Experience Collector

Something to look forward to

For those who love discovering new places, trying different experiences, and having something to look forward to.

Explore ways to break from routine, make memories, and bring more adventure into everyday life.

Explore Where
You Are

You don't have to travel far to discover somewhere new. Whether you're visiting another town or have a little extra time between plans, get curious about what's around you. A quick search or local recommendation might lead you to a place you never would have found otherwise.

  • Time: 15 minutes–2 hours

    Cost: Free–$

    Who's Coming: Solo, friends, partner, or family

    Mood: Curious, spontaneous, adventurous

    Energy Level: Low–Moderate

    Best Time: Whenever you have a little extra time

    Bring: Your phone to explore what's nearby, and a few favorites like a book, blanket, or snacks if you want to stay awhile.

  • The best part? There's nothing to plan.

    Next time you find yourself with a little extra time, open Google Maps or your favorite map app and take a look at what's nearby.

    Search for something that interests you. Maybe it's a quiet beach, a little bookstore, a local café, a garden, or a neighborhood you've never explored.

    You can also ask someone local, "Is there anywhere around here you'd recommend checking out?"

    Pick something that catches your attention, check that it's open and accessible, and go see what you find.

    No itinerary. No expectations. Just a little curiosity.

  • Consider keeping a few things in your trunk or in a bag you can easily grab when the opportunity to explore comes up. A cozy blanket, a good book, snacks, water, hiking shoes, a journal, camera, or a tote bag for unexpected finds might be just what you need to make the most of wherever you end up.

    You could also start saving your favorite discoveries on your map. Over time, you'll have your own little collection of places worth revisiting.

A Little Nudge: Bring a little piece of your discovery home with you. It could be a postcard from a local shop, a small keepsake, or a photo you print and display somewhere you'll see it often. A simple reminder of a place you might never have found if you hadn't taken the time to explore.

Ubud Yoga Centre
Bali, Indonesia

Try a Yoga or Pilates
Class You’ve Never Taken

Step outside your usual routine with a style of yoga or Pilates that feels completely new. Try aerial yoga, reformer Pilates, hot yoga, restorative yoga, barre, or another class you’ve always been curious about.

  • Time: 45–90 minutes
    Cost: $$ — usually $20–$55, depending on the class and studio
    Best for: Going alone, bringing a friend, trying a new challenge, or adding variety to your routine
    Best time to go: Choose a beginner-friendly class at a time when you won't feel rushed. A quieter weekday session can be a great option if you're more comfortable in a smaller group.
    Bring: Comfortable clothing, water, grip socks if required, and a willingness to be new at something

  • Search local yoga and Pilates studios for beginner classes, introductory workshops, or first-timer specials. Read the class description carefully so you understand the pace, equipment, and experience level.

    Reserve your spot ahead of time and arrive 10–15 minutes early. Let the instructor know it’s your first class so they can explain the equipment, help you get settled, and offer adjustments when needed.

  • Choose the class that feels the most interesting—not necessarily the one you think you’ll be best at. Invite a friend to try it with you, wear something you feel comfortable in, or plan coffee or breakfast afterward so the class becomes a small outing.

    You don’t have to discover your new favorite workout. Sometimes the experience is simply seeing yourself try something new.

A Little Nudge: Instead of heading straight out afterward, introduce yourself to someone in class. You might find a new workout buddy.

Bali, Indonesia

Expand Your Culinary Experience

Choose a restaurant, food market, supper club, or neighborhood you haven’t explored and order something you’ve never tasted before. It could be a regional specialty, a traditional dish from another culture, or simply a flavor combination you wouldn’t normally choose.

  • Time: 1–3 hours
    Cost: Varies — from $10–$25 at a food stall or casual restaurant to $50–$150+ for a tasting menu or special dining experience
    Best for: Going alone, sharing dishes with friends, a date, or turning an ordinary meal into an experience
    Best time to go: Lunch for a more affordable introduction or dinner when you want to make it a full outing
    Bring: An open mind, your appetite, and someone willing to share if you want to taste several dishes

  • Choose a country, region, or type of food you’ve always been curious about. Search for a local restaurant, international market, food hall, pop-up dinner, or cultural festival where you can experience it.

    Look over the menu enough to understand your options, but leave room to be surprised. Ask the server what the restaurant is known for or which dish they would recommend to someone trying the food for the first time.

  • Order the house specialty, share several smaller plates, try a traditional drink or dessert, or stop at a nearby market afterward to bring one new ingredient home. You could even choose a different part of the world to explore through food each month.

    You don’t have to travel far to experience something completely new. Sometimes it begins with what you order.

A Little Nudge: Look for a new flavor you love, then find out what gives it that taste. One new spice or ingredient might become a staple in your own kitchen.

