With mass layoffs on the rise and a growing sense of disillusionment with work, there’s a resurgence in the pursuit of hobbies among adults. Yet, finding the right hobby can be surprisingly challenging. Our lives often become consumed by work, shaping our identities in ways we may not intend. Even when we strive to keep work separate from our sense of self, it has a knack for seeping into every aspect of our lives.
So, I’ve curated a list of over 80 adult field trips and hobbies to help you break free from the work-centric mindset. It’s time to reclaim your identity beyond the confines of your job title. I challenge you to explore hobbies that ignite your creativity and push you out of your comfort zone. As adults, we often fall prey to perfectionism, striving to excel at everything we do. But it’s okay to embrace being a novice, to revel in the journey of learning something new.
Sure, you’ll stumble upon hobbies you’re not particularly adept at, and that’s perfectly fine. Embrace the process of growth and discovery. And don’t feel pressured to master all 80 hobbies listed here; that would be overwhelming. Instead, take your time to explore. You can use the Ctrl+F or Command+F function on your keyboard to navigate through the list.
Before diving into the world of hobbies, I’ve got a little assignment for you. I’ve included a field trip permission slip (see above), but not for your typical school outing. This one’s a declaration—to yourself—that you’re committing to exploring hobbies that resonate with you. Take a moment to download it and sign it, solidifying your dedication to this journey of self-discovery.
And to accompany your permission slip, I’ve included a note-taking sheet. Use it to jot down your thoughts, impressions, and experiences as you delve into different hobbies. I’ve listed 12 slots—one for each month—encouraging you to try at least one new hobby every month. Trust me, by the end of the year, you’ll have unearthed a hobby that truly lights you up.
Adult Field Trips:
- Brewery / Distillery Tours: Explore the fascinating process of how beers, whiskies, or spirits are crafted, from raw materials to the finished product, often with a chance to sample various brews or spirits directly from the source.
- Art Galleries: Immerse yourself in the world of art by visiting galleries that showcase a wide range of styles and periods, providing insights into the artists’ visions, techniques, and the cultural context of their work.
- Museums: Discover collections of artifacts, art, and exhibits that span a variety of interests—from history and science to art and technology—offering educational experiences and insights into different aspects of human culture and natural history.
- Botanical Gardens: Wander through beautifully curated gardens that display an extensive variety of plants, flowers, and ecosystems, often with a focus on conservation, education, and research.
- Arboretums: Explore outdoor gardens dedicated to the collection, cultivation, and study of trees, shrubs, and other woody plants in a scientifically arranged setting for education and enjoyment.
- Local Farms: Experience rural life and learn about farm-to-table processes by visiting local farms, where you can often participate in activities such as picking produce, feeding animals, and learning about sustainable agriculture.
- Farmers’ Markets: Browse and shop at local markets where farmers and artisans sell their fresh produce, handmade goods, and local delicacies, offering a taste of the region’s seasonal and culinary diversity.
- Historical Landmarks: Step back in time by visiting historical landmarks, which are sites recognized for their significant historical, cultural, or architectural importance, offering a direct connection to the past and insight into the area’s heritage.
Field Trip Spotlight: City Walking Tours
A city walking tour is a guided exploration that takes participants through various parts of a city, often focusing on specific themes, historical sites, architectural landmarks, cultural districts, or hidden gems. These tours are typically conducted on foot and led by knowledgeable guides who provide insights, stories, and facts about the places visited. City walking tours can cater to different interests, such as history, art, food, or photography, offering both locals and tourists an intimate and detailed perspective of the city’s character, history, and culture. They are a popular way to learn about a city’s heritage, understand its layout, and discover places that might be overlooked when exploring independently.
- Local Monuments: Visit significant markers or structures that commemorate historical figures, events, or cultural heritage, offering insights into local history and identity.
- Cooking Classes: Engage in hands-on culinary lessons where you can learn new recipes, techniques, and the cultural background behind various dishes.
