Airbnb Wants You To Channel Your Inner Thrill-Seeker

How does a girl who hates the outdoors end up an hour and a half away from New York City in a yurt?

Well, I'd like to thank my connect, okay, my fantastic editor Sheriden and the bossin' team at Airbnb who made this happen for me. I, along with a few other journalists, were invited on a "field trip." But the kicker was we didn't know the who, what, where, or why. It was like a blind travel date, and of course, the adventurer in me said "yes" without hesitation.

Next thing I know, I'm catching a school bus in Washington Heights, eating a sack breakfast made by the Bronx-based chefs of Ghetto Gastro filled with plant-based goodies like a yam and collard green sandwich, infused fruit, and coconut yogurt; while napping all the way to Cedar Lake Estates. There, we were given a sneak peek into what would be offered with the launch Airbnb Adventures, where you can track lions on foot with warriors in Nairobi, Kenya,explore the Amazon, or take a trip around the world in 80 days.

We even got to make jam and handcraft our very own leather journals with Will and Jewel during the day.

Then, we made our way to a pre-sleep turndown musical performance around an open fire, with LA-based Flight of Voices sharing their gifts with us, while we roasted coffee and peppermint flavored marshmallows on an open fire which are all a part of their adventures in Indiana and Joshua Tree.

If you've read any of my travel stories, you know that Airbnb Experiences has helped me plan trips when going to international hot spots like Cuba, giving me the chance to support local educators, artisans, and hosts across the globe. The Airbnb Adventures model keeps that at the heart while providing adventurers the opportunity to book travel that not only offers the unique excursions but accommodations. The Adventures will cover a range of budgets with options starting at $79 for an overnight trip up to $5000 for a bucket list-worthy 80-day trip that will take you to six continents and eighteen countries with airfare included.

Um, where can I sign up?

These days many of us (millennials) are seeking a chance to get away. But instead of coming back with photos to post to our social media feeds, we want to walk away impactful moments to carry with us in our everyday lives with transformative travel experiences. I can attest that immersing myself into the culture of places I visit domestically and abroad have grown my world view and opened me up beyond my bubble, and that seems to be at the core of Airbnb's mission with the release of Airbnb Adventures.

"Getting access to epic and transformational travel has never been easier than through Airbnb Adventures," said Joe "Joebot" Zadeh, VP Experiences, Airbnb. "Like Airbnb Experiences, people can escape their day-to-day and put their screens and devices away, but now instead of just a few hours, they have the option to be fully immersed off-the-beaten-path, to push themselves out of their comfort zones and have experiences that will stay with them for the rest of their lives."

As of today, there are over 200 adventures available with plans for more to be added before the end of the year that will be vetted to ensure they met the Airbnb standard.

My 36-hour camping trip pushed me in a way I hadn't expected while allowing me to connect with nature and new people, which is what travel and Airbnb Adventures is all about. Whether you're a foodie, a nature lover, or a thrill-seeker, you can find an Adventure that will push you out of your comfort zone while connecting you with hosts that will make sure you are safe and supported, thanks to their expertise.