking
    • Environment
      • Beach
      • Mountains
      • Nature
      • Snow
      • Water
      • Woodland
  • Explore
    • Farms
    • Garden centres
    • Galleries
    • Museums
    • National Trust
    • Parks
  • Travel
    • Responsible travel
    • Overseas
    • UK
  • Seasons
    • Spring
    • Summer
    • Autumn
    • Winter
  • Age ranges
    • Teeny
    • Primary
    • Secondary
    • Going solo
  • What’s on
  • Reviews
  • About
Tag:

definitions

How to have an epic adventure on your doorstep
Adventure

How to have an epic adventure on your doorstep

Let’s be honest, we’d all rather be off trekking up a mountain somewhere, running halfway across some exotic country or just disappearing on a whim one weekend with a map and a vague idea of what to do. But, we’ve got small folk depending on us. So it’s hard to get out the door in under half an hour, let alone any of the above.

Plus kids are exhausting. Sometimes the thought of being extra active when you have children is just too much, and we’d admit that we’d rather be sat in front of the television watching a boxset and eating our bodyweight in biscuits. And that’s ok.

Yes, there will be occasions where some big adventures CAN happen, or you want them to, and we’ll be sure to feature them here. But this post is about challenging you to start having smaller adventures, microadventures, on their doorstep. It can be done.

Redefine adventure

What does adventure mean to you? Before children, it probably would have been something along the lines of exploring somewhere new, getting out of your comfort zone, challenging yourself mentally or physically. It can still mean the same thing after having children, it just means redefining where and what you do slightly, depending on your circumstances and feelings.

Adventure can be found everywhere. It doesn’t have to be found from trekking half way across the world. Last month, I wanted to do something different with my children, so I dipped into Jen and Ben Simpson’s book ‘Amazing Family Adventures‘, decided I wanted to circumnavigate a lake, found one half an hour away, and had a fab time with my smaller explorers. We pretended we were discovering ruins and bridges for the first time, making up stories about this new adventure.

Back in November, I took my littlest to Richmond Park, as it was deer rutting season. We took the backpack and a lunch and went ‘trekking’ into the park to see if we could get up close to the wildlife. It gave a bog standard trip to the park a different slant, and I talked about it for days afterwards.

Alastair Humphries neatly summed up slower walking microadventures by saying β€˜In the time span you have available for an adventure, you will see the fewest places if you decide to walk, but the places that you do see, you will truly see.’ The same is true when exploring with children, and seeing the world through their eyes. Everything is done at a much slower pace. Sometimes, it’s frustrating, as those five miles you wanted to cover may only end up being one mile, but that one mile is explored in great detail. Kids, then, can open our eyes up to things that we might not have seen as adventures on our doorstep. Deep, right?

Microadventure ideas

Try a night walk or run around your neighbourhood.

Visit a new National Trust and tick off some of their #50things

Wild camp in the garden

Wild camp elsewhere

Camp overnight in a bothy

Go geocaching

Try a new activity you have never done before like canoeing or climbing

Take a boat trip somewhere

Book a cheap flight somewhere for the weekend

Leave the kids at home

If you are desperate for some adventure time on your own, it can also still be done. Al Humphries’ book ‘Microadventures’ has tons of good ideas, though most are only feasible if you have a willing other who will babysit overnight or for the weekend.

But, similar to the above philosophy, if you redefine what adventure means, there is lots that is achievable close by.

Tackle a long distance path section by section.

Take a bus somewhere random, then run home.

Do a mini triathlon, including a wild swim.

Cycle home from an unknown destination using just a compass.

Challenge yourself to something new, like rowing or kayaking.

As this blog grows, we’ll focus on individual activities in more detail to give you even more inspiration and tips, and don’t forget to let us know about your own doorstep microadventures.

March 6, 2018 0 comment
0 Facebook Twitter Google + Pinterest

About

About

for families who like to explore

The Smaller Explorer is a blog for adventurous families. I search out the best of what's out there that's fun for kids AND adults (and maybe a bit of a break from the norm), plus provide lots of achievable ideas for exploring and having adventures in the UK and overseas.

What’s on

Events in June 2022

MMonday TTuesday WWednesday TThursday FFriday SSaturday SSunday
30May 30, 2022 31May 31, 2022 1June 1, 2022 2June 2, 2022 3June 3, 2022 4June 4, 2022 5June 5, 2022
6June 6, 2022 7June 7, 2022 8June 8, 2022 9June 9, 2022 10June 10, 2022 11June 11, 2022 12June 12, 2022
13June 13, 2022 14June 14, 2022 15June 15, 2022 16June 16, 2022 17June 17, 2022 18June 18, 2022 19June 19, 2022
20June 20, 2022 21June 21, 2022 22June 22, 2022 23June 23, 2022 24June 24, 2022 25June 25, 2022 26June 26, 2022
27June 27, 2022 28June 28, 2022 29June 29, 2022 30June 30, 2022 1July 1, 2022 2July 2, 2022 3July 3, 2022

Recent Posts

  • 15 simple ways I’ve reduced my carbon footprint (plus how to get involved in climate action)
  • What we did on the 30 Days Wild Challenge week 4
  • 30 Days Wild Day 30: River paddling
  • 30 Days Wild Day 29: A run in the countryside
  • 30 Days Wild Day 28: WoWo Camping

Instagram

  • I dont post photos of myself very much but Ihellip
  • I think all kids collect stuff dont they? This littlehellip
  • This week has run away from me Been super sociablehellip
  • Sycamore Gap the most photographed tree in Britian
  • Oof feeling a bit low today B is not sleepinghellip
  • happyhumpday We are half way through the week and myhellip
  • Ive just uttered the words dont throw that coconut inhellip
  • Can we go back to Northumberland please? I forgot howhellip
  • This is as good as it gets for the Lewishellip

Keep in touch

Facebook Twitter Instagram Email

Newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter so you don't miss a blog post

Trips100 - Travel Blogs
Trips100
BritMums
Lonely Planet Pathfinders badge image

About us

the smaller explorer is an online magazine for adventurous parents. We search out the best of what's out there that's fun for kids AND adults, plus provide lots of achievable ideas for exploring and having adventures in the UK and overseas.

Popular Posts

  • 1

    The best walks in London

    February 10, 2019
  • 2

    Family-friendly mountain climb at Pen y Fan, Wales

    May 30, 2018
  • 3

    Wild and remote places in the UK to explore with and without your family

    January 4, 2019

Archives

  • August 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Youtube
  • Email
  • Bloglovin

@2017 - PenciDesign. All Right Reserved. Designed and Developed by PenciDesign


Back To Top
Posting....