- Culinary Tours: Explore a city’s culinary scene through guided tours that sample local eateries, specialty food shops, and regional delicacies, providing a taste of local flavors and culinary traditions.
- Live Theater Performances: Experience the magic of storytelling through live performances, ranging from dramas and musicals to modern experimental theater.
- Comedy Clubs: Enjoy a night of laughter and entertainment by watching stand-up comedians, improv troupes, and sketch comedy shows.
- Science Centers: Discover interactive exhibits and educational programs that make learning about science and technology fun and engaging for all ages.
- Planetariums: Immerse yourself in the wonders of the universe, exploring stars, planets, and galaxies through stunning visual projections and educational shows.
- Cultural Festivals: Participate in celebrations that showcase the traditions, music, dance, and foods of different cultures, providing a vibrant and immersive experience.
- Ethnic Neighborhoods: Explore neighborhoods known for their cultural heritage, offering authentic food, shops, and cultural experiences unique to specific ethnic groups.
- Themed Workshops / Classes: Join workshops or classes focused on specific hobbies or interests, such as photography, writing, or sustainable living, providing skills and knowledge in a particular area.
- Winery Tours and Wine Tastings: Discover the art of winemaking and sample various wines while learning about the different grape varieties, regions, and wine-tasting techniques.
- Aquariums: Explore marine life through exhibits that showcase the diversity of underwater ecosystems, including fish, invertebrates, and aquatic mammals.
- Zoos: Visit wildlife in carefully created habitats, learning about animal behavior, conservation efforts, and biodiversity.
- Escape Rooms: Test your problem-solving skills in a themed room where you and a team must solve puzzles and clues to “escape” within a set time limit.
- Game Bars: Enjoy a social atmosphere while playing board games, video games, or other interactive entertainment in a bar or café setting.
- Local Nature Reserves or Parks: Immerse yourself in nature by visiting reserves or parks, where you can hike, bird-watch, or simply enjoy the tranquility of the outdoors.
- Food Trucks Exploration: Sample a variety of street food and innovative dishes by exploring different food trucks, offering a casual and diverse dining experience.
- Vintage Shops: Hunt for unique, retro, and vintage items ranging from clothing and accessories to furniture and collectibles.
- Flea Markets: Browse a variety of stalls selling second-hand goods, antiques, crafts, and local produce, offering a treasure trove of unique finds.
- Pottery Studios / Ceramics Workshops: Get creative with clay in a hands-on workshop, learning techniques like throwing, molding, and glazing to create your own pottery pieces.
- Architectural Tours: Explore a city’s architecture through guided tours that highlight historical buildings, modern landmarks, and unique design elements.
- Ghost Tours / Haunted Locations Visits: Experience the spookier side of a city by exploring haunted locations, learning about local legends, and possibly encountering the paranormal.
- Botanical Gardens: Stroll through diverse plant collections and beautifully landscaped areas, which may include exotic plants, seasonal displays, and thematic gardens.
- Herbal Medicine Walks: Learn about the medicinal properties of various plants and herbs in their natural setting, often led by knowledgeable herbalists or naturalists.
- Specialty or Ethnic Cooking Classes: Dive deeper into specific culinary arts or ethnic cuisines, learning techniques, ingredients, and traditions from expert chefs.
- Trolley or Bus Tours: Sit back and enjoy a guided tour around a city or region, highlighting key attractions, landmarks, and historical sites from the comfort of a trolley or bus.
- Yoga Retreats: Escape daily life and deepen your yoga practice in a retreat setting, often combined with meditation, wellness workshops, and natural surroundings.
- Meditation Workshops: Learn and practice meditation techniques aimed at reducing stress, enhancing concentration, and promoting overall well-being.
- Glassblowing Studios: Discover the art of glassblowing by watching skilled artisans or participating in workshops to create your own glass pieces.
