How to Live Better and Healthier Outdoor Life
Outdoor Life Magazine is an outdoor magazine on hiking, fishing, camping, hunting, and other outdoor activities. It’s a sister publication of Field & Stream. With Sports Afield, they’re considered the “Big Three” of American outdoor publishing. They were launched in Denver, Colorado at the end of 1898. They lasted less than a year. They were purchased by Wards Manufacturing and later sold to National Geographic.
They cover all sorts of outdoor adventure. You can find articles on mountain climbing, canoeing, kayaking, hiking, rock climbing, and even ski trips! They have outposts all over the United States, Canada, and South America. They publish magazines for people who are into all sorts of outdoor sports, not just fishing.
One article says that Colorado is the state to go to if you want to backpack through a foreign country. In fact, they’ve done it before – hiking through the jungles of Peru. One guy paddled his canoe across the Amazonian rainforest on his own. He climbed a giant palm tree on his own. He kayaked down a river on his own and then trekked up the eastern part of Thailand.
Another article described the flora and fauna of Mexico. There’s a wealth of it – this part of the world hasn’t been hit by Lyme disease (the illness that killed millions of deer decades ago). Other subjects included snake conservation, the benefits of bamboo shoots growing as much as 10 times faster than traditional woody plants, and the dangers of red-back and white-tailed deer. There were some really cool articles, too – like one about poisonous mushrooms and the tips for eating them safely.
From an article about backyard volleyball: “The weather can be unpredictable, the ball is unpredictable, and no one knows when the game will wind up in double overtime.” Sounds like a perfect time to get out of the house. And these outdoor living spaces seem to be one of the trends for the coming season. Outdoor living rooms, decks, and other out buildings are springing up all over. Why not try your hand at this?
In the Washington Post, there was an interesting article about the effect of outdoor life on brain fitness. Scientists have found that playing outdoor games like volleyball improves the cognitive ability of people who play such games. They have found that the brains of outdoor gamers are especially responsive to changes in their environments. This may explain why some people in your neighborhood are better at video games than others – they spend more time outdoors.
As I mentioned above, our local newspaper published a special feature a few weeks ago about the outdoor recreation community. It was called “Let’s Play” and the articles brought a lot of discussion back to the table. Some people complained about the commercialization of outdoor recreation, with the focus on malls and big-box retailers all over town. There was also much talk about the quality of the equipment used by these organizations, and how much maintenance needs to be done. These are valid concerns, but the fact is that outdoor recreation equipment has gotten better, as well.
The fact of the matter is that outdoor recreation is fantastic, offering a form of exercise that is interesting, fun, challenging, and all its own. Why not go ahead and start incorporating outdoor activities into your life? You’ll feel healthier, happier, and just plain have more fun. Who knows, maybe you’ll even head out to the country and find yourself a new outdoor recreational hobby!
Outdoor life is about so much more than just “backyard” sports, either. Fishing, hiking, canoeing, kayaking, swimming, mountain biking, and other outdoor recreation activities are terrific ways to spend your free time. Even if you don’t have kids, taking time out of your day to participate in outdoor pursuits can significantly reduce your stress level. Just spending some time on the water, or around a campfire, can burn off a lot of those calories and help you lose weight, too.
So what are you waiting for? Get out there and discover what outdoor living is all about. Find a local outdoor recreation facility and get the opportunity to try all sorts of different activities. Try biking, kayaking, hiking, and any other activity you can imagine. You’ll likely be blown away by the experience. If you’ve never tried outdoor recreation, you’ll be surprised how much it actually does improve the quality of your life.
But if you’re already involved in some outdoor living, make the most of it. Participate in group outdoor recreation activities. Join a fitness center and get a great aerobic workout. Purchase some hiking boots, or go mountain biking on a trail that’s near you. Your whole lifestyle will benefit from participation in outdoor recreational activities.
Welcome to my blog about home and family. This blog is a place where I will share my thoughts, ideas, and experiences related to these important topics. I am a stay-at-home mom with two young children. I hope you enjoy reading it! and may find some helpful tips and ideas that will make your home and family life even better!
