Yeah, he's coping with the reality that his life was left behind a hundred years ago when he accidentally sealed himself in ice for that long. He's going to places he'd visited and witnesses how they changed in his absence. He's trying to do those fun things because he wants to feel like how things were before he was revealed as the avatar.
Say what you will about the themes, but they knew what they were doing with the characterization.
It's been a while since I've seen ATLA, but wasn't goofing off like that a major aspect of Aang's personality?
Just completely throwing away the characters in all but name and looks, and substituting them with bland husks with no personality.
Yeah, the entire point is that he's unwilling to accept his responsibility as the Avatar, so he goes on these side adventures to goof off.
Plus, this serves the incredibly important function of giving the show an excuse to flesh out its world building.
Yeah, he's coping with the reality that his life was left behind a hundred years ago when he accidentally sealed himself in ice for that long. He's going to places he'd visited and witnesses how they changed in his absence. He's trying to do those fun things because he wants to feel like how things were before he was revealed as the avatar.
Say what you will about the themes, but they knew what they were doing with the characterization.