- Candle-Making Workshops: Learn the process of candle making, including scent and color mixing, to create your own custom candles.
- Soap-Making Workshops: Discover the craft of making natural soaps from scratch, using various ingredients, scents, and molds.
- Rock Climbing Gyms: Challenge yourself physically and mentally by climbing indoor rock walls, suitable for all skill levels.
- Adventure Parks: Enjoy a day of outdoor activities such as zip-lining, rope courses, and climbing challenges, offering fun and adventure for all ages.
- Karaoke Nights: Unleash your inner star by singing your favorite songs in a fun, supportive environment, often available in bars or special karaoke venues.
- Dance Classes: Learn new dance styles, improve your technique, and have fun by joining classes ranging from salsa and ballet to hip-hop and ballroom.
- Sports Games: Experience the excitement of live sports by attending professional or amateur games, from football and basketball to baseball and soccer.
- Stadium Tours: Get a behind-the-scenes look at the workings of a sports stadium, including areas typically closed to the public, like locker rooms and VIP sections.
- Horseback Riding / Equestrian Centers: Explore scenic trails, learn basic riding skills, or improve your equestrian techniques at horseback riding centers or on guided tours.
Tried and Tested Hobbies
- Painting or Drawing: This hobby involves creating art through mediums such as paint, charcoal, pencils, or pastels, allowing for self-expression and creativity on various surfaces like canvas, paper, or digital screens.
- Photography: Photography captures moments, scenes, and subjects using a camera, allowing hobbyists to express themselves and see the world from different perspectives, while also learning about composition and lighting.
- Hiking or Nature Walks: This activity involves walking through natural landscapes, offering physical exercise, mental relaxation, and the opportunity to appreciate outdoor environments and wildlife.
- Yoga or Meditation: These practices focus on physical poses, breathing techniques, and mindfulness to enhance physical flexibility, mental clarity, and emotional well-being.
- Cooking or Baking: This hobby involves preparing and experimenting with different recipes and ingredients to create meals and desserts, offering a way to explore culinary arts and enjoy homemade creations.
- Gardening: Gardening involves cultivating plants, vegetables, or flowers, providing a relaxing and rewarding activity that connects individuals with nature and contributes to environmental well-being.
- Playing a Musical Instrument: Learning and playing a musical instrument fosters creativity, improves cognitive skills, and provides a source of personal enjoyment and expression through the production of music.
Hobby Spotlight: Bullet Journaling
Bullet journaling, often referred to as “BuJo,” is a customizable organization system developed by Ryder Carroll, a designer based in New York. It is essentially a method that combines elements of a planner, diary, and to-do list into one simplified system. Bullet journaling can be done in any notebook and is characterized by its use of bullet points as the core structure.
- Writing or Journaling: Expressing thoughts, emotions, or experiences through written words, often as a form of self-reflection or creative outlet.
- DIY Projects: Engaging in hands-on activities to create or repair items independently, often involving crafting, woodworking, or home improvement tasks.
- Reading: Immersing oneself in written literature or informational material for enjoyment, learning, or relaxation.
- Volunteering: Offering one’s time and skills to support a cause or organization without expecting financial compensation, often for the betterment of the community or society.
- Fishing: Engaging in the recreational activity of catching fish, either for sport, relaxation, or sustenance, often done in natural bodies of water.
- Candle Making or Soap Making: Crafting homemade candles or soap using various materials and techniques, often as a creative hobby or for personal use.
- Board Games or Puzzles: Playing strategic or mentally stimulating games with friends or family, often involving boards, cards, or puzzles.
- Learning a New Language: Acquiring proficiency in a foreign language through study, practice, and immersion, often for personal enrichment or professional development.
- Dancing: Moving rhythmically to music, either alone or with others, as a form of self-expression, exercise, or social activity.
- Martial Arts or Self-Defense Classes: Engaging in structured training to learn techniques for self-defense, discipline, physical fitness, or personal development.
