Great Hobbies that Involve the Great Outdoors

If you are looking to escape social media and spend some time outside of your digital world, then there’s never been an easier time for you to escape to nature. There are around 3 billion people on social media in this day and age, and that is around half of the population of the world. Information moves so fast, and now the average attention span is just 8 seconds. If you want to slow things down a bit, then this guide will help you to find out everything you need to know.

Hiking or Walking

Hiking is a brilliant way for you to get away from all of the hustle and bustle of the day to day life you have. It is also a fantastic way for you to fight anxiety and even depression too. If you want to help yourself, then it would be wise for you to set goals so that you can measure your distance as well as achieving the markers that you set. This is the best way for you to boost your overall well-being as well as your fitness in general.

Fishing

Fishing is a very ancient activity, but at the end of the day, it really has persisted. We don’t need to hunt for our dinner anymore, but it’s a great way for you to connect with the great outdoors once more. Most people are taught how to fish by a family member, who learnt everything they know from the generation before. Spending time with your family is a great way for you to unwind, but, it’s also a great way for you to learn more about nature in general. If you want to learn how to fish, then there’s never been a better time for you to get started. This is a hobby that is also best when combined with camping.

Geocaching

Geocaching is a very fun activity, and it is a great way for you to make the most out of your tech in general. It even gives you the chance to categorise the world for the future. The great thing about geocaching is that it is done all around the world, and there are millions of things for you to find. If you want your rewards to be a bit more tangible than just the miles you have walked, then make sure that you give this a go.

Flying a Drone

Did you know that flying beginner drones is a great way for you to get outside as well? You can explore the environment around you, and you can also really benefit yourself. You can meet others who may have an interest in drone flying, and at times, it can be a good way for you to get some fantastic photos of your local landscape.

Foraging

You can learn all about the local flora in your area by foraging. You can also expand your local knowledge and enjoy the general bounty of nature, from berries to nuts, fruit and mushrooms. You will find that there’s tons of options out there, and you can carry this over to your cooking hobby too, if you have one.

This post is a collaborative effort by St. Louis Dad.

Hiking Through a Pandemic

What do you do when everything is shut down and there is nowhere to go? You go hiking over the hills and through the woods, that’s what you do.

With playgrounds, skateparks, businesses, and just about everything else shut down during this pandemic we had to go elsewhere to keep from getting cabin fever and that elsewhere was the various parks that were still open that had hiking options available… and apparently, just about everyone else had that idea too. Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

We went everywhere that we could and a few places we weren’t suppose to visit, but I won’t list those. It is such a major accomplishment when you knock out a trail. Especially when the kids come along with us. They are great hikers and love finding and identifying rocks, plants, and other things found out in the woods. We have been using the app All Trails to find cool spots to hike and explore and we have been using the app Seek to help us identify plants along the way.

We also have started taking grocery bags with us and picking up liter that we find on the trails as well. It is astonishing how much trash people will just leave on a trail. Did you really think taking a 32 ounce styrofoam cup with you on a 3 mile hike was a good idea? Apparently so, which is why we are now cleaning up after you.

Read up on the 7 principles of the Leave No Trace project. It is a great resource and helpful guide on how best to mind your manners while out exploring.

So where have we gone? Well, all over. We want to explore more, so if you have a recommendation please share in a comment or reach out on social media. Here is a list of just a few of the trails we have checked out this year.

Loutre River Trail
Saint Stanislaus Trail
Connors Cave
Spring Brook Trail Loop via Devil’s Icebox Trail
Castlewood Loop
Old Chain of Rocks Bridge
Fort Bellefontaine Loop Trail
River Scene Trail Loop
Spring Branch Trail
Wildflower Trail
Mina Sauk Falls Trail
Rock Quarry Trail
Hogsback Trail
Trail Among Trees
Klondike Park Katy Trail
Elephant Rock State Park

Like I mentioned, we started to use the app All Trails this year to keep track of the trails we have rocked. It is a handy app that gives you some nice GPS data and other information about the trail you are on. It’s not a bad tool to have when you are out there in the wilderness. It also helps keep track of other cool stats over the lifetime of using the app. I kind of wish we started using it sooner as I think my stats would be much higher had I did.

All in all hiking has become one of our families go to activities. We just love getting outdoors and exploring the world around us. I have some video and photos from some of these hikes that I hope to put together at some point, but most importantly with all that is going on, getting out and getting back to nature this year has been a perfect way to be mindful and balance yourself.

Stay tuned for a future post where I share what I have in my hiking bag and why my wife thinks it is way too heavy!