Heading to the same destination for the 3rd year in a row? Visiting relatives in the same city every year? There’s nothing wrong with returning to a beloved place over and over again…but sometimes it can get a little stale. How can you find new adventures in the same places that you’ve been countless times before?
Is it even possible?
Growing up, we always went to the same places for vacation.
San Francisco to visit the grandparents.
Utah to visit family friends.
The beach.
Disneyland.
If you asked me if I still love going to these places, even though I’ve lost count how many times I’ve been there, my answer will be in the affirmative.
It can be so easy to fall in love with a place and, consequently, fall into a routine. The location became a favorite for a reason, so of course you want to keep experiencing everything that made it special in the first place.
One of the greatest joys of traveling isn’t necessarily the destination itself, but the experiences and adventures that are had.
Which is also why I stress that you don’t need to travel far to have an adventure.
But we don’t want to wear out a favorite destination the way we wear out our favorite song, constantly leaving it on replay.
So how CAN you find new adventures when you’re constantly returning to the same places?
How can you distinguish one visit from another, without the fear of every trip compiling into one big mashup?
Before you shake your head and dismiss these ideas as inapplicable to your situation, hear me out. Although not every idea can be customized to your experience, I’m willing to bet you can find something in this article that you can use to find new adventures!
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Theme Your Trip to Find New Adventures
If you find yourself traveling to a familiar destination and you’re worried you’ll be bored, try something new.
Create a theme for your visit. Offer yourself some variety.
Culinary – compile a list of new restaurants, foods to try, sweets to sample. Sure, you can return to the same restaurant and order your favorite, because hey – this is the reason it’s your favorite. Right? And you’re scared to try something new because what if it isn’t as good, and you feel like you cheated on your favorite dish with one that isn’t going to call you back?
Sports – are you traveling to a bigger city that has a few sports teams? Why not try to catch a few games, especially if they’re not typically a sport that you’d imagine attending? If you’re visiting a small town, especially in America, check and see if there’s a local baseball or basketball game you can attend.
History – learn more about the history of the place you’re visiting and find new adventures at some of the historically significant places. Are there museums? Road markers? Homes on a historical registry? Learn about why they’re considered for preservation, more than just being pretty!
Photography – take yourself on a physical scavenger hunt for the best locations for taking pictures. Whether it’s a colorful building, an aesthetically-pleasing tree, or a wide-open rolling hill, take your camera or phone out and start snapping some photos. You’ll see things a little differently as you’re looking through a lens.
Of course there are countless other themes you can create for your trip: crafts, fashion, art, yoga, to name just a few more. The beauty of visiting a familiar place is that you already have an idea of what will be available to you and can plan accordingly.
Create a Goal and Reach It
Goals are always a good idea to have. They give you a focus and something to work on. When visiting a familiar place, give yourself a goal that you want to work on.
Staying in the same city? Make a goal to meet 3 new people. And really meet them – not just pass names in a bar or on the street. Talk to them. Get to know them. Learn something about them.
Discover a new favorite food item. Whether it’s a dish, a dessert, flavor of chips…the culinary sky is the limit. Food memories can leave such a big impact on a trip and create delicious adventures.
Explore some of the lesser-known, lesser-traversed places. Staying in a familiar town? Try going down a new road. Heading to Disneyland again? Check out Tom Sawyer’s Island. Going to the beach? Try accessing it from another neighborhood.
Customize your goal to your location and budget. It’s always a good idea to stretch yourself to find new adventures.
Throw Your “Usual” Routine Out
We all have a routine, whether we recognize it or not. Think about it. When you went to your favorite city/destination, what did you do first? And the time before that, what did you do first?
When we fall into having a routine when we reach our destinations, it shuts the door to spontaneity. We trick ourselves into thinking that since we just have to do X, Y, and Z, that doesn’t leave much time for anything else.
Before you take off next time, give yourself a little time for reflection. Is there something you “always” have to do when you arrive? Mix it up and allow yourself to find new adventures.
Disrupt Your Timeframe
Are you an early riser? Night-owl? Do you operate better in the dead of night? Whatever your preference might be, you’re only able to have adventures during that time frame.
Try getting up earlier than normal to catch the sunrise.
Go stargazing late one night to see what happens when you’re sleeping.
When we get out of our “standard” schedule, we allow ourselves the opportunity to find new adventures.
Research “Limited Time” Activities
These days, the internet makes finding new adventures so much easier. Check websites such as Facebook, Meetup.com, Couchsurfing, etc. to see if there are any events coming up while you’ll be in a location.
You might be able to find a new adventure in a familiar location, simply by doing a little bit of research beforehand. A pop-up restaurant. An art gallery debut. A concert by your favorite underground artist.
How do you find new adventures in familiar places? What would you add?
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