By Rebecca G.
Last week, we looked at keeping fit and staying active as a family. Continuing with our holi-stay theme, this week we are looking at how to spend more time outdoors as a family. Lockdown is easing, we’ve spent a lot of time cooped up indoors, and now is the time that children would usually be looking forward to their Summer holiday activities. This Summer is going to undoubtedly be different to previous years, and any activities that are still going ahead will no doubt look very different to how they would usually. However, there are still plenty of ideas for how to spend a few hours, days or weeks as a family in the great outdoors, here are our top picks to inspire you.
Walk, Run or Ride!
Perhaps the most obvious choices when it comes to getting outdoors, either using our own two feet or some wheels (bikes, skateboards, roller skates or blades) are activities that are easily accessible to most families.
I think we’ll all agree that it’s hard to beat the feeling of being in the fresh outdoors, and if the sun shines, then it’s a huge bonus- not to mention the vitamin D boost! It’s important to remember that we still should adhere to government guidelines when it comes to social distancing and also to try and limit the amount of surfaces we touch. Always wash your hands before leaving the house, and try to take all snacks, drinks and any other items you might need with you to limit your need to stop in stores or cafes. When you get home, be sure to wash your hands again.
If your kids need more than a walk to keep them entertained, we’ve got a couple of activities in mind to help amuse them:
Geocaching
A bit like a treasure hunt, “geocaches” have their location mapped on GPS, and there are clues for the position of the geocache container to help you find it. Geocaching has built up quite a following in recent years and is easy, fun for kids and if you find all the geocaches in your area you can start leaving them for others to find. To get involved, simply download the app to get started. As with everything at the moment, be sure to practise safe handling of the geocaches or just log online rather than inside the container.
Treasure Hunt
Whilst treasure hunts mean a bit more planning for parents, they can equal hours of entertainment for all the family. It’s best to start by planning your route, then identifying key landmarks and places to hide clues. For added fun, try to think up rhymes and riddles for each of your clues. As we live in the UK, it’s advisable to keep the clues in a dry sheltered spot or in some kind of concealed bag just in case it rains!
Whilst many of us will have had to cancel our holiday plans this year due to travel restrictions, there are still plenty of options for stay-cations in the UK. We can now travel the length and breadth of the country, so it could be time to rediscover the beauty of our homeland.
Camping & Caravanning
Whatever your budget, and your creature comforts leaning, there is a camping experience to suit you. Be it back to basics, glamping, holiday park or caravanning, as soon as you start researching you will have an idea of what you will be able to handle for a few days or a week or two. Some good starting points include the camping and travel blog Camping with Style, and this blog is particularly insightful for post-lockdown holiday staycation options, and the Wild Guide book series, which will take you to hidden places, on great adventures slightly off the beaten path, and direct you towards the best in local artisan food and crafts.
Microadventures
If you and/or your young ones are more adventurous, intrepid explorers, we highly recommend you check out the Microadventures book by Alistair Humphreys. A British adventurer and author, Humphreys defines the term “microadventure” as “an overnight outdoor adventure that is small and achievable, for normal people with real lives".
If you’ve been inspired by one of our blogs, we’d love to hear what you and your family have been up to. Please share with us on social media with the hashtag #JASONholistay