Be a Tourist in Your
Own Town

Spend a few hours exploring your own town—or one nearby—as though you’re visiting for the first time. Walk streets you normally drive past, step inside places you’ve never noticed, and let curiosity decide where you go next.

  • Time: 1–4 hours
    Cost: Free–$$ — depending on where you stop, what you eat, or whether you visit a local attraction
    Best for: Going alone, exploring with a friend, a casual date, or sharing favorite places with someone
    Best time to go: A weekend morning or afternoon when local shops, cafés, and attractions are open
    Bring: Comfortable shoes, sunglasses, water, your phone or camera, and a little spending money for an unexpected stop

  • Choose a walkable downtown, main street, waterfront, or neighborhood you haven’t explored closely. Look up a few local landmarks, independent shops, historic buildings, cafés, parks, or galleries—but leave enough room to wander without following a strict itinerary.

    Park once and explore on foot. Walk down a street you usually pass, read the historic signs, browse a shop you’ve never entered, and stop somewhere that catches your attention.

  • Start with coffee, take photographs of details you normally overlook, try a restaurant you’ve never visited, or buy one small thing from a local shop. Invite someone to show you their favorite place, or create your own walking route to share with a friend later.

    You don’t always need a trip to experience somewhere new. Sometimes you just need to look at a familiar place differently.

A Little Nudge: Stop into a local shop and ask what they love most about the area. You might hear a story or discover a hidden gem you've been walking past for years.

Highway 1 Scenic Drive
Big Sur, Califonria

Go for a Scenic Drive

Sometimes you don’t need a destination—you just need a different view. Pick a road you’ve never taken, drive toward the water, through the countryside, or somewhere beautiful, and let the drive be part of the experience.

  • Time: 1–3 hours
    Cost: Free–$ depending on gas, tolls, and stops
    Good for: Solo, with a friend, or a date
    Best time: A free afternoon, golden hour, or a day with nowhere you need to be

  • Choose a general direction instead of planning every detail. Look for a scenic road, coastline, small town, overlook, or an area you’ve always wanted to explore. Leave yourself enough time to stop when something catches your attention instead of racing toward a destination.

    Before heading out, check road conditions, potential closures, and the weather along your route.

  • Grab a coffee before you go, make a playlist for the drive, take the slower route, or pick one place you want to stop along the way. Pull over for a beautiful view, wander through a town you didn’t plan on visiting, or stay out long enough to catch the sunset.

    The point isn’t how far you go. It’s giving yourself permission to wander a little.

A Little Nudge: Put together a playlist of songs that remind you of different chapters of your life. Sometimes a familiar road feels completely different with the right soundtrack.

GROWINSHADE Workshops
Islip, NY

Take a Sourdough Workshop

Spend some time working with your hands in the dough, learning something new alongside other curious beginners. Bring a friend or go on your own—you might discover that making bread is almost as enjoyable as eating it.

  • Time: 45 minutes-2 hours, depending on class

    Cost: $45-$115, varies by class and what is included

    Best for: Hands-on learning, meeting people, or an outing with a friend

    Best time: A day when you have time to enjoy the class without rushing

    Bring: A hair tie, a notebook, and any supplies requested

  • Find a beginner-friendly workshop and reserve your spot. Check whether you’ll be making dough yourself or watching a demonstration, what you’ll take home, and whether you need a container or apron.

  • Enjoy getting a little flour on your hands and learning as you go. Notice how the dough changes as you work, and ask the questions you’d never get to ask a recipe.

    Plan your first bake at home, give your starter a name, and invite someone over for a slice. Warm bread deserves company.

A Little Nudge: Ask your instructor where their sourdough starter came from and how long they've had it. Then share some with a friend or loved one to keep it going.

Sparkling Pointe
Southhold, NY

Visit a Local
Winery

A pretty setting, something to sip, and a little time to linger. Visit a local winery for an afternoon of good conversation, new favorites, and maybe a cheese board worth sharing.

  • Time: 1–3 hours

    Cost: $–$$ tastings and food vary

    Best for: Catching up with friends, a date, or solo time with a book

    Best time: Weekday afternoons for a quieter visit, or for a livelier outing go on a weekend or when there is live music.

    Bring: Sunglasses, a light layer, and your book if going solo.

  • Search “wineries near me” on Google Maps—you might be surprised by what’s closer than you think. Look for smaller, family-owned spots, too; a place you’ve never heard of could be perfect for an afternoon. Check hours, tasting reservations, food options, and outdoor seating. Look for live music or seasonal events, and check the picnic policy before packing anything.

    If you’ll be drinking, arrange a ride or designated driver.

