Hikers pause during the Big Bend Hiking and Camping Adventure offered by Backwoods Adventures. Photo courtesy of Backwoods

Discover your inner adventurer with backwoods

November 12, 2020

As we unwind into the holiday season and look ahead to 2021, it’s more important than ever to stay positive. We need to ditch the stresses we've accumulated in 2020. And we need to focus instead on how we can start to shape this new year to make it the best we’ve ever experienced.

Now is the time to get excited. Now is the moment to ask yourself, what adventures have you been dreaming of for years but haven’t gotten around to yet?

Maybe you’ve always wanted to try backpacking but you don’t want to go it alone. Do you dream of immersing yourself in the natural beauty of one of America’s most beautiful national parks? Maybe the idea of learning fly fishing sounds great, but you don’t know where to begin. Perhaps hiking the Swiss Alps sounds like the trip of a lifetime… because it is!

What sparks your curiosity? What’s high up on your travel and adventure bucket list?

What’s that, you say? You don’t have an adventure bucket list? Well, now is the time to build one, and we have some great ideas on how to begin.

For starters, we’ve recently learned about some seriously amazing adventures offered by Backwoods. In fact, all of those things I mentioned earlier—remember the Swiss Alps?—they are all travel adventures offered by Backwoods. In case you’re not familiar with Backwoods, they’re an outdoor gear and apparel company helping explorers and adventure-seekers like us find the right equipment for whatever outdoor experience you can dream up.

For us, Backwoods really stands apart in a lot of areas, including their expansive selection of camping and hiking gear. Their fly fishing shop is also really impressive. I have never in my life tried fly fishing, but their Backcountry Fly Fishing Trip in Southern Colorado looks really fun and is right in our own back yard. Bucket list contender? Could be!

Tips for Creating an Amazing Adventure Travel Bucket List

Think big and small . . . and everything in between
Not everything has to be as monumental as, say, the desire to climb Mount Everest. Start with adding some smaller, more attainable adventures to your bucket list and build from there. This is especially true if you’re trying out a new skill for the first time, and you’re working on building up your endurance or abilities. Just as one example, if hiking the Appalachian Trail is on your bucket list, start planning longer hikes to prepare. Consider creating a few different lists based on destinations and activities to begin and then combine them. There’s no wrong way to make a bucket list!
Explore popular bucket lists
Stumped for what to put on your bucket list? Consider visiting one of the popular bucket list sites out there for inspiration. There’s a bucket list site? Yep, it’s a thing, and there are several to choose from. On bucketlist.org, for example, you can browse popular goals or create your own.
Do your research
When it comes to planning anything big, proper research is always going to be on your side. You can alleviate a lot of mid-trip travel headaches by answering ALL of your potential questions in advance. How much is this going to cost? How long will it really take to experience this without feeling rushed? Do I have the right gear or physical stamina required to take this on? This is true for pretty much any adventure you want to take, big or small.
Create a dedicated travel savings account
Travel can get expensive really quickly. The good news is, once you learn how to budget for it, there are several smart and effective ways to set up a savings strategy to fund even your wildest travel dreams.
don’t go into debt
Seriously, don’t do it. It’s important to live life to the fullest, but it’s never worth it if it means being a slave to a credit card payment for years after your vacation ends. We’ve been here before, and it’s not fun. Ignore the supposed “deals” you might get by charging a trip for discounts or points. It just won’t be worth it in the long run. If you’re already in debt, check out our guide on how to Get out of Debt and Travel More.

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