Not every great travel day has to be meaningful. Some days are about museums and history. Others are about checking off a bucket-list destination. And sometimes, the best days are the ones where you simply laugh, play, and remember what it’s like to be a kid.

We started the morning by catching an Uber to Hobbitenango. We bounced along the cobblestone streets of Antigua until we reached smooth pavement, then wound our way up the mountain.

The fun started almost immediately. After buying our tickets, we climbed into the back of a pickup truck for the ride to the top. The lush green hills stretched out around us while clouds danced around the volcanoes, setting the scene before we had even arrived.

At the top, we stepped into a little hobbit world. I haven’t read The Lord of the Rings or seen the movies, but it didn’t matter. Hobbitenango has a way of pulling you into its playful atmosphere anyway.

Our first stop was the giant hand overlooking the valley. As with many travel photos, getting the right angle was half the battle. We finally surrendered and handed our phones to someone else, which turned out to be the right decision.

Then came the swing.

After watching several locals soar out over the valley, I decided it was my turn. As I was second-guessing my life choices, they counted to three, and before I knew it I was soaring out over the valley myself. Equal parts terrifying and exhilarating, I couldn’t stop smiling.

Next up was hobbit golf. Imagine mini golf played with rustic croquet mallets instead of putters. It was exactly as quirky as it sounds.

Our final stop was farther down the mountain, where a giant rainbow slide waited. For 35 quetzales, we grabbed oversized inner tubes and climbed to the top. Seconds later, I was racing down the colorful slide with a grin stretched across my face, feeling like I was eight years old again.

From riding in the back of a pickup truck to flying over the valley and racing down a rainbow slide, the whole day felt a little ridiculous—in the best possible way.

If you’re spending a few days in Antigua, Hobbitenango makes an easy half-day trip and is worth the visit, even if you’ve never cared about hobbits.

There’s no shortage of travel advice out there. Travel like a local. Don’t eat near tourist attractions. Take public transportation. Splurge once a week. Pack light.

Some of that advice is great. But sometimes the best travel advice is much simpler.

Do what’s fun. Find your whimsy.