If it’s adventure you seek, odds are there are plenty of fun things to do within an hour or two of where you live. While a day trip isn’t as exciting as heading off to far flung and exotic places, it can be just as rewarding.

Of course, my definition of adventure and fun may differ greatly from yours but I hope you will still be inspired by some of these ideas.

Here in southern Ohio I am surrounded by opportunities to get outside and hike on public lands. State parks, local parks, state nature preserves and even national forest land abound meaning that you can hike miles a season and never repeat the same trail.

In the mood for holiday fun? Within an hour of my home, there’s a Wild West style town that offers special visits from Santa and lots of festive activities on the weekends. Click here for a story from my first visit there. Gallipolis transforms its park into a glorious wonderland each year and it’s free to look around. On some nights, local churches take turns sponsoring a live nativity and Santa is present in his little house certain nights of the week too. I have written about this event a few times. Here’s a link to an older post.

Franklin Park Conservatory has a fantastic holiday event. Again, I have written about it a few times. Here’s one story.

I spent a recent Friday night in downtown Chillicothe, soaking in the cheer created by downtown merchants in their holiday open house. While that event comes but once a year, Chillicothe has a vibrant downtown that’s nicely decorated and where many of the businesses are doing special things to entertain customers.

Indoor adventure might include museums in one of Ohio’s cities. Lots of southern Ohio communities have hands-on places for arts like pottery making. There’s a new specialty shop in Lancaster where you can design your own fragrance and pour your own soap.

We also have an abundance of antique stores and vendor malls. Even if you don’t buy, it’s quite fun to find things from your youth or to see things you’ve never seen before.

Adventure is not just surfing in Hawaii and bull fighting in Spain. Adventure is what you make of it. It’s what you need and want it to be. So go make your own adventure. Stretch your boundaries and find the kind of fun that makes your heart sing!