March 22, 2024

7 Most Fun Outdoor Activities for the Summer

This summer, the best thing you can do for yourself and your family is plan some fun outdoor activities.

When kids are out of school, they can easily pass the day by staring at screens without seeing the light of day. But, spending time outdoors is not only a great way to spend time together, but also has beneficial health effects for parents and little ones alike.

In fact, spending time outdoors can actually lower your blood pressure, improve your sleep, and lower stress-related hormones like cortisol and adrenaline.

But for lasting summer memories, you will want to pick memorable outdoor activities to mix things up.

When it comes to the best and most fun family outdoor activities, this guide will help you pick out the very best options for a fun-filled summer.

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The Best Outdoor Activities for Family Fun this Summer

If you’re looking to try some fun outdoor summer activities, you’ve come to the right place!

This comprehensive guide shares the best and most fun family activities to get your whole crew outside and smiling while the sun is shining.

Yard Games

Summer often feels synonymous with outdoor play. Yard games are the perfect way to spend a summer afternoon.

Tossing a frisbee around or even hitting water balloons with a tennis racket are fun ways to spend time outdoors without any advanced planning. Outdoor games like giant Jenga and cornhole are favorites for all ages.

Oftentimes, you can make a few adjustments to your favorite family activities to make them a great yard game. For example, if you love playing matching games, you can print out some large images and set up your own game on your lawn!

Outdoor Meals

During the pandemic, outdoor dining boomed in popularity. In fact, about 60% of U.S. restaurants have offered some outdoor dining since March 2020. But eating an outdoor meal doesn’t have to mean everyone piling into a car and heading to your favorite local restaurant.

Instead, try firing up the BBQ and inviting some friends over to enjoy the outdoors with you. To ease the burden of cooking for a large number of people, try hosting an outdoor potluck and ask everyone to bring their favorite summer recipe. Get the kids involved by having them prepare the lemonade!

If you don’t have the luxury of outdoor space for a BBQ or potluck, a picnic at a local park can be an exciting way to enjoy your midday meal instead of sitting around the kitchen table again. For those on a diet, you’ll be surprised that there is a wide variety of keto-friendly picnic food, all the more reason to go out and enjoy the fresh green grass.

Bike Rides

Learning to ride a bike is a staple childhood memory for many. Keep the tradition alive this summer by taking to the outdoors and exploring by jumping on a bike. Find a local park or set up an obstacle course in your driveway to navigate on your bikes.

If you don’t have bikes for your whole family, renting bikes is an easy and affordable option. You might also decide to pack a picnic in a backpack to enjoy after you’ve spent some time breaking a sweat.

Paintball

For an engaging activity that your kids will never forget, a paintball game is a perfect choice. It will bring out your competitive side while also get you moving and laughing.

If you find that your family has picked up a paintball habit, invest in your own equipment. When picking paintball tanks, you will want to decide between CO2 and compressed air tanks. Once you know the difference, you can choose the option that works best for you and your family.

Day Trips

Sometimes, a change of scene is in order. If you are ready to venture outside of your property lines, a day trip is a perfect solution.

These are some great options for outdoor day trips:

State or national parks
Nearby beaches
Amusement parks
County fairs
Local farmers markets

Pick a destination that’s a quick drive away, pack the car with snacks, and make a great playlist that everyone can sing along to. Just planning to stroll through the farmers market on a Sunday is something to look forward to each weekend–and you get some grocery shopping done at the same time!

Start a Garden

Summer is the perfect time to start a garden since your kids will be out of school and can help to tend to it for the next couple of months. Pick some herbs and vegetables that you use often in your cooking and plant them in a small box or plot in your garden.

If you are short on space, you can set up a small planter box on a balcony or windowsill. You can also look into whether there’s a community garden in your neighborhood that you can help tend to.

Make a daily habit of checking on your garden. Kids might enjoy keeping a plant journal to track the progress and note down when they last watered the garden.

Once your garden has produced some fresh herbs and veggies, try out a new recipe using the fruits of your labor! This is a great way to get kids interested in delicious and nutritious food and can even improve their overall development.

Try a New Sport

The warm weather and long days of summer are perfect for trying out some new outdoor sports. Talk to your friends or neighbors to see if they have any sports equipment you could borrow to try out something different.

If you’re heading to the beach, consider throwing a volleyball into your beach bag. If you know that your local park has a great basketball court, bring a basketball along the next time you’re planning a picnic.