With everyone tired of being stuck at home for the past two years, many people are looking to enjoy the great outdoors. Despite the situation lessening in its gravity, there are still many people who are concerned and worried. Fortunately, the situation is becoming much more manageable, especially when compared to the past few months.
And because it’s almost the new year, many people are wondering what sort of fun activities to do for next year. Fortunately, there’s a lot of great outdoor activities to do, and here are a few of them to help get you started.
Try Ziplining
Ziplining has become a popular outdoor activity for a while now, but if you still haven’t tried it or have even heard of it, then you’re in for a treat. All it involves is harnessing yourself onto a cable, which is then pulled by a motorized pulley or winch, before being swung across an area of lush green trees or countryside on a line as high as 30 meters in the air. Nothing comes close to this amazing feeling of careening down, just above trees or even ice, with little resistance from the surface below you, with the wind blowing against you as you go crashing through the air.
Get Into Kayaking
It’s a great way to exercise, with no impact on land or its wildlife, and once you’ve mastered the basics, you could even use your new skills as an introduction to snorkeling or scuba diving. Kayaks are safe to navigate in water up to three meters deep, they’re relatively easy to handle, and most importantly, you don’t have to know how to swim to get into them—just grab hold, and away you go! They’re also extremely versatile and ideal for exploring small rivers and coastal waters.
Do Some Rock Climbing
Climbing is an activity anyone can enjoy, regardless of ability or fitness level. Of course, it’s best to start in an indoor climbing facility. But once you’re confident enough to face the outdoors, there are so many places where you can climb: from grassy banks to ski slopes, rocky outcrops to cliffs, and even inside buildings and caves! It’s one of the most challenging yet fulfilling activities you can try, and it’s definitely worth trying out soon.
Go on Camping
Suppose this is your very first time camping. In that case, there are plenty of great options when it comes to accommodations so that you can get away from everything (iPad, smartphone, computer, etc.) and immerse yourself in nature for a bit of solitude and relaxation. Or, you can connect with nature even closer than ever before if you live in an urban area like Toronto, where the city noise often drowns out all other sounds around you. You’ll be able to enjoy nature’s soothing noises like birds chirping, frogs croaking, crickets chirping, leaves rustling, etc. If you’re not particularly savvy when it comes to camping, you can try glamping or even rent a boat overnight so that you can still enjoy a night under the stars while still being relatively comfortable.
Join an Outdoor Yoga Class
Yoga is great for many reasons, including flexibility, strength, and even relaxation. However, its best asset, which can often get overlooked, is that it’s a low-impact exercise, requiring little energy and a very minimal amount of space to work out in (as long as you have access to a good mat). This means that you can practice any time, anywhere. Even if you don’t have a traditional yoga studio, or a perfect environment for stretching, lying on your back under a tree would do the job just fine. And maybe that will do the trick: outdoor yoga is such a great activity, and it’s relatively easy to find one in your region.
Join a Local Swimming Class
It’s the perfect workout for your heart, lungs, legs, and arms! If you have never swum before, start by taking a swimming lesson so that you can learn how to breathe through your nose, keep your head above the water while walking forward, turn your head in different directions, kick properly, etc. Get started with a “free” class at one of many local community centers or public pools, or find an aquatic fitness facility near you and take a swim class.
To put it simply, outdoor activities we’ve missed throughout the pandemic are now available for people to enjoy, just with extra precautions. Despite being vaccinated, there are still new strains of the virus that can infect people, so always exercise good hygiene and responsible social distancing. Being unconscientious can cost us our health, so remember to have fun and respect others’ enjoyment as well.