Redefining Adventure
Becoming Tourists at Home in a Post-COVID World
by Jill Keegan
When the word “adventure” comes to mind, an abundance of vivid imagery accompanies it: the childhood exploration of faraway lands, a daredevil stunt on a rocky cliff, even the nostalgia of a road trip on American highways. In the age of COVID, the opportunity to create such unforgettable memories became not just rare, but downright fantasy. Suddenly, endless horizons shrank into the four confining walls of a home office. Even as the latest news traveled instantaneously over thousands of miles, the everyday world began to look a bit smaller for those of us who were lucky enough to be able to stay home.
The irony of a shrinking world in a global pandemic mirrored quite perfectly the frenzied confusion of the time. Learning to cope was a collective and gradual process. Yet, the tenacity of the human spirit found outlets, avenues toward release and comfort. The idea of the “daily family walk” became a trope overnight, the overpopulation of hiking trails a prevalent news story. Instantly, the background noise of our natural surroundings rose to the forefront of our awareness. Spending time in nature offered not only a grounding reconnection to home, but also a reprieve from the chaos of a nation in crisis. To exist in our own space became a symbol of defiance and a silver-lining reminder of the persistence of joy.
As we begin to rebuild a post-COVID world, the reconstruction process is daunting and hotly debated on all sides. From an unraveled economic system, can we really develop a better lifestyle? The question pulses beneath the dominant political and social conversation. Despite differences of opinion regarding what, exactly, it might look like, this forced slow-down undoubtedly creates space for positive change to endure. Merely as a result of the existence of this transition period comes an unprecedented and universal awareness that pushes us toward collaborative action.
If we are able to extract anything of value from such a challenging era, perhaps we might find it in the adaptations we have already made. The peace our own backyards have offered us in the COVID era may now become a valuable resource for the maintenance of community wellbeing and engagement. By reinvigorating the usage of local trails, parks, and other natural landmarks, the sense of adventure we traditionally localize outward can return home. Admittedly, using the words “backyard” and “adventure” together seems incongruent at first. Still, the essence of tourism itself involves an appreciation of the unfamiliar. If, as a function of existence within a high-powered society, we have become detached from our surroundings, then we, too, can become tourists within our own communities. Endowed with the affection of home, these familiar scenes have potential to become some of the most potent sources of tranquility and inspiration in our journey to recover from the pandemic.
The online community Urban Outdoors, founded by nature advocate Kay Rodriguez, aims to spark such local reconnection all across the United States. As its mission statement explains, the goal of the informational and inspirational site is to “help more people get outdoors and develop the skills for safe, conscious exploration of nature.” Through extensive research and incorporation of personal stories, the company develops exploration guides tailored to particular areas of the country. Packaging such practical information in a readable, online format makes the process of getting outdoors considerably less intimidating to the average consumer. Kay herself notes that web traffic on Urban Outdoors has increased exponentially throughout the last year, perhaps attributable in part to the need for community reprieve amidst the restriction of the stay-at-home orders.
Though the platform has resources for the entire nation, the New England area is frequently featured. “I was shocked by the offerings in the Northeast to get outdoors and get involved with nature; it is exceptional,” Kay exclaims, she herself having had the opportunity to travel all across the country to do research for Urban Outdoors. It is all too easy to take for granted what has always been there, and New England readers for whom serene waters and rolling hills are a familiar sight are especially prone to falling into this trap. The solution seems to be to engage with intention, to research your own locality as much as you might a planned vacation destination.
A look back at the origin of the word “tourism” itself reveals this profound connection between adventure and home. According to scholar Neil Leper in his report “An Etymology of ‘Tourism,’” the earliest definition of the word is found in the 1811 Oxford English Dictionary, which reveals its root as the Greek “τόρνος,” meaning lathe: a tool used to create circles. In this sense, home is the origin point from which a tourist departs and to which he or she returns. The radius of the created circle may be as small or as large as the individual desires; the path of an explorer is self-established. Centering on home itself as the tether for the adventure focuses the experience as an opportunity to grow. When we explore, we inevitably return. Through this lens, the freedom to tour locally becomes even more valuable. In connecting with our surroundings, we enhance both the breadth and the depth of our daily experience. In this way, we can find the exhilaration of exploration in the profundity of the everyday.
Within Rhode Island in particular, local conservation efforts continue to provide an abundance of stunning and immaculately maintained scenery. The Newport Cliff Walk, for example, stands as one of the most well-known marvels of the Ocean State. Located along the eastern shore, sights of Newport gilded-age architecture and ocean views combine to create an astonishingly beautiful walk. A USA National Recreation Trail within a National Historic District, the walk embodies all there is to love about New England: the deep cultural roots, the breathtaking scenery, and the strong community ties. With both public right-of-way access and challenging portions of trail, the area combines accessibility with true immersion in nature.
The historic walk is the perfect example of a quite literal backyard adventure, as it traverses through sixty-four private properties within just over three miles of trail. Such a unique cooperation between locals and site administrators signifies the dedication of residents to the preservation of the landmark. With plenty of space for walkers, the site is of the variety which has seen more and more visitation during the quarantine periods. Many have rediscovered the true beauty of the tiny southern-New England state, a facet often overlooked in a nation brimming with options for adventure from coast to coast.
Less-publicized natural scenes can be viewed from wildlife refuges and reservations tucked into rural areas of the state. Conservationists selflessly maintain the biodiversity of such sites, recognizing the immense value in protecting our landscape—benefits reaped by wildlife and human populations alike. Ecosystems thrive in acres of fields and forest between residential areas, such as within the Audubon Society of Rhode Island’s 100-acre Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge. The Smithfield, RI oasis is a hidden gem, offering programs from lectures to birthday parties to birdwatching sessions. Incorporating such outdoor activities into a weekend outing can provide not only valuable education on the wonders of the natural environment we call home, but also the rejuvenation that only comes with taking the time to slow down. Recentering mindful consumption of nature as a part of our routine can widen our world. With appreciation comes gratitude, and with gratitude comes a sense of contentment that cannot be generated merely in the ceaseless pursuit of the next thing, the next idea, or the next big adventure. The next “big adventure” may be to a park nearby, or even just out the back door onto a freshly-mown lawn. The mindset of a tourist can open our minds in a new way and prime us to take in the familiar through a completely different pair of eyes.
Missy Devine is one of the individuals most intimately acquainted with the offerings of the distinctive state of Rhode Island, having worked in the state tourism industry for more than twenty years. “The COVID-19 pandemic has required a new kind of innovation,” Devine explains, “People want to have the tactile experience of being in a space, which is not something you can replicate electronically or in any other way.” This human draw toward sensory experience is a phenomenon that is perhaps not on our radar under normal circumstances, but with face-to-face interaction in short supply, it has become a glaring gap in our daily experience. Pulling us toward places we can absorb with our eyes, hands, and hearts, this wanderlust may be satisfied in the genuine appreciation of one’s locality. Devine notes that travelers have become more creative as a necessary adaptation to pandemic restrictions, a response that speaks to the power of thinking outside of the box. The brave choice to re-evaluate accepted truths seems to, ironically, often lead us home; in this way, the inquisitiveness and open-mindedness Devine observes in her clientele may be the first indication of a return to true gratitude.
As we begin to heal from a year of collective struggle and grief, we can look to our newfound sources of peace as vessels to carry us toward a healthier future. The environment in which we live has so much to offer us merely in its existence, in its permanence and perseverance amidst change. Choosing active mindfulness and engaging with our natural surroundings in intentional and immersive ways can help us become centered, grateful individuals and, ultimately, tourists in our own backyards.