- Pottery or Sculpting: Creating three-dimensional art pieces from clay or other materials, often using techniques such as molding, shaping, and firing.
- Bird Watching: Observing and identifying birds in their natural habitats, often with the goal of appreciating their beauty, behavior, and ecological significance.
- Stargazing or Astronomy: Observing celestial objects such as stars, planets, and galaxies using telescopes or binoculars, often for enjoyment, education, or scientific inquiry.
- Knitting or Crocheting: Using yarn and needles or hooks to create fabric and garments through interlocking loops, often as a relaxing and creative pastime.
- Collecting: Accumulating and categorizing items of interest, such as stamps, coins, or memorabilia, often for enjoyment, investment, or historical preservation.
- Singing: Using the voice to produce musical sounds and melodies, often as a form of artistic expression, entertainment, or communal activity.
- Skateboarding: Riding and performing tricks on a skateboard, often in skate parks or urban environments, as a recreational or competitive sport.
Hobby Spotlight: Rollerskating
Rollerskating is a fun, versatile activity that has been enjoyed by people of all ages for decades. It combines fitness, dance, and transportation, and it can be done both indoors in roller rinks and outdoors on streets or in parks.
- Astrophotography (Astronomy photography): Capturing images of celestial objects such as stars, planets, and galaxies using specialized equipment like telescopes and cameras, often requiring long exposures and precise tracking techniques.
- Metal Detecting: Using a metal detector to search for buried metallic objects underground, such as coins, relics, or lost items, as a hobby or for archaeological purposes.
- Calligraphy or Hand Lettering: Practicing the art of decorative handwriting, often using specialized pens or brushes to create visually appealing letters and designs, often for invitations, signage, or personal expression.
- Camping: Spending time outdoors in tents or shelters, often in natural settings such as forests or mountains, for recreation, relaxation, or adventure.
- Urban Gardening: Cultivating plants, flowers, or vegetables in urban environments such as balconies, rooftops, or community gardens, often to enhance green spaces, grow food, or beautify the surroundings.
- Rock Climbing: Ascending natural or artificial rock formations using hands, feet, and specialized equipment such as ropes and harnesses, as a recreational or competitive sport requiring physical strength, skill, and mental focus.
- Stand-up Comedy: Performing comedic monologues or routines in front of an audience, often in comedy clubs, theaters, or other entertainment venues, with the goal of eliciting laughter and entertainment.
- Woodworking: Crafting objects and structures from wood using tools such as saws, chisels, and drills, often for practical purposes like furniture or decorations, as well as for artistic expression.
- Astrology: Studying celestial bodies’ positions and their supposed influence on human affairs and natural events, often using horoscopes and birth charts to make predictions and interpretations about personality traits, relationships, and life events.
- Parkour: Moving rapidly through urban environments using acrobatic techniques such as jumping, climbing, and vaulting over obstacles, often as a form of physical exercise, self-expression, or personal challenge.
- Model Building: Assembling and painting scale models of vehicles, aircraft, ships, or buildings, often as a meticulous and detail-oriented hobby, sometimes involving historical accuracy or creative customization.
- At-Home Brewing: Brewing beer, cider, or wine at home using fermentation processes and ingredients such as grains, hops, yeast, and fruit, often as a hobby to explore different flavors and brewing techniques.
- Volunteering at an Animal Shelter: Assisting with the care and welfare of animals in shelters or rescue organizations, often by feeding, exercising, grooming, and socializing animals, as well as helping with adoption efforts and administrative tasks.
- DIY Electronics: Designing, building, and repairing electronic devices and circuits using components such as resistors, capacitors, and microcontrollers, often for educational purposes or to create custom gadgets and inventions.
- Making Music: Creating and performing musical compositions using instruments, voice, and technology, often as a form of self-expression, entertainment, or collaboration with other musicians.
