I don't really understand your question.
Isn't normal to drive 50+ miles just to eat somewhere you think it may be good? Isn't it normal to explore your own area's museums, parks and recreations? Isn't it normal for a young person to want to attend some music festival? Isn't it normal to drive 50+ miles for a party? Isn't it normal to have bonfires at different locations all the time if you live within 70 miles from a beach? Isn't it normal if you are looking for a specific item like... say specific cheese or say... Brazilian style Guava paste... you go online and find out where you can get them that's within driving distance and plan a day out of going there? Isn't it normal to drive 50+ miles for a pool hall that is cooler than the one near you? Don't all the local news advertise local special events that makes you want to attend? Isn't it normal for a young person like when I was young who drove 1000 miles to meet a girl online with bare minimal amount of money and no place to sleep but inside of your car?
I always thought what I do/ used to do were just what everyone does... Never once read a travel guide that's specific to my own place. Granted... I am from Los Angeles and it has a lot more options here.
In college on a Friday night, we used to look at each other hey what do you want to do? Dude I really crave those soup inside the bread from Boudin Bakery. So we pitched in enough gas money and drove from LA at 9pm arrive in SF at 5am slept in the car on the street till 9am, brushed our teeth at the McDonald bathroom walked around fisherman's wharf then have the soup bowl at Boudin at 11am, park the car. We walked all over SF because we don't have enough money for a bus, buy a 25 cents frozen burrito from the grocery store, illegally heat it up at a 7-11 microwave for dinner, went back to the car slept over night drove back to LA the next day.
Don't all kids do this shit? Or was that just me and my friends? I thought it was normal!?!?!?
Just be adventurous I suppose? I don't really understand your question...