Get up, work, have dinner: Daily routine has us in its grip! When you're climbing the walls, it's time for a real change. How about a camping micro-adventure to bring some fresh air into your life?

From today's post by VanSite you'll take away:

• what a micro-adventure actually is

• why you don't necessarily have to leave your own property for a new experience

• which camping activities are right for you and your family

Start packing your backpack!

What exactly is a micro-adventure?

As the name suggests, it's a short but still challenging outing in nature.

You basically get exciting experiences right on your doorstep that shake up your everyday life. You don't need to spend a lot of money or travel far to some distant spot.

Just head out after work or at the weekend!

The more spontaneous your micro-adventure, the more memorable the trip.

When you spend a night outside your own bed every now and then, your whole everyday life becomes much more colourful!

Micro-adventures for beginners: simple ideas for small experiences

You don't need much to break out of your usual camping routine for a while.

Get inspired by our micro-adventure ideas:

• Grab your bike and pack a small snack in your backpack. Just ride off, preferably on routes you don't know yet. You can stop and have a relaxed picnic along the way.

• Take the train or bus to the nearest big city and explore it without a map.

• Put on weatherproof clothes and head cross-country. Pick wild herbs along the way, gather mushrooms and berries. At home you can take your time to identify them and cook something delicious.

• Work outdoors for a day. Maybe you already have a VanOffice?

• Try out a different hobby every week until you find one you really like.

• Go into the forest with friends and walk barefoot there for several hours.

This list could go on forever!

Maybe you have completely different ideas you'd love to put into practice.

Image by Jake Melara |

Camping on weekdays: how nature lovers get their money's worth

Love being close to nature? Then head out for short camping trips into the wild during the week and at weekends.

Even if you only have a few hours, a micro-adventure is always worth it!

Micro-adventures for nature lovers:

• Throw a sleeping mat and a blanket in the car and drive to a nearby spot. You can also book a VanSite pitch near you. Enjoy the night sky full of stars and drive back the next morning.

• Pack your hammock and a sleeping bag in a bag and spend a night in a friend's garden there.

• Climb a mountain, admire the view and treat yourself to a cold drink.

• Make a spontaneous plan with a few friends to meet in the forest. Everyone brings a bite to eat and you make yourselves comfortable for a night under the canopy.

• Micro-adventures for pros: Get in your fully packed and well-equipped camper and drive wherever the wind takes you. Sleep somewhere and feel free!

It's always about having fun and plenty of variety. So do whatever feels right!

Micro-adventures with children

When your kids have been at school or nursery all day, they'll be very grateful for a bit of variety.

You can surprise them by picking them up with the gear already packed.

A picnic blanket, a filled snack basket and a few camping games are usually enough to sweeten your kids' everyday life with a micro-adventure.

Give these a try:

• Have a small picnic in the forest and collect natural materials for an afternoon of crafts at home.

• Invite a few of your child's friends and take them to a water park.

• Head out with your child for a hike on Friday afternoon and spend the night together in the car/camper.

• Go on a bike ride together to the grandparents, lie down in the grass on the way and watch the clouds.

• Take your child into the forest, walk barefoot and build a few hideouts or a makeshift shelter from branches.

• Visit the nearest farm and buy whatever the child wants.

• Go for a short boat trip on a nearby lake or take a spin on a SUP.

• Have an outdoor dinner and cook with ingredients from nature.

Your child's eyes will light up! After all, they usually have a daily routine just as scheduled (and monotonous) as yours.

A micro-adventure is very welcome to spice up the dull daily grind a little.

Image by Annie Spratt |

3 tips: micro-adventures at home

Know the feeling? You just can't get away from home. Maybe there's still an important call to make or a family member is sick...

Even so, you can create a micro-adventure inside and outside your own four walls.

Tip no. 1: camping in the garden

How about sleeping on the balcony or in the garden for a night? That already brings a little adventure feeling! Together with your children you could maybe put up a tent for camping in the garden pitch.

Tip no. 2: Cooking evening

Try something completely new every now and then: a dish with exotic ingredients. A cosy cooking evening with friends is a great way to really let loose in the evening.

Tip no. 3: Treasure hunt in the children's room

Get a few small surprises, lay a trail and set up an exciting treasure hunt for your kids. They'll definitely have fun... and in the meantime you can relax a little.

A classic win-win situation!

Basic gear: the backpack for everyday adventures

Has the micro-adventure bug caught you and you can no longer imagine a single week without exciting experiences?

Then it's time to put together a small basic kit that you always have ready.

With this hiking gear you're ready for (almost) any short camping trip:

• large backpack

• sleeping bag + sleeping mat / hammock

• T-shirt, trousers, spare underwear

• softshell jacket

• compass, map, smartphone

• mug, pot, cutlery, camping stove

• towel

Hiking, swimming and sleeping under the open sky is no problem with this kit. If you have room, you could also pack a tent or a tarp.

Do you have a converted camper van / mini camper? Then your hand luggage will be considerably lighter.

Conclusion: micro-adventures enrich your life!

Want to have stories to tell when you're older?

Then short trips are a wonderful option for breaking out of everyday routines and experiencing as much as possible!

Whether you're single, with friends or with the whole family: you can shape micro-adventures so there's something for everyone. Especially your kids will definitely be excited when you surprise them every now and then with a night hike, a bike ride or a trip to the swimming pool.

You can also experience plenty at home!

Invite friends to an apartment party, sleep in the garden or send your kids on a treasure hunt.

When every week is packed with a few adventures, it will have a positive effect on your quality of life!

We hope we've given you plenty of inspiration! In the VanSite pitch search you can filter specifically and search for pitches with alpaca trekking, climbing, horse riding and many other activities.