Outdoor Activities For The Whole Family

Spending time outdoors is always a good idea. Whether you’re trying to entertain your kids, wrangle the family together for some outdoor bonding, or looking to DIY a new backyard project, you’ve come to the right place. Let the good times roll with these fun outdoor activities so the whole family can have a good time. 

Table of Contents

• Outdoor activities for kids
• Outdoor activities for adults
• Outdoor activities for the whole family
• Keep it safe

Outdoor activities for kids

In today’s digital age, keeping children away from video games, TikTok challenges, and TV shows can be a real struggle. There are a lot of captivating ideas that will engage the little ones and encourage them to embrace the great outdoors. From thrilling outdoor games to exciting nature explorations, we’ve put together a collection of outdoor activities that will keep them entertained while fostering their adventurous spirit. So, let’s get into it and see what activities are available to do with kids.

Go on a scavenger hunt

Scavenger hunts build problem-solving skills, teach teamwork, and they’re easy to customize to your child’s age. Start by writing down clues, or use one of many free online scavenger hunt templates to get ideas if you’re stuck. Then, hide the clues and little treasures around the backyard. If you don’t have tiny treasures lying around the house, head to the dollar store for fun trinkets your child will have a blast hunting for. For safety reasons, it’s crucial to establish boundaries and rules to prevent kids from leaving the house or entering restricted areas. 

Get wet with water games

Water games are a saving grace in the dog days of summer when it’s too hot for other outdoor activities. You can choose simple games — turn on the sprinkler and let your kids go ham, or load up on water balloons for an epic battle. For more challenging games, lay down a plastic sheet or tarp and lay it under your sprinkler — the kids will love slipping and sliding and splashing around. Water limbo is another family favorite — have one person hold the hose while others shimmy underneath. If you feel a cold spray of water, you’re out ’til the next round.

Perform on a summer stage

Do you have a burgeoning actor or musician in your midst? Set up a summer stage where your young thespian or rock star can come up with one-acts, skits, or concerts. Don’t worry; you don’t have to pull out the wood planks and drill (unless you want to). Use a picnic blanket, flattened cardboard boxes, or interlocking foam tiles for the platform and sticks strung with Christmas lights to border the stage. Your kids can create their own backdrops using a large dry-erase board or by coloring on cardboard boxes.

Build a box fort

We all remember the magic of playing in a fort. How markers, tape, and a sprinkle of imagination can turn a fine box into a fantastical wonderland filled with superheroes and villains. Playing make-believe is important for child development, and your kid will love exploring worlds in their new fort. Save all your boxes, and one day, when they’re bored, have your kids take them outside and start taping them together. Help them make doorways and windows with a knife or scissors, then let them go wild with decorations. Solar-powered fairy lights, markers, crayons, paint — the possibilities are endless.

Play in the sandbox

Kids love sandboxes, and it’s an activity that will keep them outdoors — and occupied — for hours. One trip to the hardware store is all it takes for an easy DIY sandbox. Fill up a kiddie pool — the sturdy plastic kind — with sand. How many bags you’ll need depends on the size of your sandbox, but make sure you get dust-free or non-silica sand, as they’re the safest types for your little one to play in.

Make art on an outdoor chalkboard

If your kid loves playing with chalk but having a chalkboard wall indoors creates too much mess, consider building an outdoor chalkboard. All you need is a piece of plywood, some sandpaper, and a can of chalkboard paint to make a chalk wall where your child can draw to their heart’s content. Secure your chalk wall to a fence or the back of the garage, or lay it flat on the ground.

Teepee adventure

Part of having fun outdoors is not just about the destination but also the journey. Even if we’re talking about having fun in your backyard, you can make it a memorable trip to the final destination, the teepee. Planning out, building, or setting up a teepee can be a fun and creative experience for adults and children. You can find excellent guides of great teepee tents for your backyard.

Climbing wall

Kids love to climb and explore, so why not give them a place they can do it without ruining the furniture? An outdoor climbing wall is exactly what you need. Build a climbing wall by installing climbing handles on your fence, a blank wall, or a sturdy tree trunk, then let your kids have at it. However, always consider the safety of the kids and make sure an adult is always supervising. 

Outdoor activities for adults

Summertime means less time spent indoors and more time spent doing outdoor activities. If you’re in need of some outdoor inspiration, look no further. Level up your backyard game with these creative DIY activities for grown-ups only — as long as you get a babysitter. Otherwise, the kids will want in on the fun. Or you can set up an area for the kids to enjoy.

Sidle up to the tiki bar

Get out the cocktail umbrellas, make a pitcher of margaritas, and call your friends because things are about to get tropical. Want to build your own tiki bar? Bring a slice of paradise to your backyard using an online tutorial. If you’re looking to keep it simple, snag a few tiki torches and colorful string lights to deck out your patio, tiki-style. Plastic palm trees and Hawaiian shirts are optional but recommended.

Have a fire pit

Drinking beer with the neighbors, roasting marshmallows, and telling ghost stories just aren’t the same without a fire pit. You can buy a fire pit or build one yourself — there’s a world of options no matter which way you choose to go. The simplest way to DIY a fire pit is to dig a hole, lay down some quick-setting concrete, and surround it with a wall of cement blocks. Check your city’s ordinances to make sure they don’t have any special rules or regulations for fire pits, then go forth and burn, baby, burn.

Soak in a hot tub

Is there anything better than a relaxing soak in your backyard hot tub? Hot tubs are the pinnacle of luxury and a delightful way to unwind after a long day. They come in tons of shapes and sizes, so no matter what your backyard situation is, there’s a hot tub for you. The best part is that you can enjoy your hot tub all year round. For aesthetics, hang lights around your tub — or make night lamps (below). This creates a cozy seating area, and you’re set to have a hot tub party.

Set out night lamps for ambiance

Make use of your up-cycled jar collection and line your patio or sidewalk with DIY night lamps when you entertain. Moreover, consider decorating the jars with paint or decoupage tissue paper, then fill them with LED tea lights or a string of fairy lights. This is a fun and easy project that the whole family can participate in.

Swing in a hammock

Picture yourself lounging in a colorful woven hammock, reading a book, and sipping lemonade in the sunshine. Feeling relaxed? Us, too. Adding a hammock (or two) will transform your backyard into an oasis, and you’ll find yourself wondering how you ever spent a summer without one. You can also get that swimsuit outside to take sunbathe and get a good tan.

Meditating

Meditating is a great activity to relax, and even more when you’re surrounded by nature. Your backyard offers a serene escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life. Surrounded by the soothing sounds of nature, you can find inner peace and mindfulness as you connect with the natural world. Additionally, the open space and fresh air create the perfect environment for deep relaxation and self-reflection.