A Weekend Break In The Open Air

With free time on the weekend, escape the pressures, noise, and crowds of the city scene. Drive, fly or ride the bus into the country. Travel with your family or spend time alone in the quiet and calm of the great outdoors with these activities.

Camp out under the stars. Choose a campground or find a secluded location to set up your tent or camper. Fall asleep to the soothing sounds of nature in the fresh outdoor air. Remember to pack sleeping bags, pillows, bug spray, toilet paper and extra clothing. When camping, pack too much rather than too little because you will not have access to convenience stores.

Pack plenty of fresh drinking water. Even if you camp near a fresh water source, the water may contain deadly bacteria. You will need enough water for drinking and cooking. Pack pre-packaged foods in a cooler with ice or eat granola and vegetables that do not require refrigeration. Eating fresh berries found in nature could be dangerous unless you are trained in wild food recognition.

Exercise fire safety if you choose to build a campfire. Ensure your camping location allows open fires. Completely douse the fire before you go to sleep or leave the camp sight. If you cook over a fire, pack cooking utensils and appropriate pots and pans.

Hire a log cabin. A cabin provides more protection from the elements than a tent and may offer modern amenities such as comfortable beds, kitchen facilities, and indoor plumbing. Certain cabin rentals include prepared meals or guided tours through local outdoor attractions or wildlife areas.

Walking allows you to explore nature in person. Pack a study pair of shoes, warm socks, and a water bottle. Study flowers, dig in the dirt, find bugs under rocks and watch local wildlife.

Orienteering involves racing against a clock and using a map to navigate the terrain. Relax the rules by removing the timed requirement. Equipped with your map and compass, guide yourself and your family from a remote location back to your cabin.

Similar to orienteering, geocaching allows participants to use a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver, mobile device, and other navigational tools. In this high-tech hide and seek game, you seek hidden containers called geocaches or caches. Connect with previous players and explorers as you test your navigational ability.

Pack your bicycle and cycle out of town. With light traffic, your entire family exercises and rides together. Set a time limit or mile marker for breaks.

Visit an orchard or farm to pick apples and pumpkins or watch the farmer perform chores. Investigate the origins of your food while supporting the local economy. Visit a working farm to spend a weekend working alongside the farmer. Milk cows, feed chickens, or plow fields. After a hard day of physical labor, your body and mind feel energized.

Choose an outdoor activity to escape the city and relax in the quiet, open outdoors. Away from the daily grind, make memories and reenergize for the week ahead.

By: Graeme_K

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Colin McDonald writes on behalf of Potters Holidays - Weekend Breaks