I've been dying to travel or do something adventurous in my life

Have you checked which countries allow a US citizen (if you are one) to visit and work for a year or so? There must be some that do ... Australia requires you to be a student or recent graduate, but there will be opportunities elsewhere in farming or food production that could be interesting for a while, and reasonably accessible if you have some experience, but no formal qualifications.

Picking bananas in Costa Rica or something. Or perhaps just go backpacking for a while. However if you don't wish to leave the US (if that's where you are) - there are 50 states that will offer you a chance to avoid the expected career path.

I took off at 21 and didn't really settle down until I was 37 - had a good time.

2 sites you should start with are the U.S. portion of HelpX and WWOOF-USA. Unlike most of the world travelers who post here, you have the advantage of being able to work/volunteer legally in the USA without getting hassled by ICE. (You might eventually get hassled by the IRS, but that's another story.)

A not-quite-conventional but not-completely-freaky alternative is to apply for a series of short-range positions with the National Park Service OR the concessionaires who staff the hotels, restaurants, etc. within our national parks. The disadvantage is that they will have rules and regulations about clothing, hair color, etc. The advantage is that most jobs are short-term, and you can literally work all around the U.S. and even (with sufficient experience to "pay your dues") U.S. territories & possessions like Puerto Rico, Guam, or American Samoa.

Just as with conventional jobs, part of the trick is making contacts---"knowing someone who knows someone." Best of luck in your searching.

If your seeking a position in "food production" I suggest a read of 'The omnivores Dilemma" by Michael Pollan ... As above, the WWOOF system would provide a number of "on the land" non paid, participation in production . And at some sites ... real world, exploitation ... carracar

"I search endlessly online and never come up with anything." And that is the problem. You won't find adventure sitting in front of a computer screen. You gotta turn the computer off, put a pack on your back, and get out into the world.

There's plenty of adventurous places and jobs to find here in the U.S. before expanding to other countries. Also, bear in mind that lots of "adventurous" jobs are also dirty and hard.

In winter, ski resorts in the western mountains hire people for all sorts of jobs. In summer, the U.S. Forest Service hires folks for trail clearing in the wilderness or forest fire work. There's fish processing in the Aleutian Islands of Alaska, construction work in Las Vegas, picking apples in Washington State and thousands of other unskilled, off-the-wall jobs. And, you'll meet all sorts of characters along the way - guaranteed.

Or, just save up some money, pack your pack, and start trekking across the U.S. You can camp in U.S. Forest Service or BLM lands, stay in hostels, couchsurf - and you'll meet lots of like-minded people along the way.

But first, you gotta get up from behind that computer.

Note to other posters: This thread was moved here from the USA branch, and replies #1-4 were based on that. Probably best to avoid suggesting options that are not legally open to U.S. citizens...unless the OP has been withholding information about another passport.

Well, as a European I can apply for a Working Holiday Visa in NZ, OZ and Canada. Don't know if this is possible for a US citizen though. I would think it's worth looking in to. Or you can just do the things you wanna do in your own country. Your choice.

Don't let people that don't understand you and your plans bring you down. It's your life and try to live it your way.

Best of luck!

I got off a plane in Taiwan, checked into a youth hostel and started asking around about English teaching jobs (which I knew to be plentiful there.)

It worked for me.

I had $15 USD in my pocket and less than $300 USD in the bank and came home with several thousand dollars and the experience of a lifetime. . . . . and a wife!!

@LongIslandBob: Did you try to sell your story to Hollywood? It sounds like a great movie!
:-)

No, but it does make for some great stories at cocktail parties.