Concrete examples? Volunteer, either near home or internationally (though don't get stuck in a 'paid' volunteer system, just pay for your own travel but don't get charged to work anywhere as a volunteer)
Working Holiday visa You can live and travel for a year of more, no visa worries. For example, go to Australia, hang out and get some exercise, go surfing, pick apples, then go see Indonesia, Thailand, Laos.. then when you get back to the States you'll be even more unbelievably spoiled, but you'll have an idea of what you want to do with your opportunity.
I'm sure others here could give more examples. When I was 24 I had already packed up and was just traveling, freelancing digitally as I needed, until something came along that was interesting enough to stay put for.