Spontaneous Day Trip Checklist: Your Unscripted Adventure Guide
Expect the unexpected.
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Unless you leave room for Serendipity,
how can the Divine enter in?
The beginning of the adventure of finding
yourself is to lose the way.
—Joseph Campbell
Note: Please read The Secret of Serendipity before beginning the activities.
I recently met a friend in a parking lot to pick up supplies she was giving me for the upcoming cold snap. We met halfway on Sunday morning, a thirty-minute drive from my home.
It was an unfamiliar town, my directions a little hazy, and I got turned around.
I told her I was lost, and she asked about the landmarks, “What do you see around you?”
Across the street was the most amazing flea market, music in the air, cooking smells filling my car.
“Oh, I know where you are. That’s a great place to find hidden treasures. We should see what they have.”
But. I. Was. Too. Busy.
Today will be different, with the intention of no plans, no place to be, and no commitments. You can roam, explore, and embrace whatever the day brings.
Remember, this is only a guideline, a checklist for ideas. Add or subtract anything that speaks to your soul and sparks your creativity.
This is your day to go out there and see what happens.
Ready to see what the universe has in store? Let’s get started.
7:00 AM: Start the morning by closing your eyes and setting an open intention for the day to new experiences. Notice any resistance, acknowledge it, and let it go.
⬜️ Wear something different—that hat you bought but never wear or those funky earrings you love but think are too out there.
⬜️ Grab a small notebook and pen to record your thoughts.
⬜️ Bring water, snacks, sunscreen, and other items you may need.
8:00 AM: Walk or drive on less-traveled roads. Stop when you see a local cafe or food truck that catches your eye.
⬜️ Order the special without asking what it is (of course, within dietary restrictions).
⬜️ Ask the server about a local legend or hidden corner of the area they love.
Check-in: How do you feel? Are you uncomfortable not having a plan? Where are these feelings coming from? How do you feel in your body? Use your journal during breakfast to record your thoughts.
9:00 AM: Go to the area the server recommended. Look for the quirky—a vintage store overflowing with dusty treasures, a hole-in-the-wall bakery with the aroma of fresh bread, a bustling community garden teeming with life.
⬜️ Strike up a conversation with a local. Ask for their favorite secret spot in the neighborhood and go there.
⬜️ Take a picture of something that makes you smile—a mural bursting with colors, a weathered building whispering stories.
⬜️ Sit for a moment and just be. Close your eyes and listen to the sounds. What do you hear?
Check-in: How do you feel now? Has your mood shifted since this morning? Are you more open to new experiences and interactions? Use your journal to record unexpected moments and insights.
12:00 PM: Ditch the fast-food chains for lunch. Resist the urge to search on your phone. Choose a restaurant based on an intriguing name, a colorful menu board, or the buzz of happy diners as you walk by.
⬜️ Sit at the counter or bar. Order something you’ve never tried before. Take small bites and savor each flavor.
⬜️ Strike up a conversation with the server or someone sitting nearby. Ask them where they would go if they had an entire afternoon to spare.
2:00 PM: Go to the recommended area or walk around the restaurant. Turn down streets you’ve never been on before. Notice the architecture, street art, the people. Take photos and journal about what you see.
⬜️ Is there an activity you can join? A museum tour nearby or a local market to explore? Find a bookstore and let divinity choose a book for you.
5:00 PM: It’s time to head home. But before you do, look around and appreciate the experience. Reflect on all the new things you tried and saw today.
Check-in: How would you rate your day on a scale from one to ten? Was it challenging to step out of your comfort zone? What could you have done differently to make it a 10+ day?
⬜️ Share your experience in the comments. Did you discover unexpected fortunes, a hidden gem, or a new favorite spot?