Though people like to talk about the internet as the ruling force of contemporary life, the outdoors still stand strong. Many Americans still enjoy outdoor activities. If you’re reading this, you’re probably one of them. 

Many people have “their” sport or outdoor recreational activities that they like. However, it’s always helpful to learn about different things to do outside. 

Looking for a new fun physical activity for you to enjoy? You’ve come to the right place. This article will walk you through some of the best ones out there.  

1. Mountain Biking

Right out of the gate, mountain biking is one of the most fun, challenging, and engaging activities you can engage in. It provides fantastic exercise, with big muscles like your hamstrings and your quads being worked out, making it great cardio. With the way it tires out those big muscles, think of it like walking upstairs!

However, unlike walking up stairs, mountain biking is a low-impact exercise. The cycling nature of mountain biking—the rotation of the knees—makes it low-impact. Even people with knee problems can engage in this highly-active outdoorsy activity. 

It’s not just about cardio, either. Your legs can build up muscle from this exercise, and from trying to steer through tough terrain, your arms get a great workout too. You’ll even improve your sense of balance, which can help you avoid falls later in life. 

2. Hiking

A little less strenuous than mountain biking, hiking is also a great option for an outdoorsy activity. What it lacks in the rigor of mountain biking, it makes up in the time it gives you to admire your surroundings. 

Hiking is a great activity for those not just interested in exercise, but those interested in exploring the great outdoors. The natural world has so much for us to offer, and hikers put themselves right in the middle of it. 

There are many different types of hiking. You can hike on a path, or through tougher terrain. 

Once you get out a few miles, you can really get away from tourist destinations and commune with nature. This is a solitary, beautiful circumstance that’s hard to replicate. If you combine this with camping, you can really feel yourself getting grounded back into nature. 

3. Fishing 

Fishing is a classic outdoor activity for engaging with nature. It requires you to wake up early, understand which bodies of water are great for fishing, packing up supplies, and traveling out there into the world. 

Fishing is a great bonding activity—whether for friends or for families. It’s not uncommon for a parent to teach a child to fish, and get serious bonding time out there on the lake with their child. There are great literary examples of fishing strengthening friendships, like in The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway. 

Fishing has an addition, plus that few other activities have—the tension and thrill of making a catch. There’s a built-in arc to the activity of fishing that can be extremely engaging to people of all ages.

4. Crabbing 

If you’re by a big body of salt water, and prefer getting your outdoorsy activities done at night, we can’t recommend crabbing enough. Though it’s not as popular as fishing, it requires just as much skill, and can be just as fun. 

You can go with cages and put raw chicken inside of them—this is the standard option. However, the more fun option—and the one that will catch you more crabs—is to put the raw chicken on a long piece of string and dangle it down into the water.

Test the strings every once in a while, pulling slowly. If you feel a pull against it, a crab is on. Pull it up slowly until the crab is visible on the piece of chicken in the water. 

From here, have a friend come up beside you with a crab net and scoop up the crab. This is a great activity to build friendships. 

On top of this, crabs are extremely easy to prepare. If you catch enough, you could earn yourself a great dinner. 

5. Boating 

To keep things aquatic, but add a level of exploration, and high-octane fun, why not look into boating? Most of our earth is water—and the only way you’re going to explore it is on a boat.

The greatest thing about boating is that it opens you up to many activities. You can take a solo trip out on your boat, and reconnect with nature through an open body of water. Or, you can head out there with family/friends, and enjoy any sort of game or activity that you bring with you on the boat.

If you’re someone who likes mastering new skills and learning new things, boating is for you. There’s a lot that goes into driving a boat, and getting a certification isn’t easy. 

You’re going to need to learn nautical terminology, how the tides and wind affect a boat, etc. You’re also going to need to learn a lot about boat maintenance. 

If all of this sounds exciting to you, then it might just be time to check out Boats For Sale. 

The Best Outdoor Recreational Activities 

As you can see, there are many outdoor recreational activities you can engage with. If you’re a person who prefers the woods, try out the water—you might just find you like it. 

For more information, check out our “health and fitness” section.