Are you looking for your next road trip or weekend getaway? Besides a big imagination and a valid ID, there isn’t much else you need for an adventure — but, it’s always fun to buy new toys to make your adventures more interesting!

Great Places To Have an Outdoor Adventures

Edinburgh and the Highlands, Scotland, UK:

If you are flying into Edinburgh, make sure to take a couple of days to experience this fairy tale city. Edinburgh is often overshadowed by London by travelers who are visiting the UK, and it is a shame. This city is built on 7 dead volcanoes, the tallest of which lies in the center of the city with the legendary castle fort atop it. No matter where you stroll around the ancient stone-cobbled streets of Edinburgh at night, you will see the magical-looking castle lit up, high above the city. (oddly enough it might remind you of the castle at Disneyland if you have ever been there). 

Bring along your hiking shoes, because driving or hiking the misty highland mountains of northern Scotland will feel like you have gone back in time, and the heath and heather that covers the rugged landscape will captivate you as much as the beautiful streams and waterfalls that cut through the land. This is a trip worth taking and is a good choice for any age. Don’t be afraid to try the haggis, by the way. If you find a reputable pub that serves it, you’ll be shocked to find that it is some of the tastiest UK fare that there is, as well as the most unique. 

(Protip: for the most delicious soft serve vanilla ice cream cone in the whole wide world, visit the Loch Ness Gift Shop. “Buttery” doesn’t begin to fully describe the amazing grass-fed quality of the dairy products in this part of the world.)

Patagonia Region, Chile and Argentina

The amazing landscapes of Argentina and Chile in the southern end of South America are an under-appreciated fantasyland for adventurous hikers. Parts of Chile are so wild and hard to access that no men have explored large chunks of the map. The area boasts a diverse landscape that includes mountains, rainforest, steppes, magnificent clear blue lakes, twisting rivers, fjords, and one of the largest glaciers outside of the poles: the Northern Patagonian Ice Field. 

There is world-class climbing, dog-sledding, trekking, hunting, and taking in the barely populated vistas by land, water, or air. There are things to do for the tame of heart or the mad adventurer, and no matter what, you’ll come home with a unique vacation under your belt. Bring along your camera, backpack, and hiking shoes and prepare for views like no other.

(Protip: take advantage of the amazing buttery-soft leather goods that are for sale in Argentina; the quality is unequaled, and beautiful designs offer shoppers handbags and wallets that they love for a lifetime.)

Moab, Utah, USA

The colorfully painted deserts of Utah have been described as what heaven might look like. The public lands that are available for adventurous hikers, rafters, bikers, and campers to enjoy are vast and full of magical nooks and crannies to explore. 

We tend to fill our time frantically going from one task to the next, from searching for new soccer shoes for your daughter one minute to searching online for some toothpaste with no SLS in it for your partner to making cupcakes for your little one’s girl scout troop… and all of this before noon. If you want to get away from the many little headaches of modern life, even for a long weekend, Utah is a great choice. It is huge, beautiful, accessible, and the people are nice. Grab your sunscreen, your favorite Sunglasses, and your family, and plan an adventure in rural Utah today.

(Protip: Nobody sells booze in many parts of Utah on Sundays, and sometimes there are other restrictions at certain times of day or night. If you want to pop a few beers on your camping trip, you might want to stock up before you go.)

Sonoma Valley, California, USA

If you have never visited wine country, you are in for a major treat. If you aren’t big into wine tasting excursions, you’ll be happy to hear that there is so much more to this area than just vineyards. Don’t worry… there are tons of beautiful vineyards there to allow you to sip and taste some amazing California wines if you so choose, but you are also in the midst of redwood forests that tower above… well, everything. Just going to Sonoma to drive around and see the rolling hills, dotted with grapevines that turn into the enchanting redwood forest, beckoning you to come and explore, is enough of a reason to visit. 

Grab your lover, grab a corker, some hammocks, and two glasses, and find your way to Sonoma County.

(Protip: Visit Guerneville along the Russian River for great little shops and more fun things to do. This area is very near the infamous Bohemian Grove club if you are into conspiracy theories. If not, google it for some amazingly interesting history of this exclusive club that hails from the nearby bay area and makes its annual encampment right there in the beautiful redwood forests of Sonoma County.)

Achen Valley, Austria

For beautiful vistas and snowy peaks, adventure in Austria at the Achen Valley. Head to Achenkirch for world-class cross-country skiing that will take you through the picturesque  Karwendel Alpine Park Nature Reserve. Novices to cross country skiing might want to take a lesson or two before tackling this area. Bring along all the regular gear, as well as packing a sun hat and sunscreen, as getting a nasty sunburn while skiing isn’t all that unusual here. Take a drive to nearby Innsbruck for some Nordic mountain skiing.

Protip: Don’t plan to travel until January if you want adequate snow to enjoy all the Achen Valley has to offer. 

The Strandagaldur Museum of Icelandic Sorcery & Witchcraft, Holmavik, Iceland

One might think that a museum does not qualify for a list of adventurous journeys. After all, there is no need to train for a year, bring any climbing gear, a kayak, or keto protein powder in order to visit a museum full of dusty artifacts. When talking about most standard museums, you might be right. This museum isn’t any old museum, however. The Strandagaldur Museum of Icelandic Sorcery & Witchcraft is the most metal museum that ever was, and probably ever will be. 

When looking into the fascinating history of Iceland’s Vikings, the religious and anthropological artifacts are mind-blowing. From straight out of the blood-stained pages of a pagan grimoire, you will see a multitude of runes, replicas of witches, and many other fascinating items that came out of the interesting and unique history of the Icelandic people.

When most people visit this museum, however, they are usually visiting to see one item in particular.

The most infamous item is the 17th-century pair of Nábrók, or “necropants”. As the display explains, in order to get a pair of magical human flesh pants (or “necropants”), you will have to get the permission of a living man you know to use his flayed skin after his eventual demise. Once your generous friend has died and has been buried,  you will then have to dig him up to flay the skin from the lower body, which is then fashioned into a sort of human flesh pair of pantyhose, with the feet and genitals intact. After you don the new flesh pants and place a specific stolen coin into the scrotum, as well as a  “nábrókarstafur” or magic phrase that is written on a note, you will now be able to use these special pants to bring you a fortune in monetary wealth for the rest of your days. 

Now that you have all of these great ideas for adventuring, it’s time to begin planning your trip!