A lot of families, especially those with older kids and teenagers, get tired of doing the same family stuff year in and year out. Trips to the zoo and the beach are nice, but for the family that craves a little more excitement in their lives, they just aren't enough. Luckily, there are a number of out-there outdoor adventures for families to get into, that are a little further offs the beaten path.
Paintball is a great family activity. Equipment can get a little expensive if you choose to buy your own, but some places have rentals available. Depending on where you live, it might also be a little difficult to find an area to play, since paintball requires a large, empty space with numerous obstacles and things for players to hide behind, and no chance that an innocent bystander could get hit by a ball. For added fun, form your own family paintball team, and play against another family.
Herping is a great way to get outdoors, though the majority of people probably haven't ever heard of it. It refers to going outside to find or collect wild reptiles and amphibians in parks, forests, and other areas. It requires a bit of experience and some caution, since some areas have poisonous animals that are best left undisturbed. The majority of frogs, news, salamanders, snakes, and lizards are harmless, though, and it can be really exciting to turn over a dead-looking mossy log and see a whole community of little salamanders living underneath. Taking native species out of the wild is illegal in many areas, so the most important thing to remember about herping is to take only pictures, and leave only footprints. Any disturbed rocks or logs should be replaced, and any animals should be left to their own devices after being observed.
Geocaching is another way to have an awesome outdoor adventure. Essentially treasure hunting, the only necessary piece of equipment is a hiking GPS and the coordinates of a cache site. These can be found on the internet, along with short descriptions of the areas that they're in. All that you and your family need to do is plug the destination's coordinates into the GPS unit, and set out to find it! There are cache sites hidden all over, usually in parks and the wilderness, so there's bound to be a little hidden treasure near you. Caches that have actual items in them will require you to bring a small item to swap out for one of the things in the cache- a great opportunity to encourage kids to trade away old, unwanted party favors or fast-food toys.
Choosing more uncommon outdoor activities is a great way to keep your family time fresh and exciting. Unlike doing the usual summer "family stuff," getting out to have an adventure playing paintball, discovering reptiles, or hunting for treasure is guaranteed to build lots of great, lasting memories for you and your children.
Paintball is a great family activity. Equipment can get a little expensive if you choose to buy your own, but some places have rentals available. Depending on where you live, it might also be a little difficult to find an area to play, since paintball requires a large, empty space with numerous obstacles and things for players to hide behind, and no chance that an innocent bystander could get hit by a ball. For added fun, form your own family paintball team, and play against another family.
Herping is a great way to get outdoors, though the majority of people probably haven't ever heard of it. It refers to going outside to find or collect wild reptiles and amphibians in parks, forests, and other areas. It requires a bit of experience and some caution, since some areas have poisonous animals that are best left undisturbed. The majority of frogs, news, salamanders, snakes, and lizards are harmless, though, and it can be really exciting to turn over a dead-looking mossy log and see a whole community of little salamanders living underneath. Taking native species out of the wild is illegal in many areas, so the most important thing to remember about herping is to take only pictures, and leave only footprints. Any disturbed rocks or logs should be replaced, and any animals should be left to their own devices after being observed.
Geocaching is another way to have an awesome outdoor adventure. Essentially treasure hunting, the only necessary piece of equipment is a hiking GPS and the coordinates of a cache site. These can be found on the internet, along with short descriptions of the areas that they're in. All that you and your family need to do is plug the destination's coordinates into the GPS unit, and set out to find it! There are cache sites hidden all over, usually in parks and the wilderness, so there's bound to be a little hidden treasure near you. Caches that have actual items in them will require you to bring a small item to swap out for one of the things in the cache- a great opportunity to encourage kids to trade away old, unwanted party favors or fast-food toys.
Choosing more uncommon outdoor activities is a great way to keep your family time fresh and exciting. Unlike doing the usual summer "family stuff," getting out to have an adventure playing paintball, discovering reptiles, or hunting for treasure is guaranteed to build lots of great, lasting memories for you and your children.