10 Free Hobbies to Make Your Life More Adventurous
One of our big philosophies here at the Attempt Adventure Podcast is that adventure is never out of reach. It doesn’t have to be expensive or take you far from home. In fact, if you are short on time, there are tons of fantastic activities that you can do in your own neighborhood or backyard to add a little extra adventurous spirit into your life.
Sometimes, all it takes to find adventure is a little inspiration and a little creativity. Here are a few suggestions to get your started.
Urban Hiking
You can enjoy all the benefits of hiking even in a big city. All you need are a decent pair of shoes, a map (or map app), and an adventurous spirit. There are websites that can help you plan your routes, or you can navigate towards a set destination.
Alternately, download an app like Voicemap to follow self-guided audio walking tours which can help you better explore your own city.
Some people prefer “rucking”, a fitness activity in which you wear a weighted backpack and trek long distances across your city.
Walking is a fantastic exercise, no matter how you do it. And the best part is, it’s free and can introduce you to parts of your own town or city that you never knew existed.
Read more: 10 Ways to Find Adventure in Your Own Town
Birding
While a good pair of binoculars can certainly help, all you really need to go birding are your own eyes and patience. Until you actually start looking, you might never know how many incredible birds live in your own backyard. Try to fill out your “life list” by spotting and positively identifying as many different bird species as possible. This hobby can be done entirely from the comfort of your own home but can also encourage you to get outside more and take nature walks.
Look to see if there is an Audobon Society nature trail nearby!
Get inspired: watch “The Big Year” or read the book by Mark Obmascik.
Free resources: download Cornell University’s fantastic Merlin Bird ID app and register an account with e-bird.
Photography
Nowadays, every phone comes with a decent camera, meaning that everyone has a camera that fits directly in his or her pocket. Even if you don’t have an expensive DSLR, you can practice your photography skills. After all, it’s not about the equipment, but the photographer.
Listen: S2E9: National Park Travel Photography with Robert Lowdon — Attempt Adventure Podcast
Gardening
In a recent episode of the podcast, adventurer and author Ellie Johnson spoke about gardening as a way of connecting with nature and renewing your relationship with the outdoors.
S2E15: The Barrens: Interview with Author and Adventurer Ellie Johnson — Attempt Adventure Podcast
Gardening is a great way to get outdoors, experience nature, and have a microadventure even in your own backyard. Gardening will allow you to learn about local plants and wildlife and will let you get in touch with the weather and seasons of our local area.
Volunteering
Volunteering can allow you to meet interesting new people and encounter new opportunities. Recently, I was able to volunteer my time at a sea turtle sanctuary in Thailand. The sanctuary is closed to the public, so the only way that I was able to visit was as a volunteer. If I hadn’t searched around for volunteering opportunities, I never would have had the chance to get up close and personal with sea turtles!
Volunteering can also help you get to know your local area and people as well.
Learning a new Language
Language is a passport.
Listen: S2E8: Language as a Passport: Language Adventures and Israeli Religious Law with Kyle Desrosiers — Attempt Adventure PodcastIt allows you to open doors, connect with others, and get an inside glimpse into a culture.
Language learning is free! There are tons of amazing resources available in the forms of apps such as Duolingo, or even teachers on YouTube.
Blogging
Start your own travel blog. If you want, you can even leave a comment and a link here for others to check out! Please only link to blogs that have to do with travel or adventure!
Blogging doesn’t have to be an expensive hobby. You can create a free blog on Blogger or Wordpress, and start writing today. A blog is like a digital travel diary. Keeping a travel blog is a fantastic way to record your experiences and memories as you travel around the world.
Writing to a Penpal
Writing a penpal can give you an inside look at a faraway country. While the idea seems old-fashioned, there are in fact modern ways to write penpals. One of my favorite resources is the app Slowly. Although digital, Slowly allows you to connect with people from all around the world. New connections earn you new stamps (you can earn new stamps by befriending people from different countries), and the messages are delayed to simulate the wait one must go through before receiving a sent letter.
Resources: Slowly (penpalling app) Slowly - Connect to the World!
Stargazing
Even the largest cities have places not so far away where one can view the stars. Stargazing has been a hobby for people for thousands of years! All you need is a relatively dark sky (some bright stars and planets can be visible even in the brightest city!) and some patience.
There are several free apps available online that can help you identify the stars and planets that can be seen with your naked eye.
If you have a bit more time, try paying a visit to your nearest dark sky spot. You’ll be amazed at the incredible sky you can see when the lights of the city are far away.
Geocaching
Geocaching is an outdoor treasure-hunting game where players use GPS coordinates to locate hidden “caches” containing items left by other players from around the world! It’s an exciting way to explore unfamiliar places while also connecting with people from all over the globe.
All you have to do is to download the official Geocaching app on your phone, and you can start exploring your local area instantly.
Resources: Official Geocaching mobile app: Geocaching® mobile apps
