How To Plan A Day Adventure
Adventures comes in all shapes and sizes, and one of our family’s favorites is the day adventure. For sake of definition, a day adventure involves exploring somewhere outside of your normal routine, no overnight stays or large modes of transportation required. A day adventure is fun all on its own, but it’s also an excellent form of practice for larger adventures down the road.
When we plan a day adventure, we typically follow a simple process:
1. Pick a location. Adventures don’t have to be far away to be fun! If you’re just starting out, choose somewhere local, less than 45 minutes from your home. From there, build up to locations that are 1-2 hours away. We generally cap day adventure locations at 2 hours - much more than that and you’ll be driving all day!
We use the “Want to Go” saving function on Google Maps to mark locations that interest us. (Stay tuned for a blog post on how I use Google Maps for many aspects of adventure planning!) When picking a location, it can be helpful to reference saved locations to spark ideas of where to go.
2. Select an anchor activity. Decide what type of adventure you want to have and build the day around that activity. A few ideas:
Take a hike
Explore a beautiful new area, like a natural preserve or botanical garden
Learn about how something works
Go on a scavenger hunt
Check out a zoo or museum
Visit a farm
Find an epic playground
Whatever your main activity, do that first. Kids tire out quickly, so use that energy on the main attraction. And then…
3. Choose a meal. Adventures require fuel, so be sure to build in a plan for a meal and snacks. I use my favorite snack cooler to pack healthy snacks on the go, like sliced apples, cucumbers, and cheese. We then choose a fun place for lunch or pack a picnic.
4. Pack the car the prior evening. Get prepped for the adventure the day before, so that it’s easy to head out the next morning. A few things to pack ahead:
Change of clothes
Appropriate footwear (e.g., hiking boots, sandals, water shoes)
Stroller, scooter, and/or bikes
Child hiking carrier
Sunscreen, hats, and sunglasses
Non-refrigerated snacks (e.g., granola bars, crackers, pretzels)
In the morning, pack any remaining items, like refrigerated snacks, water bottles, and your kids!
5. Set your expectations. It’s rare to have a day proceed without any challenges (even at home), so expect a few curveballs during your adventure. The drive may feel long (check out my post on travel kits) and the kids may complain, and that’s okay. The more you explore, the easier it will become.
“As soon as I saw you, I knew a grand adventure was about to happen.”
On the other hand, you can also set the tone for an extraordinary day. Tell your kids the night before, “We’re going on an adventure tomorrow!” The point of an adventure is to break up your routine, so make it exciting.
6. Capture the memory. Another reason we take adventures is to cultivate the childhood experiences we want for our kids. Lean into the nostalgia and make those memories last. Take photos or buy a souvenir item, like a postcard, keychain, or ornament. Bring your kids into the memory making by encouraging them to draw a picture of the adventure, write about it in their journal, or create a scrapbook. As you document your adventures, you also add to the excitement and anticipation for the next one.
7. Return home during nap/quiet time. Day adventures are exhausting, there’s no way around it. For us, a reliable formula is to head out early (our kids are up at the crack of dawn anyway!), drive to our destination, do our main activity, eat lunch, and then head back in the afternoon while the kids nap or use their tablets. We usually make it back home in the late afternoon, giving us time to unpack the car and shift gears for the evening.
Day adventures certainly take some work, but they are an excellent way to make memories, build character, and add to your family story. Where are you headed next?
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