Are you already thinking about your travel plans for 2018? If so, don’t stick to the same old forms of travel that you’ve done in the past. Instead, opt for some new travel experiences you’ve never tried before. It could turn out to be one of the very best things you do this year. To give you some ideas and inspiration, here are some of the alternative travel experiences you might want to consider as you start to make travel plans for 2018!

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Be a Tourist in Your Local Area

Have you ever noticed that we don’t tend to go “touristing” around places we live in? I mean I’m from San Francisco, and I’ve never ridden one of those trolleys, and I’ve only walked the Golden Gate Bridge once, and don’t even get me started on going to Alcatraz (small hint…I’ve also never been!) But think about your case, are there things around where you live that tourists see or visit, that you don’t or haven’t even bothered with? This might be a strange idea, but it’s something that could turn out to be a lot more fun than you imagine. When you live somewhere, you often miss the things that are so good about it. If you start to look at it in the same way a tourist would, your eyes will be opened and you might have a really good time. On top of that, you won’t have to pay the costs that come with traveling!

 

Experience the Rio Carnival

Photo by Quinten de Graaf on Unsplash

I don’t know if it’s just me… but I’ve obsessed with Brazil, Portuguese, and their amazing culture. I even have my 10-year Brazilian visa (which needs to get some use actually as it’ll expire soon!) Anyway, the Rio Carnival is easily one of the most impressive events on the planet, and it’s one of those things that you simply have to experience for yourself. It’s impossible to sum up just how much fun it is if you’ve never been in the middle of it– the music, the energy, the dancing, the costumes, and best of all — the ambiance! It’s an unusual travel idea, and there won’t be much relaxing, but it’s definitely worth it — plus you get to see a completely different culture and learn about a beautiful place!

 

Tour Haunted Houses

If the paranormal interests you, why not head out and explore haunted and creepy houses? This can be a lot of fun because of the thrill that comes with it — talk about an adrenaline rush! And even if you don’t spot any ghosts, you’ll get the chance to see some impressive buildings and learn about their history while you look around them. The best part yet — it doesn’t have to be around Halloween time to see them. There are a lot of haunted houses and mansions that are booked all year round. Sounds like a great escape from reality for a bit with friends.

 

Ski in Japan

Photo by Oliver Dickerson on Unsplash

When you think of skiing, you probably don’t think of Japan. And when you think of Japan, you probably don’t think of skiing. But Japan is actually one of the best countries in the world for the sport, and the views and scenery are simply incredible. Whether you’ve ever skied before or not, you definitely need to try it in Japan — a little far out, but you get to eat amazing food, and are definitely in for a culture shock as well. It’s an experience you’ll never forget.

 

Live and Work in a Farming Community

If you don’t mind getting busy and active while you travel, you could learn a lot by joining a farming community in a different part of the world and living with them for a short period of time. It’s a travel experience that more and more people are considering because it’s a way of doing something good and learning a lot at the same time. Don’t rule it out until you’ve considered it. I might even take part of this in Australia (as a way to get a second-year work and holiday visa!)

 

Just try something new

Travel experiences don’t have to be uniform and mundane. Sometimes, you just want to break old habits and do something new and unusual for a change. If that’s the situation you find yourself in now, consider the options listed above. Here are some other really quick ideas for travel experiences and activities:

• Go ziplining (I really want to try this in Costa Rica)
• See places from up above by skydiving, paragliding, or even going on a hot air balloon
• Take a road trip with some friends or your dog
• Look up secret places in your city (for example San Francisco has a bunch of secret gardens and slides)
• Go bar hopping, wine tasting, or tapas hopping (in Spain for example)
• Take some friends to an outside/drive-in movie theater
• Go hiking in the woods/a national park without a map (or even go camping somewhere near your home)
• Rock climb or bathe in nearby waterfalls

There are so many things you could do to keep things interesting, travel experiences to be had, and places to be explored.

What are your ideas for alternative travel experiences?