Fun Activities and Things to Do Outside

The best cure for quarantine cabin fever is fresh air, and with the weather growing warmer by the day, the call of the wild is getting harder to resist. Luckily, there are plenty of fun things to do outside that you can try even while social distancing.

Below is a list of fun and creative outdoor activities to help you feel a little less cooped up.

Fun Outdoor Activities for Individuals and Couples

It can be easy to let adulthood cramp your imagination when it comes to thinking of fun ways to enjoy the outdoors by yourself or with your significant other. And let’s face it: you can only go for so many walks around the block. Here is a list of creative outdoor activities for adults.

Take a hike

Nothing cures that climbing-the-walls feeling quite like a few hours on the trails. Not only is hiking a great way to clear your mind, it can also help increase bone density, and lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels. And thankfully, you don’t need to live next to Yellowstone or the Grand Canyon to find a path worth taking. Services like AllTrails can help you find hiking trails near you, and you can filter by length and difficulty. Prepare for your day on the trails with our list of hiking essentials.

Plant a garden

Planting and tending to a garden isn’t just a fulfilling way to enjoy some fresh air. Research shows that gardening can help minimize stress, which can ultimately improve your sleep quality. What’s more, caring for plants has been shown to reduce feelings of loneliness.

Before you say you don’t have the space for a garden, consider creative alternatives. Many towns and cities have community gardens where you can lease a plot. Or consider window boxes, which work perfectly for apartment living.

Take your workout outside

Gyms around the country may be closed, but that shouldn’t keep you from getting your sweat on. There are plenty of ways to raise your heart rate outside.

One of the most popular ways to exercise outside is to go for a walk or  a run. But we get it: pounding the pavement isn’t for everyone. If you’re looking for a low-impact workout, try bike-riding or rollerblading. You can also grab your yoga mat and take your Downward Dog (or your pilates, or even your sit-ups) outside.

Have date night under the stars

All you need for a true evening out is your special someone, and maybe a blanket or two, as nothing says romance quite like stargazing. Thanks to the many free stargazing apps available to download, you can enjoy quality time together while learning to identify the constellations dotting the night’s sky.

What’s more, because you can see different constellations throughout the year, this is an activity that will never feel repetitive.

Go fish

If you need some peace and quiet, it’s time to try your hand at fishing. Grab some snacks, head to the lake, river or ocean, and enjoy a few hours immersed in the sounds of nature. Fishing is also a great way to learn new skills like knot-making.

Before you invest in your own equipment, you should check to see if any outdoors outfitters or marinas offer equipment rentals.

More Ideas

• Watch a sunset or sunrise
• Go for a walk
• Practice outdoor photography

See our full list of ideas below.

Fun Outdoor Activities for Kids and Families

With a little imagination, nature can provide endless fun things to do for families. If you’re wanting for ideas, here is a list of outdoor activities the kids are sure to love.

Conduct science experiments

Now’s the perfect time to shut off the electronics and spark a love of science in your kids. From building homemade rockets to bug hunts to the good old Diet Coke and Mentos explosion, there are plenty of fun experiments that are best done outside, most of them requiring little to know special equipment. Check out ScienceBuddies.org for inspiration.

The best part? You won’t make a mess of your house.

Bring dinner outdoors

You don’t need to go camping to practice your outdoor culinary skills. Instead, all you need is an outdoor fire pit or grill, some camping chairs and curious taste buds.

Cookouts can go far beyond burgers and hot dogs. Expand your menu and get your kids involved in helping you prepare tin foil dinners with their favorite meals. They’ll love seeing how delicious a little ingenuity can taste.

And for dessert, no kid can say no to s’mores!

Do a family scavenger hunt

If you’re looking for an educational outdoor activity that will keep the kids engaged for hours, a scavenger hunt may be just the thing. Design your clues to challenge your kids’ knowledge of nature and the environment, and let them get searching.

To up the ante, try breaking the family into teams, winners take all.

Tie-dye your old clothes

Stuck with a bunch of old T-shirts or mismatched socks? Time for a tie-dye day. Grab some water, a couple buckets, and non-toxic dye and let the kiddos build a whole new wardrobe.

It may not seem like it at first, but tie-dying can be an educational activity. While they’re splashing about, your kids will be learning about the color wheel. You can also use this opportunity to practice language skills: try labeling the buckets with the color names in different languages.

Start a water balloon fight

Sometimes, you need to forget about teachable moments and have a good, old-fashioned water balloon fight. As the weather gets warmer, don your swimsuit and surprise your kids with a watery ambush. It will be an outdoor activity the kids will never forget. And if creating family memories isn’t enough, you’re sure to help them burn off all their energy.

Our list of 60 Fun Things To Do Outside:

1. Go for a Walk
2. Practice outdoor photography
3. Have a campfire with s’mores if you can
4. Roller skate
5. Fly a drone
6. Film a home movie
7. Make bird feeders and watch them come
8. Plant a butterfly garden
9. Catch fireflies
10. Search for bugs
11. Draw with sidewalk chalk
12. Build paper airplanes and have a contest
13. Weave using twigs, yarn, grass, flowers, leaves and other natural materials
14. Run through the sprinkler
15. Camp out in your yard
16. Conduct science experiments outdoors
17. Learn to use a compass
18. Make mud pies
19. Setup a canvas for kids to paint outside
20. Paint rocks
21. Tie-dye clothes
22. Make homemade playdough or silly putty
23. Checkout nearby playgrounds
24. Eat homemade popsicles
25. Jump rope
26. Play outdoor games such as kickball, hide & seek or red rover
27. Go for a jog
28. Practice yoga outdoors
29. Visit an amusement park
30. Go horseback riding
31. Hold a garage sale
32. Go miniature golfing
33. Play board games outside
34. Have a scavenger hunt
35. Have a water balloon fight
36. Fly kites
37. Blow bubbles
38. Hula hoop
39. Play follow the leader
40. Learn to do cartwheels
41. Throw a Frisbee
42. Play with marbles
43. Take a hike
44. Go fishing
45. Watch a sunset or sunrise
46. Stargaze
47. Visit the nearest state park
48. Have a picnic
49. Set up a hammock
50. Plant a vegetable or flower garden
51. Paint garden pots
52. Build a rock garden
53. Make a compost bin
54. Check out your local farmers’ market
55. Do a landscaping project
56. Play tourist in your own town
57. Volunteer
58. Wash your car
59. Build a treehouse
60. Play hopscotch