Adventuring Like a Local

The reason we travel is to create experiences.

These experiences help broaden our knowledge, create bonds and receive insight to another world. Being a traveler, there is no better way to accomplish these goals than to put the tour book aside and live less like a tourist and more like a local.

One may think “I am not from here, how can I act like a local without an inside connection to the culture?” Living like a local can be done across the globe, whether in a mega-city or a rural farming village. It often takes us out of our comfort zone and into a world of uncertain nature. But instead of seeing the world through a guided tour bus lead by a host who has never been there besides guiding others, we are given the option to explore the path less taken. It does not have to be dangerous, it does not have to be scary, it does not have to be uncomfortable. The adventure within local travel is to push beyond the cultural walls which define who you are, and to instead break down the wall to experience the colored grass on the other side.

The easiest way to live like a local is to know a local. Of course this isn’t always possible, but if you know someone living in a different city, state or country; the hardest part on the local travel list has already been checked off. Your local guide can take you on the paths less hiked and show the hidden secrets that tourists usually skip. If you don’t know a local, hostels are a great way to connect with others living in the area. Hostels are great for holding activities that get both long-term bunkers and short-term bunkers together to connect and share stories. Or let’s say you’re staying in a campground in the mountains, who is a better local than the park ranger? They are your key to a new experience unlike the ones shown in the tourist guide.

One of the major benefits in the technological age is that it makes it so much easier to connect with other adventure-seekers. There are websites like couchsurfing.com and airbnb.com that allow you to bunk with locals or social media sites that connect you with other adventure travelers around the world.

The website I am most excited about has yet to be launched. www.advlo.com literally stand for “Adventure Local”, which are two of my favorite words. Put them together and I think I have found my heaven. The goal of this website is to connect travelers with local adventurers who wish to share their expertise with others interested in similar activities. For example, say you wanted to learn how to rock climb, normally a person would go through a larger-scale company that offers lessons for beginners. There is a good chance that the group will be large and less personal right? Advlo.com lets others set up a profile and travelers can hire them. So if an Advlo member is a great rock climber, he/she can set up a profile where anyone can book them for their own adventure. Personal? Yes. Getting to know locals? Yes. Adventure? Yes.

Everyone on the site will have verified credentials, which is great because when you book you know that you are getting an experience worth your money. People will also be able to search by area or type of activity, which will give you a range of options to choose from. Not into rock climbing? There also might be a white water rafter near by! According to Advlo, in order to be considered adventure the activity must meet the following criteria:

1) Physical Activity

2) Cultural Exchange

3) Engagement with Nature

This opens a door for all different types of adventure to be offered. Adventure is everywhere, whether you’re in the city or the mountains, the east or the west. Right now www.advlo.com is in the midst of achieving their goal of raising $25,000 to launch in early September. When it does launch, WATCH OUT WORLD, Shalee is going to have a new obsession. Not joking.

So why am I going to be so addicted to it? It’s supporting the local adventurers, it’s living like a local, it’s experiencing the world in a unique manner. When learning to ice climb, I don’t want to over-pay to be in an over-sized group where my name isn’t asked. I want to create a connection with an instructor who will be able to see my potential and improve my flaws. It’s not the same frozen waterfall everyone and their mother has been too, it’s different. Different location, different experience, different vibes.

Talking about the launch of www.advlo.com is kind of like teasing a child about their Christmas present. I just want it now! (stomps foot in frustrated manner). You can help launch Advlo too by donating money on their website (did I mention there are awesome prizes for donaters?!). So let’s start adventuring together!

The difference between a traveler and a tourist is that a tourist wishes to see landmarks that define a region, while the traveler wishes to experience the region. This goes past the photo-ops and expensive restaurants and towards the life, the locals and the culture.

Now, don’t get the wrong idea of a traveler and tourist. Travelers will still go to the Eiffel Tower and Sydney Opera House, but that is not all that they came for. Living like a local, or being a traveler; want to see why others live there. What defines the city persona? Why live here and not there? What do they see that others miss?

The main point I am trying to get to here is that traveling like a local makes an experience unique. It’s one of a kind. Not another soul on this planet will take the same path, because your path was not chosen for you. I often stress in my posts that travel is not meant to have the glory of saying you have been there and did that; but to allow you to open your eyes at the end of the day and know that you have learned something and that the experiences you were lucky enough to have will never happen again.

Thank you to www.advlo.com for the use of their photos! 

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