No-flight holiday - explore your own backyard

Holidays, aren't they what we (most people) work for? 
Thinking of holidays we think of sunny beaches, snowy mountains, adventures, culture-filled cities.. however holidays also come with a cost, both monetary and energetic: flights, check-in times to hostels or hotels, finding a good apartment to rent, bus connections... Not to think of the environmental impacts associated with taking frequent flights. 

So, especially for a weekend get-away, the costs may outweigh the benefits.

But spending a long weekend stuck at home, while it does seem to have zero costs and not impacting on the environment may impact your own wellbeing! Everyone needs a change of scenery, new atmosphere, new experiences.. However I am ready to bet there is plenty yet left to explore just a short drive away from your home!

Lucky for me, living in Ireland there is plenty to do a short drive away! 
On this bank holiday weekend I explored more parts of North Donegal (Inishowen Peninsula) and I was lucky enough to participate in the Culdaff climbfest, and climbed outdoors for the first time in my life. New experience, check! I might be addicted to climbing now and can't wait for the next adventure. For those who wonder: doesn't climbing have an environmental impact in itself? My answer it: it depends on how you do it. I can assure you that we made no damages to the cliffs climbed, care was taken not to impact vegetation on route to the cliffs and on the cliffs, not to damage the rocks themselves, not disturbing nests (by not placing routes in areas with potential nests). Being outdoors and enjoying the countryside and the seaside can have positive effects on both us people and on our perception and respect for these amazing environments. 

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Where do we sleep, you may wonder? We pitched up our little tent, together with other climbers, with permission from a local landowner. Again, little impact. We brought food from home and made sure to "leave no trace" of our passage by taking any refuse with us and recycling when possible. Tips to make camping as sustainable as possible: be mindful of location, both in terms of nature and the community, bring reusable bottles and containers for food and drinks, and most importantly leave no traces.
In terms of driving, try to limit driving once your destination is reached, explore your surrounding by walking, longboarding, biking, running.. and pack as many friends as possible in the same car - you might find some real face-to-face instead of face-to-book interactions may be fun (pack someone good with directions and a good dj as a minimum). 
Your surroundings may surprise you, and you may find you will come back more relaxed than if you had to go through various security and passport checks! Last rule: remember to have fun! ​

And little 'daycations' to explore nearby areas can also be part of family adventures too, just be sure to have things at hand to entertain the kids (screen free of course!). 

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