Microadventures 101: How to have fun close to home.

I recently spent my Saturday mornings in a cave. Yes, you read that correctly. I went caving with my family. I was on tik tok one day searching for things to do near me that would make for a fun microadventure. I discovered that exactly one hour away there is a house that was built on top of an old cave system. 

I did some further research and discovered that cave tours were available every weekend. I made a reservation and before I knew it, I was nearly 80 feet underground experiencing true and total darkness with a tour guide and a group of strangers.

I had more fun than I thought I would, but the most surprising thing about this excursion is that I have lived in this area my entire life and I never knew it existed. Bonus points for this excursion was that it was completely free of charge.

We did make a donation though because we wanted to support the cave system for future visitors. The tour was only one hour long. We ate breakfast at home and made it back by lunch. We didn’t even spend money going out to eat.

This micro adventure made me realize that while I am constantly searching for new places to add to my travel list, I am most certainly missing out on amazing adventures near my home. 

In this economy, it is very important to find fun and low cost things to do that will create memories without breaking the bank. Especially for my ladies who are on a budget.

Today I’m going to be sharing everything you need to know about microadventures. Hopefully this inspires you to have some of your own this year.

What are microadventures?

After doing research, I learned that microadventures are inexpensive, local and relatively short activities that bring fun and excitement to normal people with real lives. It was created by British adventurer Alastair Humphreys.

He said that when he has something fun to look forward to he is more grounded and happier. I believe that is true as we were very excited for two weeks before our caving adventure.

While some websites list micro adventures as things you can do right in your own backyard like stargazing, walking etc. I personally think of micro adventures as things relatively close to home that you can do in a day.

How to plan microadventures.

How much time do you have?

Time is your best compass when planning microadventures. They’re designed to fit into your actual life, not disrupt it. If you work a 9-5, you will need to find things to do on one of your days off or in the evening.

If you have a sporadic schedule, like I did when I worked in retail, you will have to find pockets of time to make something happen. Either way, there are adventures for every time frame.

Search social media.

I discovered the cave on social media. Because I live in Northern Virginia, I am close to Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Maryland. This means that I have many several states that I can search for adventures. The cave was in PA, just a few minutes past the state line.

I was searching things to do in PA when I discovered the cave on Tik Tok. I thought it looked interesting, so I checked the map to see how far away it was. I was surprised to learn it was only an hour!

Make a list of everything that seems interesting.

I keep a long list in my notes app. Organized by State. I also make note of how far away it is and I also add the link as well. This helps me when I am planning what to do because I see a lot of things online that sometimes I get the information mixed up.

Double check the official websites and read all of the information.

Sometimes things on social media aren’t always accurate. For example, when I went to Florida with my kids, I saved a manatee viewing center in Tampa that also had a stingray tank where visitors could pet the rays.

We drove 45 minutes from our air bnb only to discover that the tank had been completely destroyed by the hurricane the previous year.

Needless to say we were all disappointed and I felt bad because I didn’t do the best of research.

With the cave, the website gave instructions for making a reservation and it also told us what shoes and clothes to wear while we were down there.

When the time is right, embark on your adventures.

Wake up to beautiful weather? It’s the perfect time for one of your outdoor adventures. Expecting a scorching hot afternoon? Spend your afternoon on an indoor microadventure (or deep in a cold cave).

Make it a social event.

Don’t forget to invite your friends! This will make it more fun, exciting and a great way to make memories without spending hundreds-or thousands- of dollars on a proper trip.

Final thoughts.

The truth is, adventure isn’t about how far you travel—it’s about how deeply you engage. Microadventures are acts of everyday rebellion against routine and burnout.

They’re proof that you don’t need more time or money to feel alive—you just need a little curiosity and courage.

So the next time you feel stuck, tired, or uninspired, ask yourself: What would feel like a small adventure today? Then go do it. Your next microadventure is already waiting. All you have to do is say yes.