Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020, many cities and states imposed lockdown and quarantine orders that kept locals from doing their favorite things. As some of those orders lift, you can head back outside again and have fun with your family outdoors. Now is the perfect time to take a look at some of the things that you can do and start planning. You’ll find ways to get your family back outdoors whether you have younger or older children. Just look for the top ideas that work with your family dynamic.
Host a Scavenger Hunt
A scavenger hunt is a great way to get outdoors. All you need is a list that includes things that you want your family to find. You can customize the list to work with your backyard or neighborhood. Include things that you can easily find such as a leaf or a flower along with some things that are harder to find. Put a twist on this classic game with a hunt that requires your family to do different things and take photos. They might need to say hello to a neighbor, do a dance in your backyard, and pick up trash.
Take a Walking Tour
No matter where you live, you can take a walking tour and learn more about your city. Many big cities such as Boston and New York City have guided tours that you can sign up for online. The guide tells you everything that you need to know about all of the spots that you hit. Even if you live in a smaller town, you might find tours of historic buildings. Many cities offer tours that take you to haunted places that appeal to teenagers. You can check out history books from the library and create a custom tour, too. There are even super fun ghost tours of many towns and cities in the US. These spooky tours are great for families with children and teenagers, it is sure to keep them all engaged and having a fun time.
Create a Garden
Get your family outside with a group project. Designing and building a garden allows everyone to talk about what they want to plant and design the finished garden. Choosing a garden theme is another fun idea. Planting tomatoes, mushrooms, and other pizza toppings along with basil and oregano lets your kids see where food comes from before it lands on their plate. They’ll love seeing the plants grow until they’re ready to harvest. You might try designing a garden filled with plants that attract butterflies. Kids will like sitting outside and seeing the butterflies gather around their plants.
Start a Collection
Do you remember elementary school science class when you gathered bugs and presented them to your peers? Some schools no longer have this assignment, but it can get your kids interested in the great outdoors. Thanks to cell phones, you don’t need to worry about killing and mounting those bugs. Kids can simply take photos of the insects that they find. There are even apps you can download that let you look up and identify the bugs that you spot. You might try starting a collection with your kids of flowers spotted in the neighborhood or wild plants also. You can take your favorite flowers that you collect with your family outdoors, and press them in the pages of a notebook or journal. The flowers will dry out and be beautiful moments of your adventures.
Go Camping
One of the best ways to get outside and enjoy nature is through camping. It’s easy to find campsites in CA and other states where you want to live or visit. Glamping is perfect for those who hate the great outdoors because you can opt for amenities such as WiFi and cable television along with comfy beds and cabins with indoor plumbing. If you prefer roughing it, look for campgrounds that offer rural campsites that you need to hike to reach. You’ll also find tons of state and national parks that offer onsite camping. While you can rent a comfy cabin for the night, you can also reserve sites for tents or RVs. Most parks offer tons of activities, including hiking, fishing, mountain biking, horseback riding, and wildlife viewing. Some parks even have free days where admission is free. Even if you only stay for a few hours rather than overnight, you can have a great time.
Though coronavirus swept the world and changed the way that people think and travel, you can now get out from underneath the virus and start living your life. With any of these ideas, you can still practice social distancing and keep your family safe without spending every day and night stuck indoors. Take your family outdoors and remind them of how much fun it can be to reconnect with nature.
