You may have had some amazing travel adventures, and you may plan to have more. Hopefully, you also have a little bit of down time that you can enjoy in a place called home. Oddly enough, finding excitement and adventure on a daily basis is a lot more challenging at home than when you're hiking up an unknown mountainside or tasting an exotic delicacy on foreign soil. I say oddly enough because life at home really has a lot of challenges, so it should be seen as an adventure.

In order to get past the ho-hum dreariness of your daily chores or the sheer stress of job, family or money related issues I recommend that you look at 3 areas of your life: outdoor space, down time, and fun.

How much time you spend in the outdoors has less to do with where you live than it does with the type of person you are. If you're truly an adventure seeker, it's a safe bet to say that you've spent a good deal of time rafting down rivers or rappelling down a mountainside. Too much? OK. Maybe you just appreciate fresh air and the feel of being near a roaring ocean or a snow-capped mountain. Adventure is more about trying something new than doing something daring.

The secret is to bring your love for adventure home. One way to do this is to transform your porch, back yard, balcony or even garage into an attractive sitting area where you will want to spend some time each day. You can do this by placing a couple of Adirondack chairs around a fire pit in your back yard, or by moving some canvas lawn chairs and a mini-fridge into your garage. Being outdoors allows you to expand your thinking.

Down time is important too. Taking time to slow down, chat with a friend or loved one and forget your troubles is important. It may be you and a beer. Or chatting with a kid about school. This can actually be a good time to plan, or just dream about your next travel adventure. Setting aside time each day is essential to recapture your spirit.

Finally, fun. Isn't this what it's all about? The truth is that you can find adventure right in your own backyard, or maybe the state park in your neck of the woods. Take a walk, a bike ride, and explore your local neighborhood. I'll be there are tourist attractions and campsites in a day's drive that you're not even aware of.

A sense of adventure is more about your willingness to explore what's around you and try something new than it is about where you go or how daring the activity. Underground caverns, jellyfish on a beach or owl-sightings on a mountainside are great. If you're willing to create the time and space in your daily life you're bound to come up with some adventures in your own back yard. Or patio, deck, front porch…