If you love the outdoors, you’ll want to spend as much time as possible outside. You can enjoy the fresh air, see beautiful plants and animals, and get an experience you can never replicate with just a screen in your home.
Some people are perfectly content to sit outside and gaze upon nature, but if you want something more stimulating, you’ll need to find a new hobby to keep your interest. Fortunately, there are many options.
New Hobbies to Try
These are some of the best new hobbies to try if you’re interested in learning or trying something new:
- Sport fishing. First, you could give sport fishing a try. There are many different types of fish to catch, each of which requires a different approach. You could venture out for a calm, relaxing day of fishing, or join a competition and feel the adrenaline rush of pulling in something huge. You can also use sport fishing as an excuse to visit exotic locations all over the world; you can get in touch with nature in a variety of countries, and fish for species you can’t find at home.
- Wakeboarding. If you’re interested in something more active or physically demanding, but you love the water, try wakeboarding. When wakeboarding, you’ll stand on a wakeboard (similar to a surfboard) and get pulled behind a motorboat on the waves. It’s difficult at first, even if you’re physically fit, but after a few forays, you’ll be practicing interesting tricks and having the time of your life.
- Running. If you prefer the land to water, or if you just want an outdoor hobby that doesn’t require much equipment, take up running. Running through local trails can introduce you to new scenery and help you stay fit. And if you join a running group, you’ll have a great opportunity to meet like-minded people.
- Bicycling. Running is one of the best forms of exercise, but it can also be hard on your joints. Bicycling is much easier on the body; it’s also much faster. As long as you have a road or paved trail, you can cycle at blazing speeds, feeling the wind and venturing out to new locations. Just make sure you bring a spare tube so you don’t get stranded.
- Hiking. If you’re interested in something a bit slower-paced, try hiking. You can hike almost anywhere with suitable terrain, and you can spend an entire day exploring new territory. Invest in a good pair of hiking boots, and be sure to bring extra water.
- Gardening. As long as the weather is decent, you can also try gardening. Depending on your interests, you might plant a number of vegetables, herbs, and other consumable items—or you might prefer to plant and tend to beautiful flowers. If the weather isn’t in your favor, you could try to care for indoor plants.
- Foraging. Foraging is increasing in popularity, in part due to social distancing practices. The basic idea is to venture into the wilderness and look for mushrooms, berries, and other items that you can consume. Foraging is a calm, peaceful activity that can give you a steady supply of food. However, you’ll need to exercise caution, since not everything that looks edible is edible.
- Bird watching. If you want something quiet and laid-back, consider picking up bird watching. With just a pair of binoculars, a field manual, and a bit of patience, you can learn more about the species around you. Head to less-traveled areas to catch a glimpse of rare specimens in their natural habitat. Or, condition your own backyard with bird feeders and native plants to attract birds to come to you.
- Geocaching. Geocaching is a kind of outdoor, ever-running scavenger hunt. Throughout the world are millions of “geocaches,” or small containers, that are hidden from sight. By using an app and following cryptic clues, you can find these containers and explore the treasures found within—or leave something interesting of your own.
- Scuba diving. You could also return to the water with Scuba diving, assuming you have the right equipment and knowledge. With Scuba gear, you can get a glimpse of the mysterious world below the water—and get some exercise while you’re at it.
Staying Active
You don’t have to make a major commitment for any of these hobbies. You can try them out, see if you like them, and if you don’t like them, you can move on. Try to find someone who’s already involved in this hobby, so you can learn from them and spend some time socializing simultaneously. Of course, if you prefer to spend your outdoor time alone, it’s perfectly acceptable to pursue these hobbies on your own as well.
