100+ Things to Do Outside
Rain or shine, there are plenty of outdoor activities to keep you and the kids busy throughout the year. Take a look at this list of over 100 things to do outside to ensure you'll stay entertained no matter what. Most of these great ideas can be customized for adults, little kids, or for the family. Some of these are nature-based, while others are some of the best outdoor activities.
* Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links.
There are many fun things to do outside for all ages, from hosting an outdoor movie night to a water balloon fight in the local park.
Many of these activities for the great outdoors are free (outdoor dance party, scavenger hunt, etc.), but some require payment, such as miniature golfing. Many of these can be done with items you likely already have at home, like making DIY bubbles. See how many of these you can do in a day or during summer vacation.
100 Things to Do Outside
- Make an obstacle course in the backyard or front yard
- Spend the afternoon at an amusement park
- Make a fairy garden
- Play hide and seek
- Walk around to see how much street art and graffiti you can find
- Do a nature scavenger hunt
- Plan an outdoor movie night (you can get an outdoor projector screen or simply watch it on your phone or laptop)
- Make or play with slime outdoors
- Go to a local outdoor concert
- When life hands you lemons, make a lemonade stand
- Head over to your local farmers market for fresh air and produce
- Calm down with outdoor yoga
- Visit a dog park
- Stroll your local botanic garden
- Go geocaching
- Play basketball
- Play tennis
- Spend the afternoon cloud-watching
- Go stargazing
- Pull weeds from the backyard
- Paint a shower curtain (try a clear shower curtain or liner for this)
- Make a sensory bin
- Play with Legos or blocks
- Go horseback riding
- Get binoculars to go bird watching (you can get a bird watching book and binoculars to better spot the wildlife)
- Take photos
- Plan a trip to a national park
- Take a bike ride
- Attend a basketball or baseball game
- Build an outdoor fort
- Find a quiet spot in a park to read a book or listen to a podcast
- Play frisbee golf
- Play freeze tag
- Go to an outdoor ice skating rink
- Spend time at a state park
- Build a mud kitchen
- Get artistic and draw on the pavement with sidewalk chalk (buy sidewalk chalk online here)
- Visit a pumpkin patch
- Play board games outside
- Go kayaking or conoeing
- Run through the sprinklers on a hot day
- Play or build a treehouse
- Paint pet rocks
- Do an outdoor workout
- Create a playlist and listen to it outside
- Grill burgers or veggies outside
- Get the whole family to do an outdoor dance party
- Go on a walk to see if you can identify the nature around you (plants, flowers, trees, etc.)
- Tie dye shirts or beach towels outside so you don't stain anything (you can get a tie dye kit and pick color themes like neon colors, etc)
- Get vitamin D and take a long walk on the beach
- Wash your car inside and out
- Hike local trails
- Go to a water park
- People watch outside
- Go swimming at a local pool, lake, beach, etc.
- Go surfing
- Run through the sprinklers
- Cool off in the splash pad (there are splash pads for different ages, so you can keep this in mind)
- Look for bugs
- Watch the sunset or sunrise
- Try your hand at paddle boarding
- Try out your green thumb and plant a garden in your backyard
- Fly a kite
- Pitch a tent in the yard and camp there
- Explore your local park, beach, or forest
- Write in your journal in a park (100+ Journal Prompts for Self-Discovery)
- Go rock climbing
- Play a game of tug of war
- Do a puzzle outside
- Eat breakfast, lunch, or dinner outside
- Give your patio, balcony, or welcome mat a good wash
- Paint rocks in fun shapes like fruits or vegetables
- Hug a tree
- Make s'mores (there are electric flameless s'mores kits if you don't have access to a fire)
- Go camping
- Have a picnic in nature
- Take an outdoor nap
- Go skiing or snowboarding
- Check out a book from the local library and read it outside
- Eat homemade popsicles in your backyard
- Hula hoop (buy hula hoops online or at the store)
- Play hopscotch
- Climb a tree
- Make a bird feeder
- Walk the dog
- Lay in a hammock
- Play capture the flag
- Grab old magazine and make a collage outside
- Meditate in the great outdoors
- Play hopscotch
- Build a fairy garden
- Head to a zoo or petting zoo
- Play catch
- Build an obstacle course
- Make DIY chalk paint
- Make DIY bubbles (but you could go fancy with a bubble gun or bubble machine)
- Feel the grass on your skin on a sunny day
- Attend an estate sale or garage sale
- Host a garden party
- Cool off with a water balloon fight (they also have reusable water balloons)
- Play mini golf
- Go fishing
There are many fun things to do in the great outdoors. If you can't think of anything, refer back to this list. This is a fantastic way for kids to stay occupied during school breaks or vacations.
