Is your family tired of staying indoors during the pandemic? Are you searching for activities to enjoy during the holidays or school breaks? Go outdoors and have some fun! You’ll also help your favorite people to improve their overall health and wellness. Just be sure to read the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines first. Then, try out these top 20 ideas for family activities in the great outdoors.
Top 20 Ideas
- Take a walk on a local, nature trail. Bring Fido! Most doggies enjoy a nice walk
- Explore the woods during a winter hike. How many types of trees can you name? Do you spot any wildlife?
- Search for a drive-thru, holiday light show. Sparkling lights are always exciting to view
- Bundle up and go for a bike ride. Be sure to bring a helmet
- Take a scenic drive. Why not play car games along the way? We especially enjoy the license plate game
- Head to the beach. A brisk walk along the shore can be invigorating. Bring a bag to collect seashells
- Jog in a local park. Don’t forget to stretch first
- Host a nature-themed treasure hunt. Look for pretty rocks, pinecones, acorns, and other outdoor items. Give a prize to the family member who finds the most items
- Check out the playgrounds in neighboring towns
- Explore your own town. Pass by historic homes (read about them first!) and drive down side-streets that you don’t normally traverse
- Snap nature photos with the kids. When you finally go indoors, create a photo album for grandma or grandpa
- Volunteer to do outdoor chores for a neighbor
In Your Own Backyard
- Purchase or make a corn hole game. It’s tons of fun to pit the boys against the gals
- Start a campfire. Tell jokes around the flames and roast s’mores. Yum
- Plant a family garden. Grow a variety of spring bulbs or winter-hardy vegetables
- Throw a frisbee, practice your golf swing, or play ball
- Play outdoor games. Some of my favorites include Red Light Green Light, Follow the Leader, and Hide and Seek
Let it Snow…Let it Snow
- Try ice skating. You can buy used skates or usually rent a pair
- Go sledding or snowtubing down neighboring hills
- Enjoy snow-shoeing at a local park. You can rent shoes and it’s easy to learn!
Considerations
Prepare for your outing. Dress for the climate, which probably means layering and/or adorning hats and gloves. Or, if it is summer wear cooling fabrics and a sun hat. Wear a helmet if biking and sturdy shoes if walking. Live in a warmer climate? Bring bug spray, avoid poison ivy, and beware of harmful ticks. Follow all CDC recommendations and carry hand sanitizer. The COVID-19 virus is usually spread among those in close contact, within about 6 feet (2 meters). You may be less likely to breathe in enough of the respiratory droplets outdoors, containing the virus, to become infected. But don’t forget to wear your mask, hydrate before starting out, and bring water and snacks to avoid pit stops. Pack the leash if you’re bringing Fido and enjoy your family fun-time!
Do you have a favorite, family-friendly outdoors activity? If not mentioned in this article, please share your idea(s) below in the comments section. (All comments are moderated.)
References
Mayo Clinic: Safe Outdoor Activities During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Resources
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Coronavirus (COVID-19)
National Weather Service: Prepare for Cold Weather
The Spruce: How to Play the License Plate Game in the Car
About the Author
True Hunter is a pseudonym for Kathy Rusch. Kathy adoped the name in honor of her maternal, British grandmother. For several years, True (a.k.a Kathy) wrote travel and career articles for Demand Studios. You can still find a few published on the AZ Central, Careertrend, Gone Outdoors, and USA Today web sites.
