Finding Adventure in the Unknown

     When I was kid, some of my earliest memories are of being outdoors. Our family vacations always consisted of camping and hiking and any other outdoor adventure you can think of, we probably did it. I remember one vacation in particular when I was 5 and my family wanted to go white water rafting while we were on a camping trip. You see, I have two brothers who are 5 and 7 years older than me and I was desperate to do anything and everything that they could, so I ended up doing lots when I was pretty young. I like to think my dad loved this trait in his daughter as he always encouraged this adventurous, and maybe sometimes stubborn, little girl of his. 

Well this meant that when he was signing up his family to go white water rafting and asked what the age cut off was and the instructor looked out the window at a little girl jumping from one giant rock to the next giant rock on the edge of the river, with little care in the world, he said, "I think she will be fine." So that's how I ended up at the very front of a white water raft at a very young age and loved every minute of it. My parents really made it a priority to be outside and teach me the importance of, not only being active, but finding adventure. I have so many stories similar to this one, from hiking to glaciers in Montana, ocean kayaking in Vancouver and whale watching on the pacific, all before I was a teenager. I am so grateful for these opportunities that my parents gave me and that they really prioritized getting outside and exploring the world. And somedays I still wish I was that little kid jumping from rock to rock, with little care for caution and just desperate to keep up with my older brothers.

But I have carried that desire to explore from my childhood and now I am a 22 year old working towards my Bachelor in Journalism at the University of Regina, dreaming about becoming a travel journalist. But I still think back to that kid I used to be and am constantly chasing after that childlike desire for adventure I once had. Because of this I have found myself with many unique opportunities to explore the world and get outdoors. From travelling to Mexico to work at an orphanage to driving to the North West Territories to learn more about Indigenous culture, I have been able to see parts of the world with such a different lens. Travel and exploring should be about going off the beaten path and finding something knew, whether that involves travelling by plane, car, foot, or by sitting at the front a white water raft.

     I feel like after reading about my experiences as a kid, it is not surprising that one of my favourite movies is The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. As I was watching this movie for probably the 6th time, it got me thinking about what I wanted to write about for this blog. If you have never seen this film, it is one of the best movies to get you in the mood to travel, to get outside and to spontaneously jump on a helicopter after visiting a small town in Greenland. But aside from this, what always sticks with me after watching this film is the moto they use for Life magazine. 

     “To see the world, things dangerous to come to, to see behind walls, draw closer, to find each other, and to feel. That is the purpose of life.” – Secret Life of Walter Mitty

     These words can mean so much and probably hold a different importance to everyone that reads them, but what I find the most impactful about this quote is the message of finding adventure where-ever you are. It's about getting out of what is easy and comfortable and finding something new and exciting.

     But how does one step out of the mundane and really live a life filled with adventure and exploration? Whether you have been exploring the outdoors for your whole life or if this is your first time, I doubt you have had to experience a global pandemic. Sadly, this has really changed peoples sense of adventure and ability to travel and honestly, it's really discouraging. 

     But then I had found a quote that so eloquently summed up the reason for travel, and I've got to say that it really lifted my spirit. It begged the question why we travel in the first place, which got me thinking about how this reason has changed throughout the past decade. It seemed that prior to Covid, people traveled because it was the popular thing to do. To go “find” yourself in India because that is what Elizabeth did in Eat Pray Love or to backpack around Europe because, well, everyone else was doing it. However, we are now in a new age where we are encouraged to stay at home and not travel beyond necessary means. It is no longer the “thing” to do and it is definitely not easy to do either. So, why is it still so important to travel and explore?

Why We Travel

"We no longer travel because it is "the thing" to go abroad. Just at present, as a matter of fact, it is more fashionable to stay at home. But-means permitting-we must travel, and this for the following reasons:

For health. For education. To get away from things. To realize the limitation of our own views. To be able to improve conditions at home. To appreciate the various kinds of beauty in the world. To find our level internationally. To have something to talk about. To have something to look back upon; and last, but not least, in order to appreciate home." 

-Anonymous 

     Well, this quote argues that we MUST travel to educate ourselves, to “realize the limitation of our own views” and “to be able to appreciate the various kinds of beauty in the world.” Which I think is so true, our own views are so limited when we stay in the same place and only interact with the same people. We gain no concept of the rest of the world and how people live when all we see are people of the same race and economic status.

     But how does one do that when many forms of travel are not very accessible and may not even be deemed safe anymore? 

      To me, the first step is to go outdoors. You would be surprised at the adventures and beauty one can find by simply exploring your hometown or finding hidden gems close by.

      With unique spots and experiences that can be found in your own town, city, provincial parks, natural areas, and small towns close by, you may never know what you might find.

      So, whether it is your first time or you are an avid explorer, I hope that with this blog I can encourage all who stop by to find some kind of adventure in their life. With tips and tricks, personal experiences and stories from others across Canada, I hope that anyone can read this and no longer be discouraged about closed borders and little money. Adventure and travel does not have to be a certain distance or have a certain price you must pay. It is exactly what that movie quote says, it is seeing behind walls, experiencing something new and engaging in something unfamiliar, no matter where that takes you.  

      All that matters is if you are willing to go outdoors, to take a step out of your comfort zone and see the world through a new lens. To look at life like that little girl looking above her yellow baseball cap and giant life jacket, seeing a world filled with exploration and wonder from the front of white water raft. 

Because when you take the time to look, you never know what you might find. 

Paige Reimer