A weekend warrior is defined in the Oxford dictionary as someone “who participates in an activity only in their spare time.” That’s what Alex and I are. We LOVE traveling and going on adventures but we both have full-time jobs. Contrary to what some may think – we don’t get paid to travel (we wish!).
Lately people have surprised me by saying something similar to, “you guys are so lucky to be able to go on so many adventures! I wish I could do that too!” I’m surprised because, they (you) CAN go on some pretty dang cool adventures like we do by sticking close to home. Hello #GoOutLocal movement!
Start Small
Most of our adventures happen within an hour or two of home. You don’t need a van, a camper, or anything fancy to do it either. Alex and I started out just driving around in his Jeep and when we found a spot we thought would be fun to explore, we just pulled our tent out of the back and set it up….or slept in the Jeep if it was colder. We were willing to have fun with it and roll with things. Those first adventures are still some of my most favorites. When we got Vannah and as we’ve had her built out, it has definitely become more convenient….not to mention warmer and much less sardine like…but it’s not necessary.
Where to Start
“But Melissia,” you may say….”I don’t even know where to start!” Start with what you enjoy doing. Do you like to hike or snowshoe? Do some research to find some new to you trails to check out. We use AllTrails (https://www.alltrails.com/), ask our friends where they have enjoyed going, ask for recommendations from Facebook groups we belong to, or even ask our favorite Instagram connections where they like to go. You can do the same thing if you enjoy camping, hot springing, fishing, etc. Alex will sometimes just pull up Google Maps and scope out different trails or roads in the area we happen to be in or plan to be in (he’s doing it as I type this in preparation for our upcoming getaway).
Going to your nearest national forest webpage is also a great resource for tips, weather conditions, or even to reserve some camping sites if you aren’t comfortable yet boondocking. Another great option – go with someone more experienced and familiar with the area. Alex did that when he first moved to Idaho 8 years ago and was introduced to many of the hot springs we frequent today by tagging along with friends. I’ve discovered many new hiking areas thanks to going out with my friends throughout the years as well. You have more resources than you might think you do.
Safety
Certainly you have to know your limits – both physically and gear wise. You don’t want to get hurt, lost, or stuck someplace so it’s good to know what the weather conditions are expected to be, have a good first aid kit, shovel, chains, flashlights, extra food and water, warm clothing, etc. That was a lesson we learned the hard way.
We knew we needed to be more prepared but we didn’t think we’d really need to worry about it since we were only 30 minutes or so from home…until we took a turn just a little too quickly and ended up on the side of a road stuck in super deep snow. No chains, no shovel, nothing to help get us back on the road. We didn’t have phone reception and certainly hadn’t thought to bring any extra water let alone food, blankets, or other gear in case we needed to sleep there. I had mentioned to a couple of my siblings the approximate area we would be in but not when we might be back so it might have been the next day that they started to worry and try to look for us. Fortunately it wasn’t long before someone came along with a rope in their truck and helped to pull the Jeep out. So…be prepared with at least the basics even if you’re not going far! It’s better to have the gear and not need it than need it and not have it.
Options
If you’re not quite ready to get too far out of town, explore local greenbelts, trails, or parks. You can even drive to the outskirts of town on a clear night to look up at the stars without all the city’s light pollution. The more fun you have in the outdoors, the more often you’ll find ways to get out and enjoy any version of getting away and having your own adventures.
We plan a couple longer trips each year as well. We do some research before we go so we have a few different exploring options available to us depending on the weather and how we’re feeling. Sedona and San Diego were our fun trips in 2021 and we are looking forward to going back to each area to explore further.
What we’ve learned is to enjoy every opportunity to “get away” and create our own adventures. It’s been SO good for our mental health over the last couple years and been one of the ways we’ve built a stronger, closer relationship. Planning mini adventures or more complicated ones has been fun and we’ve both done things we hadn’t before thanks to those experiences.
There’s nothing wrong with being weekend warriors. It doesn’t make you any less adventurous and you get the opportunity to discover and explore areas that can be right in your own backyard. If you’re in the Idaho area and want to get some ideas for local adventures, we’d love to connect with you so drop us a line here, via email (idahovantasticvoyages@gmail.com) or send us a DM on Instagram or Facebook!
See you out there and remember, it’s less about the destination and more about the journey.