When you're trying to think of a fun way to spend the day outside, you have to figure out what type of activities you like to do first. Do you prefer being active, like doing outdoor yoga or a bike ride? Do you like leisure activities like bird watching or strolling around a garage sale? Do you just want to do something minimal and be outside, such as reading? Figuring this out will help you find your favorite things to do for yourself, your family, and your kids.
Rainbow Eucalyptus Tree in Balboa Park, San Diego
I answer important questions like: Can I grow a rainbow eucalyptus? Can it grow in California? Where are they native to? What causes rainbow eucalyptus trees? Keep reading!
Related reading: Coffee Shops in Carlsbad, California
What Causes Rainbow Eucalyptus?
Can Rainbow Eucalyptus Grow in California?
Where Can You See Rainbow Eucalyptus?
Can I Grow a Rainbow Eucalyptus?
Anacapa Island Day Trip: Channel Islands National Park
Scroll down to learn the answers to: Where is Anacapa Island? How do you get there? Is it part of Channel Islands National Park? What are some things to do on Anacapa Island? Is there camping? Are there hotels in Downtown Oxnard? How can you do an Anacapa Island day trip?
About Carmen
Hello, welcome to my blog! I'm Carmen. I'm a travel writer (also known as a travel blogger or travel influencer). Some of my most popular travel posts are Things to Do at Playas de Tijuana, Mexico, How You Can Visit Central Perk Cafe from Friends, & Your Guide to Oslo, Norway. I prefer black tea over coffee. I've worked with brands & companies such as The French Ministry of Agriculture, KAABOO Del Mar, Queen of the South TV show on USA, OLLY, & more. You can learn more About Me here.Where is Anacapa Island?
How do I get to Anacapa Island?
Travel to Anacapa Island on the Island Packers boat. |
Transportation Around the Islands
Western Gull mama (probably) & cute little spotted chick. |
Marine Life and Animals on Anacapa Island: Western Gulls, California Brown Pelicans, Island Fox, Oh My!
Visit Anacapa Island from April through mid-August & you'll run into some seabirds, particularly the Western gull. An annoyed gull pooped on Fred's backpack as we walked by its nest. If you're not a fan of birds, guano (bird poop), possible bird carcasses, loud squawking (literally anytime you walk by a nest or chicks), questionable smells, then avoid voyaging to the island during this time frame. However, if you want to experience an absolutely remarkable natural phenomenon, then mark your calendar & book a ticket. You might spot California Brown Pelicans, cormorants, pigeon guillemots, western gulls, California sea lions, harbor seals. I saw California Brown Pelicans, Western gulls, sea lions, & dolphins! Just stay on the hiking trails! There is even summer whale watching so you might catch a whale too.Anacapa Island Camping
Is There Food, Drink, & Water on Anacapa Island?
Things to Do on Anacapa Island: Hiking, Bird-Watching, Camping. |
Things to Do on Anacapa Island
On our day trip to Anacapa Island, we walked the entire trail around the island, saw the Anacapa Island lighthouse, marveled at the views from Inspiration Point, got pooped on by a Western Gull (well, Fred did at least), picnicked with a panoramic ocean view. Despite the boat full of people we arrived on the island with, we were able to have many private, secluded moments. You can't get super close to the Historic Light house on Anacapa Island but you can definitely get a good photo of it.Activities for Visitors to Do on Anacapa Island
Our ocean view room from Embassy Suites Mandalay Beach Hotel & Resort in Oxnard, California. |
Where to Stay (Besides Camping on Anacapa Island): Embassy Suites Mandalay Beach Hotel & Resort
I stayed at the Embassy Suites Mandalay Beach Hotel & Resort with a remarkable ocean view. Our spacious two-room suite Mandalay Beach Hotel is a good option for kids, families, & couples. They have a spa, fitness center, huge pool. I took advantage of Happy Hour by the pool. Just show your wristbands & order your drink. I grabbed the house wine while Fred opted for their beer on tap. We sipped our beverages along with the dozens of other people doing the same thing on a Friday evening. Make sure to eat the made-to-order brekkie at the Coastal Grill in the morning.Hotels in Oxnard
✓ Embassy Suites Mandalay Beach - Hotel & Resort
✓ Residence Inn by Marriott Oxnard River Ridge
Take a look at some of the hotels in Downtown Oxnard. You can customize what day you'll arrive/leave & how many people in your group. You can even expand your hotel search to include Oxnard & surrounding areas:
Booking.com
Things to Do in Oxnard, CA
You can spend the entire day or weekend admiring nature in Oxnard. There are endless things to do in Oxnard, California as far as strolls by the beach, kayaking, exploring the Channel Islands National Park, & thriving outside. Visit Oxnard has some fabulous suggestions if you need more inspiration for places to stay, where to dine, things to do, & local events in Oxnard. There are other other California National Parks as well.Other Fun Stuff
Pin this image on Pinterest - Day Trip to Anacapa Island. |
Fresh Eucalyptus Leaves: How Long Does Eucalyptus Last in the Shower? Where to Buy?
