Adventures.

Life is full of adventures, big and small. I walk through town on my lunch break and enjoy the scenery. I flew to Portland, Oregon for my 25th birthday last year. Adventures, of the traveling variety, excite my soul. I need to just get out and go.

I've gotten asked if I really went to Asia...This is the Montgomery Zoo.

Far less exotic!

Back when my parent's were my payroll, and bills were not in my name, I would go, go, go. I would drive anywhere for the sake of driving and going. I loved it. That was in high school, when at one point gas was under a dollar per gallon and being environmentally aware was not the name of my game. Somewhere priorities stepped in the way, and adventure taking took the back seat.

My challenge for the year TwentyEleven (adventure wise) is to visit at least one state or national park or forest per month. That is at the bare minimum twelve parks, twelve adventures. I do not have a set plan for the entire year, but this is something that has been bouncing around in my brain since the day after I posted this.

Number six of the post, go on more adventures, definitely covers this topic, but if you have ever read an inspirational book/blog targeting goals or crossing things off a list, setting specific, tangible goals is a must. Go on more adventures is quite broad and narrowing this subject down sparks my sense of adventure. It gives me something to go after. It is a very reachable goal. Setting out to do something once a month makes it seem simpler and less out of reach. It gives a loose time line. Nothing is set is stone. There is always an adventure to look forward to, and depending on the how your month looks, financially or in the day planner, it is easy to work out and work around.

pack up the essentials

I have thirteen good days left in this month. There are plenty of parks in the vicinity that I have not been to, and I would love to mark them off of my list. I do not imagine it to be very hard to make day trips out of most of my twelve adventures. Alabama and Georgia have some good quality parks to visit. There is one right here in town, Chewalca State Park, and the Tuskegee National Forest is only a few miles up the road. I would love to visit the parks out West, but sadly that will not be an every month adventure. I am going to work on making at least one of my twelve adventures on the other side of this beautiful country.

I am becoming more interested in the outdoors, natural wonders, and simple adventures. I would prefer a photograph at the Grand Canyon to a shopping bag full of clothes. I think I might be growing up a bit, but definitely changing my outlook on getting in on the good stuff in life.

Anyone else want to get in on the good stuff?

Want to step up to my challenge?

Twelve adventures in twelve months!

You do not have to conquer the outdoors.

Maybe twelve states in twelve months?

Let me know what you think!

Put your boots on!