Introduction
The adventures that I embarked on while on this trip can be divided into three categories: Local, personal, and abroad, all following the theme of getting out of my comfort zone.
Locally, as a group, we did tons of group activities and excursions including everything from cathedrals to pubs.
Personally, I went for runs and shopped by myself to get a more serene picture of the city.
We also did a little bit of travelling abroad, visiting Cardiff, Wales and Dublin, Ireland, maximizing the short amount of time we did spend in the UK.
Local Must-Visit Adventures
The majority of this trip would definitely fall into this category, although I have chosen my two favorite excursions to write about. There’s a lot to be done in Oxford, and it’s always better in good company.
Pubs are a staple in UK culture, and there’s no place better to experience it than Turf Tavern. Established in the 18th century, Turf is one of the oldest Oxford pubs. The outdoor patio area has a secret garden feel to it, enhancing the experience of pub culture and giving it almost a magical feel.
Apart from the history and design, Turf was also very conducive, in my experience, to connecting with the people around me. Prior to this trip, I didn’t know a single person in this picture, and yet here we are having a great time together, and spending almost every day of this trip together.
Would absolutely consider this a must-visit spot, even if not for anything more than a good pint.
The view from the top of the tower at University Church of St. Mary the Virgin was arguably the best view I got on the entire trip. The climb up the tower was nerve-wracking, but absolutely worth the trek.
The old architecture in the foreground, and newer developments visible in the distance and separated by grassy fields made the city of Oxford look like a movie set. Oxford has been referred to as the “city of spires”, and rightfully so. Most cities would have maybe a single skyline tower as beautiful as the dozens you can see in Oxford.
Definitely the most surreal moment on the trip. The four sides of the tower provide a 360 view from city center, and I would highly recommend making the climb to the top.
Personal Adventures
Most of this trip was group endeavors, which is a very safe option considering we are in a new country. However, I also found it beneficial to take a break from the groups and explore a little on my own.
Trying to keep up with exercising consistently on this trip has been difficult with the amount of activities we’re always doing. However, I found that going for runs in the evenings was great exercise, and was extremely serene, especially when I ended up at places like this.
Going for runs without setting goals or mapping out a route is exactly what I needed to de-compress after a long day of activity, or even give myself an energy boost on a lazy day.
Cutteslowe Park is definitely a highlight of places I found while running. These little trips confirmed my beliefs that it’s important to take time for yourself, even in such a big exciting city.
My Dad loves antique stores and collecting antiques, so he had asked me to visit a store in Oxford and try to find him something cool. After a lot of back and forth, he landed on this set of crystal Victorian rummers (which I had never heard of before this trip).
This was also the first time I had gone exploring downtown by myself, which I had been anxious about doing in a new city before this, yet honestly it was so peaceful. I loved looking around all of the cute shops and cafes with nobody’s schedule to account for or conflicting interests, just my own intrigues.
Antiques on High, as well as all of the other shops in the city center area are adorable and full of unique pieces. Similarly to running, it’s definitely beneficial to your travels to take time for yourself and just explore by walking around.
Adventures Abroad (Outside of Oxford)
Being in Oxford for only a month doesn’t leave much time for further travel abroad, although we were able to visit Dublin, Ireland over the free weekend, and took a day trip to Cardiff, Wales one one of the free Saturdays.
While being spontaneous and taking trips like this is out of my comfort zone, I couldn’t be more happy that we did them anyway.
Our daytrip to Wales was definitely the farthest out of my comfort zone. We planned the trip the day before and had little to no idea where we wanted to visit in Wales.
They say that the best way to explore a city is by walking in it, so that’s what we did. We ended up visiting the Cardiff Castle, National Museum Cardiff, and a large park with a river running through it.
The trip was unconventional, yet I have no regrets about going. I got to check another country off of the list, and really, what would I have done if I had stayed behind?
Absolutely a highlight of the trip, and not just because it was my birthday. The city of Dublin was rainy, as expected, but ultimately such a fun city to explore.
The Guinness Storehouse itself was such a fun experience. The tour took us through the process of making Guinness, and ended with a taste test and a free pint. Although in my case, several free pints and one with my face on it.
Conclusion
Exploring new places can put you in a tough position, wondering how far out of your comfort zone should you venture? The answer, or at least based on my experience, is as far as you can.
There will always be new things to try, but only for those who are willing to maximize their experiences and take opportunities when they arrive. Just think, “when is the next time I’ll have the chance to do this?”, which can be a very convincing line of thought.
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