Adventure Files are the supplemental background information or useful guides to locations you've saved on your Adventure Maps.

It's the detailed trail description for the hike you added to the map, or perhaps an article on the history of the state park you want to visit, or maybe a walking tour guide to a historic city you want to explore abroad.

Digital capture system

There are a number of digital tools you can use to capture materials for future trips.

I prefer using an app with a web clipping function. This allows me to very quickly capture an article on either my laptop or phone using a simple extension. You simply click the browser extension (or the share menu if you're in a mobile app, like instagram or twitter), select the appropriate folder location in your Adventure Files app, and click save. The app then pulls the contents of that page into a note within your system.

Example apps include Notion, Evernote, and Bear. I currently use Notion for this (which integrates well with my From Idea to Adventure system), but previously used Evernote for at least a decade. You can also use just about any web-based (or web-synced) note-taking app, though many will require you to manually cut and paste the URL or content.

If you're using Google My Maps for your Adventure Maps, then you can also paste the link into the description field of each map item.

There are other options, too. One method is simply to save links in your web browser's bookmarking system. You'll likely need to create a somewhat elaborate structure to optimize this system if you save a lot, including using browsers that sync between devices. Similarly, there are a number of web-based bookmarking sites that can be useful, too.

Finally, you can always save the entire webpage to your computer, though I'd strongly recommend another option instead.

Physical folders

If you don't want a digital version, you can use an old school, physical set of files. This requires you to print off (or collect hard copies of) any materials you want to save, then file them in an appropriate folder that you can easily locate and retrieve[1] in the future.

Best of both worlds

You can also use a hybrid system: part digital, part physical.

I have some printed materials that aren't easy to digitize, such as large fold-out maps or bounded driving guides, that I keep for future trips. I have a dedicated system of folders in a file cabinet where these are stored.

If you use a hybrid system, I recommend adding a note in your digital system reminding you of the related physical items you have for that place—including where they're located. This is especially helpful if you have something that you want to keep outside of your physical filing system (like a book in your bookcase that you bought to read when you visited a certain place).


  1. One clear benefit of a digital system is that it's usually easier to locate items using search. No matter what system you use, make sure you can find what you want to. That's the whole point here, after all.↩︎

Adventure Files
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