Eucalyptus in Shower
Hang Eucalyptus in Your Shower
Where to Buy Eucalyptus Plant
You can get Dried Real Eucalyptus Branches 12 Stems, Natural Eucalyptus Plant Leaves for Arrangement Wedding Home Decor on Amazon.
Where Can I Buy Eucalyptus Leaves?
How to keep eucalyptus fresh?
Care Tip: Shake off the leaves after every shower to avoid gnats or rotting. Preserve eucalyptus stems with this tip. The green fresh eucalyptus bunch leaves can be flat & hold a lot of water. Get the most from your leaves. Shake it, shake it, shake it like a Polaroid picture! Hey yaaa! After you turn off the water, shake as much water from the hanging leaves as you can. Get as much off as possible. Then you're ready to go. The eucalyptus leaf keeps the water if you don't shake it off & it takes hours to dry (if it dries at all).How Long Do Eucalyptus Leaves Last in the Shower?
How long does fresh eucalyptus last in the shower? Well, how frequently do you use it? Is your family of 6 using one shower 8 times per day? If that's the case, it's better to count the number of uses the leaves got, rather than the days. It ultimately depends how frequently you shower & how you care for the bundle of leaves. If the eucalyptus shower gets used multiple times a day, it may last two to three weeks or so. We had our hanging eucalyptus branches for two to three weeks, went on a 3-week trip, & came back to the most fragrant, fantastic scent of eucalyptus wafting through the bathroom. We used it for one more week before heading to the farmers market for a new bundle. If you use your shower a lot, the leaves won't last as long in terms of days. Buy fresh dried eucalyptus leaves on Amazon.Can I Use Eucalyptus Oil Instead?
Of course! You may use whatever you have on hand. I dabbled with oil eucalyptus for several years. It all started in 2014 with my very first bottle of eucalyptus essential oil. I prefer the fresh leaves because the scent is much more potent than the essential oils. But the eucalyptus essential oil is convenient & travel-friendly since you may take a small bottle with you wherever you go. Click here for my favorite eucalyptus essential oil (*affiliate link). Eucalyptus oil still has benefits too! You can also buy real eucalyptus leaves on Amazon. The oil of eucalyptus is a good alternative if you can't find the fresh version. It's important to be careful when applying eucalyptus oil to your skin.What Does Eucalyptus Leaves Smell Like?
What Can You Do With Fresh Eucalyptus Leaves?
You might ask yourself, so...what're the eucalyptus bunch benefits? What are the common uses? Can it be used on a daily basis? It smells fantastic. It's a natural room perfume aromatherapy. But in addition to that, it may help clear your sinuses, nasal congestion or a stuffy nose. Just inhale the eucalyptus steam as you shower. You may want to add it to your routine. It might be worth it rather than have to get some similar product from the pharmacy.
So yes, while fresh eucalyptus oil from the leaves and steam is the best option you may use essential oils, hanging dried leaves, or whatever you want to start with. Some people have different preferences.
It's Pretty
Do you use eucalyptus leaves or oils eucalyptus in the shower? If you prefer the oil, how do you like to use it? Leave a comment! Tell me about your experience. Feel free to ask a question! What are some of the eucalyptus benefits you've found? Any other ways it can be used? Add a luxurious touch of natural aromatherapy to your next shower.
About Me
Pin this image on Pinterest. Your guide to hanging eucalyptus stems in the shower. |
The best things in life
Some of the best things in life are free. Some of the best things in life are not things. Some of the best things in life are right in front of you. Life is all about the simple pleasures. You can't go around judging the value of your life by the money you make or the things you can buy. Take a step back from the every day greed and do nothing. Forget your daily hassles, problems and woes for a second. Do something that gets you back into nature. Do something that gets you out of the house. Do something that makes you more knowledgeable. Do something fun, worthwhile, silly, outrageous, rewarding. Do something different. Do something.
Life's Little Lessons: Part IV
* Life's Little Lessons is a series about the moral of each day. I am a strong believer in positive thinking and seeing the good in the bad. After all, when a horrible thing happens, you can either wallow in your sorrows or find the deeper meaning in the experience. Even on the darkest of days, there is a raison d'ĂȘtre or reason for existence.
Life's Little Lessons: Part I
Life's Little Lessons: Part II
Life's Little Lessons: Part III
15. Be complaint free - Stuff happens. There's nothing you can do about it. Live with it and learn from it.
18. Get out of the house - Seriously. Get out of the house. If you find yourself feeling cooped up and anxious, get out of there as fast as you can.
20. Productive days are the best - Remember that feeling of accomplishment that rolls over you when you did everything you needed? You did the laundry, the dishes, washed the car, took the dog for a walk, cleaned your entire bedroom and finished all your school work. When you use your time wisely, the day flies by, memories are made, things get done.