Do Urban Explorers Really Exist?
The answer is yes.
For a long time, exploration was about going to unpopulated places or un-chartered lands. But now that the globe is mostly inhabited and mapped, explorers must find new outlets for their curiosity. Luckily, even familiar landscapes conceal lost worlds.
Urban explorers go to the forgotten and secret corners of a city—from underground passageways to abandoned buildings. There are dozens of urban exploration groups in cities across the United States. Dark Passage is one of my favorites.
I also highly recommend the book New York Underworld by the mother of all urban explorers--the founder of Dark Passage, Julia Solis. It has photos of several of the places that Jack and Euri visit. Solis also has a cool website with links to many other neat photos of underground New York.
You can be an urban (or suburban or rural) explorer too. All you need is curiosity, a sense of history, and some common sense about safety. Start out with your own home. When was it built (you can look up the deed for the building at county records)? Is there an original part to the building or was it all constructed at one time? Who lived in it before you? What’s in the attic or basement if you have one? Are there any secret doors or hidden compartments?