Adventure is the opportunity to explore the unknown, an exciting experience that may entail risk. It follows that adventurous individuals are those who relish such exploration, whether it involves new places, new relationships, new careers or new ideas.
When it comes to travel, one need not visit distant, exotic locations to experience the thrill of adventure. There are plenty of areas close to home that invite exploration: untraveled roads, un-hiked trails and unvisited parks or nature preserves are common sources of adventure, even for experienced naturalists. Of course, since the unknown is inherent in any excursion, whether to a new or familiar destination, a sense of adventure accompanies all journeys, from wilderness backpacking trips to a walk through the neighborhood park.
Those who recognize the adventure in any excursion are more likely to focus on the details of their surroundings, including the landscape, topography, vegetation and wildlife. By doing so, they come to appreciate the magnificent diversity of our planet and, in turn, their own life is enriched. After all, life itself is an adventure, filled with unexpected twists and turns; if we are open to those challenges, willing to explore untraveled avenues, we are rewarded with a better understanding of ourselves, our fellow man and our natural environment.
