The travel bug is biting as we are cooped up in school waiting for summer, and planning a trip may be getting difficult because of low funds from spring break, or that summer internship using up your free time. What college students are overlooking are the possible trips you can take close to home! KC Hoffman proves that adventures are nearer to us than we think.

From spelunking, to paragliding, to dogsled riding, KC has found unceasing adventure right in our own backyard. By the time she was 15 KC and her family had been to all 50 states.

As a teacher, her mother was determined to tie in education with travel whether it was a museum, a history lesson in the car or a national park.

However, KC says that “with every museum there was a theme park to go with it”.

Each piece of history led to a new off-the-wall activity inspired by each state including driving hours to look at the Four Corners, a detour to see a prairie dog statue in Kansas, shooting AK47s in the desert of New Mexico as well as many more.

Adventure is instilled in KC by these trips and they have helped her conquer her fear of heights, to be more daring and try new things. She recently went camping on the first time on the Appalachian Trail! After college, she plans to get in the car and see what she stumbles upon. Her tip for all travelers is to explore the culture that is around you and to always ask the locals what there is to do.