I can confidently say that I have developed a much greater appreciation for the outdoors! And it’s no wonder after the events of 2020.
Which is why this spring, I am ready to go. Goodbye, safe, temperature-regulated apartment, and hello to refreshing and unpredictable outdoors.
Picnics
This has been at the top of my list since the end of fall last year. And I honestly never would have thought that the picnic blanket I got at graduation would be so essential! Plus, it’s less about the food and more about spending a lazy afternoon outside with no hunger time constraints. All I need is a blanket, some outdoor space, and whatever eats I’m in the mood to pack.
And depending on the location, state park, end of a long trail, etc., the picnic can be a fun addition. I don’t think I’ve met anyone who’s not hungry after a hike.
Park Meetups
The difference between this and a picnic is that you add friends who can sit on their own picnic blankets six feet away! If that’s what everyone’s comfortable with.
And instead of spending time crafting homemade picnic lunches, everyone can grab takeout from their favorite restaurant and enjoy eating in the company of others. Win, win, and hassle-free – unless you get stuck waiting on that takeout order.
Hikes & Trails
You would think this is more of a summer thing, but I find the milder weather, spring, and fall, better for things that require greater endurance.
As for me, I don’t think I can manage long hikes under the unforgiving heat of summer. I need low humidity and just a hint of chilly weather to prevent me from tapping out halfway there. And if that isn’t possible, then the destination better be a creek or waterfall, lake or beach, anything where I end up engulfed in water!
Reading Outside
So this is like a picnic except instead of food I bring a book.
And really, it doesn’t get any simpler than that: just you, the outdoors, a blanket, and a book. And the book doesn’t have to be a dense novel. Personally, I’m easily distracted outside or get caught up in just laying there…doing nothing.
So my outdoor reading list will probably be poetry books or graphic novels or maybe a re-read of something I liked.
And if you’re not much of a reader, maybe a sketchbook might be a better choice, a little art in the park. Speaking from experience, you don’t need to be an artist to start drawing, personally doodling is as good as it gets for me. So as long as you’re happy or relaxed, it’s a win-win.
I might think myself a writer but an artist I am not, and yet these little guys were both fun and soothing to create. And they love being outside too!
Visiting Botanical Gardens & Outdoor Sites
The beautiful thing about New Jersey, aka the Garden State, is that there are many outdoor options. I don’t just have to sit in a park or hike up rocky terrain. I can literally stop and smell the roses with the acres and acres of gardened land across the state.
There are places like Deep Cut Gardens in Middletown or Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton and several smaller gardens across the state to really take in spring.
On top of that, I’m not restricted to New Jersey. There are many great finds relatively close by in upstate New York or Pennsylvania.
Plus, it’s spring! It would be a waste to not stop admire the flowers.