Hobby Spotlight: Lofi Beat Making
Lofi beat making is a music production hobby that involves creating low-fidelity (lofi) beats, characterized by their mellow, nostalgic, and slightly imperfect sound. This genre often features relaxed tempos, smooth melodies, and a mix of synthetic and organic sounds. The “lofi” quality comes from the intentional inclusion of imperfections such as background noise, vinyl crackle, and tape hiss, which give the music a warm, vintage feel.
- Indoor Skydiving: Experiencing the sensation of freefall in a vertical wind tunnel, simulating the feeling of skydiving without jumping from an airplane, often as a recreational activity or training for actual skydiving.
- Wine Tasting and Appreciation: Sampling various wines to discern their flavors, aromas, and characteristics, often guided by a sommelier or wine expert to learn about wine regions, grape varieties, and winemaking techniques.
- Film or Book Club Participation: Joining a group of individuals to discuss and analyze films or books, sharing perspectives, insights, and interpretations, often as a social and intellectual activity to explore different genres, themes, and storytelling techniques.
- Upcycling Furniture: Repurposing old or discarded furniture pieces by refurbishing or modifying them to create unique and aesthetically pleasing items, often using creative techniques such as painting, staining, or adding decorative elements.
Outside of Your Comfort Zone Hobbies
- Geocaching: Participants use GPS coordinates to locate hidden containers, or “geocaches,” which can contain trinkets or logbooks. It’s a blend of outdoor exploration and puzzle-solving, with the goal of finding hidden treasures.
- Lapidary: This involves cutting, shaping, and polishing gemstones and minerals to create jewelry, sculptures, or other decorative items. It requires knowledge of minerals and gemstones, as well as skills in cutting and polishing techniques.
- Urban Exploration (Urbex): Urbex involves exploring abandoned buildings, tunnels, and other off-limits urban areas. It’s often driven by a fascination with history, architecture, and the thrill of discovery, but it also carries risks and ethical considerations.
- Fermentation: Fermentation is the process of converting sugars into alcohol or organic acids using microorganisms like yeast or bacteria. It’s used to make a variety of foods and beverages, including beer, wine, cheese, yogurt, kimchi, kombucha, and kefir.
- Letterboxing: Letterboxing combines elements of treasure hunting, puzzle-solving, and storytelling. Participants follow clues to find hidden containers, or letterboxes, which often contain a logbook and a rubber stamp. They use their own personal stamp to mark the logbook and may also leave messages or small trinkets for others.
- Fire Spinning: Fire spinning involves manipulating objects, such as poi or staff, that are set on fire for visual and performance artistry. It requires skill, coordination, and safety precautions to perform various spinning techniques and create mesmerizing patterns with the flames.
- Beekeeping: Beekeeping involves the maintenance of beehives to produce honey and other hive products, such as beeswax and royal jelly. It requires knowledge of bee behavior, hive management, and honey extraction techniques, as well as a commitment to environmental stewardship and bee health.
- Trainspotting: Trainspotting is the hobby of observing, photographing, and documenting trains and railways. Enthusiasts may focus on specific types of trains, historic railways, or collecting train-related memorabilia.
- Hydroponics: Hydroponics is a method of growing plants without soil, using nutrient-rich water solutions instead. It’s often practiced indoors, in controlled environments, and allows for year-round cultivation of crops, with potential benefits like increased yields and water efficiency.
- Radio Controlled (RC) Vehicles: This hobby involves building, customizing, and operating remote-controlled cars, planes, boats, and other vehicles. It requires technical skills in mechanics, electronics, and radio transmission, as well as a passion for model building and recreational driving or flying.
- Cryptography: Cryptography involves encoding and decoding messages to secure communication and protect information from unauthorized access. It’s used in various applications, including cybersecurity, data encryption, and code-breaking puzzles.
