Adventure Is Closer Than You Think

If you’ve been following along for a while, you probably know about our Saturday Morning Matchas tradition. Our family loves exploring coffee shops together, and lately I’ve been searching for a gluten-free coffee shop where I could actually enjoy the pastries with everyone else.

Yesterday we found one.

A little place in Point Loma called Phattie’s.

Parking was a bit of a mess, but we eventually found a spot a couple of blocks away and walked over to the coffee shop. We ordered a gluten-free scone, a brookie, and a strawberry donut, along with a couple of matchas for Jillian and me while Brooks and Joseph shared an electric lemonade.

It may not sound like much, but after a long time of watching everyone else enjoy pastries while I sat them out because of my gluten allergy, it felt pretty special to simply join in.

From there we headed over to Cabrillo National Monument.

We wandered through the visitor center, stopped by the monument itself, climbed to the old lighthouse, looked out over the kelp beds, and took our time enjoying the ocean views. There was no rush to get anywhere else. It was just our family spending the morning together in one of the most beautiful places in San Diego.

Sometimes we forget that people travel from all over the world to visit places that are only a short drive from our front door.

Driving home, I realized how easy it is to overlook the place we call home.

We don’t need to board a plane to visit the beach, the mountains, the desert, or even a national park. It’s all right here.

We have the opportunity to give our boys incredible experiences without booking flights, reserving hotels, or spending months planning a vacation.

Yesterday wasn’t a vacation.

It wasn’t even a special occasion.

It was simply a Friday morning that Jillian and I both happened to have off from work.

While thinking about that, I came across an article from Food, Wine & Travel Magazineb about exploring your own backyard instead of always chasing the next faraway destination. It reminded me that adventure isn’t measured by how many miles you’ve traveled. Sometimes it’s simply about seeing familiar places with fresh eyes. Yesterday wasn’t memorable because we went far. It was memorable because we slowed down long enough to appreciate what was already around us.

Somewhere along the way, we start believing adventure has to be big.

Hawaii.

Disneyland.

Europe.

The next big vacation.

And while I hope our boys get to experience those places someday, there are incredible places they’ve never explored that are less than an hour from our driveway.

A few days ago I wrote Why Ordinary Days Matter More Than Big Moments, and I think yesterday became another reminder of that lesson. We spend so much time waiting for the next extraordinary experience that we sometimes overlook the extraordinary places already surrounding us.

So I started wondering…

When Brooks is older, will Cabrillo National Monument mean any less to him than another national park he visits someday?

Will Joseph feel like he missed out because we chose a staycation over a cross-country vacation?

Probably not.

Because climbing the lighthouse yesterday was exciting.

Walking along the cliffs and looking down at the waves crashing below was exciting.

Searching for whales.

Discovering old military bunkers.

Looking through the eye of a torpedo.

Running down the trails.

It was all an adventure.

Children don’t measure adventures by distance.

They measure them by wonder.

While writing this article, I also came across a piece from Banner Health encouraging parents to prioritize experiences over possessions. One idea especially resonated with me: children often remember the time we spend with them far longer than the things we buy them. Yesterday wasn’t memorable because we spent a lot of money or traveled very far. It was memorable because we explored together.

When we got home, Joseph went down for his nap.

The tile guy was still working on our bathroom.

Brooks and I went outside and played soccer.

We had dinner.

Put the boys to bed.

And I sat down to work on this project.

In many ways, the day ended like any other weekend day.

But somehow it was also filled with adventure.

Adventure isn’t measured in miles.

It’s measured in curiosity.

It’s measured in saying yes to opportunity.

It’s measured in leaving the house, exploring somewhere new, and being fully present while you’re there.

A few days ago I wrote The Scale Isn’t the Scoreboard, reminding myself that life can’t be measured by a single number. Yesterday reminded me of something similar: memorable days can’t be measured by how far we traveled or how much money we spent.

The boys probably won’t remember the name of the coffee shop.

They won’t remember how many steps we took.

They won’t remember how long we stayed.

But they’ll remember climbing the lighthouse.

They’ll remember looking out over the Pacific Ocean.

They’ll remember running down the trails.

They’ll remember discovering something new with Mom and Dad.

Because children don’t remember itineraries.

They remember adventures.

And sometimes the best adventures are the ones waiting just a few miles from home.

Continue the Journey

If today’s story resonated with you, you might also enjoy:

Saturday Morning Matchas — Why a simple family tradition has become one of my favorite parts of the week.
Why Ordinary Days Matter More Than Big Moments — The everyday moments that often become our greatest memories.
The Scale Isn’t the Scoreboard — Why the most meaningful parts of life can’t be measured by a single number.