Be More Adventurous on a Budget

Media images of dare devils skydiving out of airplanes, adrenalin junkies risking serious injury in extreme sports or action heroes dodging bullets are so common it's easy to get brainwashed into believing that unless you are risking life and limb you are the world's most boring human with no sense of adventure. The good news it that you can be a little more adventurous and break out of a boring rut with breaking a bone. My definition of adventure is trying new things and being open to new discoveries and the possibility of embracing an experience that is unfamiliar. Approaching adventure as simply something different from you normal routine opens up a world of  possibilities. Here are a few suggestion for being more adventurous without going broke.

• Take the path less traveled, literally. I recently went to the park and noticed a walking trail along the edge of the park hidden by trees. I can't remember when I had ever taken this trail instead of my usual route. On impulse I decided to walk the unfamiliar route just to see where it leads. It eventually lead back to the park of course, but it was fun to take a fresh approach to visiting my favorite park. Mix up your walking or driving route once in a while and see something new.
• Embrace other cultures, especially if food is involved! Local festivals are a frugal way to explore the sights and sounds of other cultures (like India Fest 2015 pictured here). Cultural festivals offer a multisensory experience allowing you to discover the colors and patterns associated with various cultures, listening to native music, tasting authentic food and touching the products that are for sale.
• Meet new people for the purpose of learning and engaging in activities you find interesting. Let a popular website like meetup.com introduce you to a wide variety of  activities and people. If you feel stuck in a rut, getting together with interesting people and sharing ideas and experiences can help you learn how to take a fresh approach to both personal and professional interests.
• Get off the couch and plan a trip close to home. A short staycation or day trip focused on destinations within reasonable driving distances are a fun and cheap way to rediscover some of the great attractions in your own back yard. Check tourist and travel web sites for inspiration or imagine if you had guests visiting from out of town. Where would you take them to have fun?