  • Try something you wouldn’t usually order, share a cheese board, or bring a little picnic if allowed. Put your phone away for a while and let the conversation wander. Take a stroll through permitted areas and enjoy the view.

    Prefer to pass on wine? Look for nonalcoholic options—the setting and company are part of the outing, too.

A Little Nudge: Try a wine made from a grape you've never heard of. You might find something you like more than your usual order.

Chelsea Piers Golf Club
New York City, NY

Visit a Driving Range or Play Mini Golf

  • Time: 1–2 hours

    Cost: $–$$

    Who's Coming: Solo, partner, friends, or family

    Mood: Playful, Social, Adventurous

    Energy Level: Moderate

    Best Time: Weekends, evenings, or whenever you're looking for something fun to do

    Bring: Comfortable clothes, sneakers, water, and sunscreen if outdoors

  • Find a nearby driving range or mini golf course and check its hours, pricing, and equipment rentals. Choose a time that works for you, and check whether reservations are recommended. Many locations offer evening hours, making this an easy activity after work or on weekends.

  • Invite a friend, turn it into a casual date, or enjoy practicing on your own. Make a friendly competition out of it, stop for ice cream afterward, or try a different course the next time you go.

You don't have to be good at golf to enjoy an afternoon playing it. Whether you're practicing your swing at a driving range or navigating a miniature golf course, it's a fun way to get outside, try something different, and enjoy a little friendly competition.

A Little Nudge: Make up your own rules for a round. Award bonus points for a hole-in-one, the most creative trick shot, or getting closest to a target. Sometimes changing the rules makes the experience even more memorable.

Go Horseback Riding

Maybe you've always loved horses, or maybe it's something you've never thought to try. Either way, horseback riding offers a completely different way to spend time outdoors.
From wooded trails to open countryside, it's an opportunity to explore somewhere beautiful, learn something new, and enjoy an experience that feels a little outside your everyday routine.

  • Time: 1–3 hours

    Cost: $$–$$$

    Who's Coming: Solo, partner, friends, or family

    Mood: Adventurous, Outdoorsy, Relaxed

    Energy Level: Moderate

    Best Time: Spring through fall, especially mornings or cooler afternoons

    Bring: Long pants, closed-toe shoes, water, and weather-appropriate clothing

  • Look beyond traditional riding lessons. Some stables offer guided rides through vineyards, along beaches, or across scenic countryside. You might even find sunset rides or beginner-friendly experiences that combine horseback riding with a picnic.

    Check the experience level, age and weight requirements, and what's included before booking.

    Arrive a little early to meet the horses, get comfortable with your surroundings, and allow time for the staff to match you with a suitable horse and fit your equipment.

  • Turn the ride into a little day trip. Stop at a nearby farm stand, explore a small town, or find a country café afterward.

    If you've always wanted to learn how to ride, consider booking an introductory lesson instead of a trail ride. You could even make it a tradition to explore a different trail each season.

A Little Nudge: Choose a riding experience somewhere you'd normally explore on foot. A familiar landscape can feel completely different from horseback. Notice how the pace changes what you see, and enjoy discovering a new way to experience the outdoors.

Try Rock Climbing

Looking for something a little different from your usual weekend plans? Rock climbing is part physical challenge, part puzzle, and a lot of fun.

Whether you're climbing outdoors surrounded by beautiful scenery or trying your first route at a climbing gym, it's an opportunity to learn something new, challenge yourself, and discover what you're capable of. Sometimes the best part of a new experience is surprising yourself with what you can do.

  • Time: 1–2 hours

    Cost: $$

    Who's Coming: Solo, partner, friends, or family

    Mood: Adventurous, Playful, Challenging

    Energy Level: High

    Best Time: Weekdays, weekends, or rainy afternoons

    Bring: Comfortable athletic clothing, water, and socks for rental shoes

  • Search for an indoor climbing gym with beginner-friendly routes or introductory sessions. Some gyms offer auto-belay climbing, while others have bouldering areas where you climb shorter walls without ropes. Look for beginner classes, equipment rentals, and staff guidance.

    Check age requirements, safety procedures, and whether you need to reserve a session.

  • Bring a friend and encourage each other through different routes, or try a beginner class on your own.

    Choose a gym with several climbing styles so you can experiment. If you enjoy it, return another day and see whether you can complete a route that challenged you the first time.

A Little Nudge: Instead of making it your goal to reach the top, choose one route that looks interesting and treat it like a puzzle.

A Note From Along
the Way

Sometimes we think we need to wait for the right time, the right weather, or the right company to experience something. But things don’t always line up the way we imagined, and that doesn’t mean we have to miss out.

Maybe the plan looks a little different, happens closer to home, or becomes something smaller than we originally pictured. There’s still something wonderful to be found in making room for it.