17 Unexpected Hobbies That Will Spice Up Your Life
If someone asks, “What are your hobbies?” do you already have a bunch to list? The most common answers might include activities like baking, reading, and gardening. But some take their spare time more seriously and have lined up recreation outside the box.
Perhaps you’re an amateur mycologist or an aspiring archer. Or maybe you’re curious and want to try something new. If so, read on for 17 unexpected hobbies that will spice up your life.
1. Astrophotography
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2. Mycology
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Mycology is the study of fungi. It may not sound as exciting as astrophotography to some, but enthusiasts have a great time setting up home labs, foraging, and collecting spore prints. It’s an underrated hobby. There are so many fascinating shroom facts to learn.
3. Bladesmithing
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Bladesmithing is an age-old trade. Bladesmiths traditionally work in a forge with a hammer, anvil, and heated metal to create knives, swords, and other bladed weapons. Watch a few episodes of Forged in Fire (2015 – present) for inspiration.
4. Archery
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Archery is a versatile sport and can be enjoyed for fun or in competition. One hobbyist archer mentioned it’s “great for improving your breath control, being aware of small movements, and vision changes.”
5. Lockpicking
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At its core, lockpicking is all about solving a puzzle. Once you understand how locks work you can quickly pick up this new skill. Lockpicking is also a great way to work on your hand-eye coordination.
6. Bird Watching
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Bird watching can be enjoyed solo or in a group, and it allows you to explore nature at the same time. You don’t even have to spend any money to get started.
7. Miniature Model Building
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Miniatures go beyond dollhouses and real estate development models. You can create entire cities and worlds from the ground up and bring your imagination to life.
8. Beekeeping
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The bee population has declined in recent years, so a way to help stave off any further decline could be through beekeeping. Not only will you help support the ecosystem, but you’ll also get some delicious honey out of it too.
9. Sand Mandalas
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Sand mandalas are part of an ancient tradition of Tibetan Buddhist culture. This meditative hobby creates beautiful images designed with colored sand, typically on the ground or flat surfaces. It represents life, our transient nature, harmony, and balance.
10. Cardistry
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If you’ve ever been to a Las Vegas casino, you’ve probably witnessed some skilled card shuffling. Not to be mistaken with card magic, cardistry is all about learning creative ways to handle and manipulate cards in your hands.
11. Historical Reenactment
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Participating in historical reenactments is a fun and social way to get involved in your community and honor history. Don’t be surprised if costumes and period-appropriate ways of speaking are involved, too.
12. Bobbin Lace
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Lace is a delicate and beautiful material. Bobbin lace is a technique that uses threads held on bobbins to create patterns and designs.
13. Junk Journaling
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Similar to scrapbooking, a junk journal is a book made of paper and other recycled materials—ribbon, stickers, postcards, buttons, and photos. Let your inspiration guide you and create a junk journal however you want to.
14. Geocaching
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Great for families and friends, geocaching is a fun outdoor activity. You’ll need the Geocaching app and a GPS device to help you navigate and find hidden containers. And yes, you’ll feel like a modern-day treasure hunter.
15. Flintknapping
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The task of making stone tools is actually an art form. Traced back to the Stone Age, flintknapping is a traditional craft that involves chipping or flaking away layers of stone as part of the process.
16. Kintsugi
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In Japan, the process of kintsugi turns broken pottery into beautiful artwork. Lacquer mixed with gold or silver is used to mend the broken pieces together. This highlights and honors the damage as part of that object’s history.
17. Lei Making
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Traditionally, lei were worn by royalty to symbolize rank and status. Now lei are presented to loved ones on special occasions. Even if you don’t have the endemic flowers of Hawai`i at hand, you can still create lei out of ribbon, yarn, raffia, and other materials.
30+ Beautiful Fall Destinations With Places to Hike in the U.S.
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If you’re looking for some inspiration for your next outdoor adventure, you’ll love this list of over 30 beautiful fall destinations with places to hike throughout the US. From mountain trails in national and state parks to coastal paths and even jungles, there’s something for everyone to spark some fall-time wanderlust!
30+ Beautiful Fall Destinations With Places to Hike in the U.S.
15 States in the U.S. Perfect for a Colorful Weekend of “Leaf Peeping”
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Who wouldn’t want to capture the trees changing color, the crunch of dry leaves underfoot, and a pumpkin-spiced latte in hand?
“Leaf peeping” is an informal term to describe the activity of visiting areas to see the fall foliage, and these 15 states in the U.S. are perfect for this kind of activity.
15 States in the U.S. Perfect for a Colorful Weekend of “Leaf Peeping”
15 Bucket List Hot Spots To See the Northern Lights
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One of the most enchanting natural phenomena in the Northern Hemisphere is the Northern Lights, also known as Aurora Borealis. On the proper night, with perfect weather conditions and peak solar activity, you can see the stunning lights that paint the night sky. Here are some of the best places to view the Northern Lights.
15 Bucket List Hot Spots To See the Northern Lights
10 Cities That Hold the Title for “Best Mexican Food” in the U.S.
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Who doesn’t love Mexican food?! Overhear, we live for tacos. According to a recent online discussion, here are what people think are the best U.S. cities for Mexican cuisine — in no particular order.
10 Cities That Hold the Title for “Best Mexican Food” in the U.S.
10 States Foreigners Think Are “Boring” When Visiting the U.S.
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There are several regions that foreign visitors to the U.S. enjoy, leaving dozens of perfectly good states behind. For example, New York, Florida, and California all receive an unfair share of tourists, no doubt looking for contact with Mickey Mouse, the Empire State Building, and Floridian golf.
However, I love the idea of seeing places no tourist will ever tread. Who needs Disneyland when you have Alexandria, Indiana’s world-record ball of paint?
A recent online post shares people’s picks for the “most boring” states to visit. Here are their conclusions.
10 States Foreigners Think Are “Boring” When Visiting the U.S.
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Source: Reddit
