
When the weather warms up, the whole family is ready to get outdoors and enjoy the season. There’s nothing better than making memories with outdoor activities that will last a lifetime. Whether you’ve got little tykes or teens, we’ve got some great ideas to get your family bonding together.
Backyard Splash Zone
When the temperatures soar, and you’re looking for ways to stay cool and have fun at home, creating a backyard splash zone is a perfect idea. All kids enjoy slip-and-slides, sprinklers, inflatable pools, and water balloons! These days, you can find some very intricate inflatable splash zones for sale that come complete with sprinklers, slides, wading pools, and more built right in. Add some refreshing lemonade and popsicles to the mix to keep it extra cool. Parents will love a dip in the pool or just relaxing while they watch the kids go crazy.
Air Gun Target Practice
Air guns are made in styles to suit your whole family. Young kids will enjoy air gun toys that shoot soft balls and foam darts, while older children may be ready to upgrade to low-power rifle-style air guns. As you practice target shooting with your children, they’ll grow to become better marksmen and gain familiarity with air guns when they reach adulthood.
Air gun targets come in a wide variety, but some of the most popular targets are suspended by a stand and spin when they are struck. You can also purchase affordable paper targets. Both options give you tons of target practice fun for the whole family!
Start a Garden
Gardening is enjoyed by people of all ages. Some people like the satisfaction of eating the herbs, fruits, and vegetables they grow, and others love to enjoy the sights and smells of beautiful flowers and foliage. Teaching children how to successfully grow plants is a skill they will carry with them their whole lives. If you’re not sure where to start, there is a lot of information online about gardening in your state and current season.
Bug and Bird Watching
Slowing down to smell the flowers is nice, but you could also slow down and take notice of the insects and birds that are around us every day. It’s easy to miss the tiny crawling critters on the ground and the birds that flit by in the sky. The best tools for this activity are a pair of binoculars to help you get a closer look at the birds, and some clear containers and a magnifying glass to get an up-close and personal look at the insects you find. If you can’t identify the birds and bugs, try doing a web search for birds and insects found in your state. You could also check out books on these topics from your local library.
Take a Hike and Explore Wildlife
Hiking is a great exercise for the whole family. Depending on where you live, you might be able to find hikes with greater elevations to make it more challenging. Or, if you want to keep it easy for little ones, look for rails-to-trails. Some rails-to-trails are paved, which makes a good option if you need to push a stroller. Along your hike, check out the local plant life, like flowers and mushrooms. Spring is a great season to see wildflowers in bloom, and in fall the mushrooms start to peek out from beneath the forest floor. You may also see cool native animals along your hikes, like squirrels, deer, ducks, and turtles. Hiking is a great way to include the whole family, especially your four-legged fur buddies!

Go Fruit Picking
Pick-your-own-fruit farms are all across the country. You can pick apples and cherries in tall orchard trees, pick blueberries from rows of bushes, or get closer to the ground and pick all the strawberries you want. You typically pay by the bushel or by the pound, and nobody usually notices if a bit of fruit gets tasted before you make it to the counter!
Before you go be sure to pack sun hats, sunscreen, and water to stay hydrated.
Go Fishing
You don’t have to be a bait master to get a fish on the line. Catching small fish, like sunnies, can be as easy as using a bobber, hook, and a small worm. Kids and adults love the thrill of their first bite and reeling one in, no matter the size. Young kids might need help baiting and casting their rods, or you can purchase a child’s rod that is fitted with a weight so they can practice casting. If you’re looking to reel in a big one, chartering a fishing trip for your family is an excellent idea. They provide you with everything you need and give you advice along the trip.
Take advantage of the warm and beautiful weather while it lasts and get outdoors! Make memories with your kids while they’re young because we all know they grow up way too fast.