The Art of Urban Exploration

That abandoned building you pass everyday on the way to work, the sewage tunnel down the street, and the transit tunnels downtown, what do these three things have in common? Give up? All three are things that everyday people probably don't think twice about, but to the Urban Explorer they are the next conquests on a never ending list of new adventures.

Urban Exploration (often shortened as urbex or UE) is defined as "the examination of the normally unseen or off-limits parts of human civilization."

Sometimes referred to as "infiltration," Urban Exploration is the unknown bastard-child of hobbies in the United States. Due to the sketchy ethics which can be involved, sometimes making the hobby illegal, Urban Exploration has been looked down upon by law enforcement agencies.

So you want to be an Urban Explorer?

While Urban Exploration can be a rewarding and thrilling hobby, there are things every future explorer should consider.

Places are locked for a reason: To keep people out. Should you decide to find your way into that abandoned building and have a look around, you better first understand the risks you face if caught while trespassing or breaking and entering. Depending on your state, penalties can range from a simple ticket to time in jail. You've been warned.

If that didn't scare you off then it's time to learn what you need to get started in the hobby, but first it's best that you understand that vandalism is heavily frowned upon and most Urban Explorers will tell you to "take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints." Remember those words.

So where does someone actually explore?

This is the easy part. Once Urban Exploration hooks you, you'll start seeing the world in a whole new light. Things you never noticed before will stick out like a sore thumb. To help get you started, let's take a look at the two most common places to explore.