- Trampolining: Trampolining involves performing acrobatic maneuvers and tricks on a trampoline. It’s a recreational sport that can be practiced for fun, exercise, or as part of competitive gymnastics routines, and it offers opportunities for aerial flips, twists, and somersaults.
- Feng Shui Design: Feng Shui is an ancient Chinese practice of arranging spaces to promote harmony and balance. In Feng Shui design, practitioners use principles such as the arrangement of furniture, color schemes, and decorative elements to create a harmonious environment that enhances well-being and energy flow.
Hobby Spotlight: Running Fan Pages
Running fan pages can be a fun and rewarding way to engage with communities of people who share similar interests, whether those interests lie in celebrities, TV shows, movies, books, sports teams, or any other subject. Running a successful fan page involves a combination of content creation, community management, and social media marketing. Here are some tips on how to effectively run a fan page:
- Soap Carving: This involves sculpting intricate designs out of bars of soap using carving tools. It’s a creative and delicate art form that allows for the creation of detailed sculptures and designs.
- Antiquing: Antiquing is the hobby of collecting or browsing for antiques and vintage items. Enthusiasts often visit antique shops, flea markets, and estate sales to find unique and valuable pieces from the past, such as furniture, artwork, ceramics, and collectibles.
- Mushroom Foraging: Mushroom foraging involves identifying and collecting wild mushrooms for culinary or medicinal purposes. It requires knowledge of mushroom species, habitats, and safety precautions to avoid toxic or poisonous varieties.
- Knife Making: Knife making is the craft of crafting custom knives using various materials and techniques such as forging, grinding, and shaping. It’s a hands-on hobby that allows enthusiasts to create unique and functional knives for utility, decoration, or collection.
- Disc Golf: Disc golf is a sport similar to traditional golf but played with frisbees or discs instead of balls and clubs. Players throw discs toward designated targets, such as metal baskets, aiming to complete each hole in the fewest throws possible.
- Arrowhead Hunting: Arrowhead hunting involves searching for ancient artifacts such as arrowheads, spear points, and tools. Enthusiasts explore outdoor locations such as fields, riverbanks, and archaeological sites to discover relics from past civilizations.
- Genealogy: Genealogy is the study of family history and the tracing of ancestry through research and documentation. Genealogists use various resources such as historical records, archives, and DNA testing to uncover information about their ancestors and build family trees.
- Astrolabe Making: Astrolabe making is the craft of crafting historical astronomical instruments used for navigation, timekeeping, and celestial observations. It involves precision machining and assembly to create functional and accurate astrolabes based on ancient designs.
- Caving or Spelunking: Caving or spelunking involves exploring caves and underground passages for adventure, exploration, and scientific study. Cavers navigate through dark and sometimes challenging environments, encountering unique geological formations, underground rivers, and cave-dwelling organisms.
- Trapeze or Aerial Arts: Trapeze or aerial arts involve performing acrobatic maneuvers and routines on aerial apparatus such as trapezes, aerial silks, and aerial hoops. It’s a physically demanding and visually stunning form of performance art that requires strength, flexibility, and grace.
- Candle Making with Unique Designs: This involves creating custom-shaped or scented candles using molds, waxes, and fragrances. Enthusiasts can experiment with different designs, colors, and scents to produce personalized candles for decoration, gifts, or aromatherapy.
- Renaissance Faires Participation: Renaissance faires are events that recreate historical periods, often set in the Renaissance era, featuring costumed performers, artisans, and entertainers. Participants immerse themselves in the period’s culture, traditions, and activities through reenactments, crafts, games, and performances.
- Dowsing: Dowsing is a practice that involves using divination tools such as dowsing rods or pendulums to locate underground water sources, minerals, or other hidden objects. It’s often used by water well drillers, archaeologists, and treasure hunters, although its efficacy is debated among skeptics and scientists.
Featured hobby videos by Jared Leong. He created his space, “Not Just a Hobby” to show authentic depictions of people engaging with hobbies they love.