The outdoor recreation industry made up nearly 2% of the American gross domestic product in 2020.
COVID-19 contributed to an increase in outdoor activities. People rediscovered what it was like to play outside all day.
There’s still a lot of uncertainty with the pandemic, and many are looking for creative ways to spend time outside.
Now that the warmer weather is on the way, you might be thinking about outdoor activities for kids and adults to keep the family busy through summer.
Are you ready to find out what you can do outdoors and enjoy the warmer months? Read on to discover six fun outdoor activities for kids and adults.
1. Hiking
Hiking offers so many ways to enjoy the outdoors. You can hike as a family and explore everything that nature has to offer. Hike solo and enjoy the quiet solitude of the wilderness.
No matter how you hike, it’s one of the easiest activities to pick up. Pack a bag with snacks and water. Dress appropriately for the weather and bring a camera.
Be sure to have comfortable shoes that can handle the rigors of the trails.
There are hiking guides and resources in most areas, such as All Trails and the American Hiking Society.
Look for hiking trails that are short and easy for beginners to start with. As your fitness improves, you can graduate to intermediate and advanced hikes.
2. Have Fun on the Water
There’s a lot to do on the water. You don’t need to live by the ocean to enjoy it, either. Visit a lake or river and you can cool off on hot days.
The Delaware River between New Jersey and Pennsylvania is known for tubing. You can rent tubes and enjoy the outdoors while you float down the river.
Paddleboarding grew in popularity over the last decade. It’s more relaxed than surfing and you can enjoy it on a lake or in the ocean.
There are boards built for beginners, too. These are long, thick boards designed to help beginners maintain balance while they paddle.
Kayaking and canoeing are other great ways to enjoy the water. You can combine that with other outdoor activities like fishing.
These activities are easy on the budget because you can rent equipment to try them out first. If you think you’re going to do an outdoor activity often, then it makes sense to buy the equipment outright.
3. Roller Skating
“It’s aaaalllllllll skate!”
You might be old enough to remember heading to the roller rink on Friday nights. You don’t need to worry about awkward couples skates or waiting for the DJ to call everyone to the rink floor for all skate.
Roller skating is still just as much fun because it’s easy enough to do outdoors. You can relearn your favorite skating moves and teach your kids, too.
Outdoor roller skating is easy as long as you have the right skates and a smooth path. You might want to start out on a basketball court or paved trail because they have smooth surfaces.
Make sure your roller skates are equipped with outdoor wheels. This guide https://www.rollerskatedad.com/best-outdoor-roller-skate-wheels/ tells you the difference between indoor and outdoor wheels and reviews the top outdoor roller skating wheels.
As you get better at roller skating, you may decide to increase the challenge with rollerblades.
4. Plant a Garden
Gardening is an outdoor activity that grew in popularity during the pandemic. It seemed impossible to get seeds to plant because they were sold out!
The popularity of gardening isn’t going to wane post-pandemic, either.
The renewed interest in gardening means that there are products and resources to help you get started. There are gardening blogs and guides. More cities and towns offer a community gardening program.
You can rent a plot to grow fresh vegetables. It makes gardening accessible for apartment dwellers and anyone interested in gardening.
Gardening is a great outdoor activity for kids because it teaches them the value of their work. They put in the work and care to plant seeds and pull weeds.
They eventually see the rewards in what they grew. It makes gardening enjoyable for the entire family.
5. Train for an Event
Almost 40% of people gained weight during the pandemic. Increased stress combined with inactivity caused many to gain weight.
If you’re motivated to drop those extra pounds, you can do so by training for a race. It doesn’t have to be an Ironman triathlon.
Start with a 5K walk. Make the next race a 5K run. You can increase the distance and type of challenge. You’ll be able to improve your skills, lose weight, and enjoy the outdoors.
6. Day Trips
You can pack up the car and hit the road for the day. Anywhere within a two-hour drive makes for a great day trip.
It could be a recreational area, waterpark, beach, or nearby city.
Day trips are a great way to turn outdoor activities for kids into educational opportunities. There are historic areas that have guided tours.
Visiting presidential libraries and national parks are other outdoor activities that are educational.
There are outdoor activities for adults if you want to have a small getaway. Your area is likely to have craft breweries and wineries that offer tastings and tours.
These establishments have outdoor areas that let you enjoy adult beverages and food.
If you do take day trips for brewery and winery tours, have a designated driver before you leave. It makes things much easier when you arrive at the destination.
If you can’t seem to decide on a designated driver, you may want to hire a car for the day.
Get Outside With These Outdoor Activities
The pandemic is still with us. If you’re looking for fun ways to enjoy the warmer weather, try out any of these outdoor activities.
They’re all friendly on the wallet and they can be educational, too. Pick out a few to do and you’ll have an unforgettable summer.
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