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Adventure. Exploration. Discovery.

Danny Kaye, an American performer and writer from the early and mid 1900's, once said,

"Life is a blank canvas, and you need to throw all the paint on it you can."

If you're anything like me, your paint looks like scars from barbed-wire fences and thorns, bruises from climbing trees, and copious amounts of water. Whether you are exploring abandoned buildings in a small-town, finding cool alleys and streets in a large city, or the discovering the hidden secrets of some rural farmland, here are a few tips to make your experience even better!

1. Bring Water & Snacks

Water is cheap, so are SPAM, Ritz, and Spray-Cheese. Nothing ruins the vibe of a good day of wandering like getting hungry and needing to leaving to find something to eat. Pack light, pack tasty, and pack smart. You, your friends, and your future discoveries will thank you for not leaving to get lunch or dinner right before the coolest moment of the day. Plus, if the zombie apocalypse happens, you'll have an automatic leg up and you won't be instantly dehydrated.

2. Map It Out

Plan where you are going, a little. Spontaneity is cool, until you're lost in the woods (or 15 minutes from a McDonalds) and someone dies, gets injured, or ends up in BIG trouble. "It won't happen to me," is only true if you actually have a mental picture of where you are and where the nearest landmarks are in relation to you. Landmarks, by the way, are lakes, big clearing, distinct forests, houses, neighborhoods, ponds, streams, bridge, roads, and mountains/hills. It's not a buzzkill. It's safety; it's fun. While everyone else goes, "IDK where to go," you can start walking off in the direction of that lake you noticed while scrolling through Google Maps. You'll be the hero. Trust me, as an Eagle Scout, map it out.

3. Prepare

Prepare mentally. What do I do if someone approaches me? What do I do if I find out I'm trespassing? When should I double-back? How far is too far to go without moving my vehicle closer? Do I know the terrain at all?

Prepare physically. How strong am I? What risks can I physically manage? What is dangerous? What is too dangerous? Do I need to bring gloves, glasses, or medicine? Asthma attacks are fun for anyone in the middle of nowhere.

Preparation is a state of existence. A lot of people turn it off and on like a switch. If you constantly prepare yourself, you'll always have more fun. You'll spend more time climbing, finding, and discovering. You'll act smarter and react faster. Ultimately, a little effort goes a long into turning your random wanderings into life-changing adventures!