Alternative Outdoor Family Activities

17 February, 2015

Fitness

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Getting outdoors and doing something with your family is a great idea for the weekends, but it’s not always easy to get everyone together and liking the same thing. If this is the case for you, then it might be worth trying out something that none of you have done before. If nobody’s tried it, then nobody can knock it just yet! Let’s take a look at some ideas the next time you’re trying to get the family active.

Climbing

No, we’re not talking about actually scaling the face of a cliff or mountain; that’s far too dangerous for beginners and isn’t something you can take lightly. We’re talking about those artificial climbing walls that are manned by experts and keep you safe with all manner of harnesses and safety gear. These are a really fun way of trying out something new, and you might be surprised at how common they are; it’s not something you’ll need to drive a long way to find. You’ll learn a new skill, and both strength and balance are trained too.

Roller Skating

Skating isn’t just for kids and derby girls. It’s an activity that everyone can enjoy, and it’s one that really can get the heart rate going and everyone working up a sweat. There are now dedicated spaces that you can go and learn how to skate properly, but there’s no reason that you can’t grab yourself some gear from somewhere like Librance Skate Shop, and then go down to the local park and enjoy yourselves. One word of warning however is that you do need to make sure that you’ve got the safety equipment; cuts and grazes are expected and can be nasty, and head injuries are dangerous.

Snowboarding

When you’re first learning how to snowboard, it’s not the most glamorous of things. You’ll spend a lot of time sat down or on your back, as balancing and keeping upright is quite difficult, but once you get the hang of things there are few sports more fun. Artificial slopes are everywhere these days, so you don’t need to worry about having to travel to the mountains. Lessons are probably going to be essential if you’re just starting out, but they are inexpensive and will cater to all levels of ability. Be aware that with all of the gear on, this activity can be a lot more strenuous than it initially looks.

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About Paul Stainthorpe

Running has been part of my life since 2011. While growing up I hated running and would do anything to avoid it at school. Give me a ball and a racket any day. It’s funny how some things change. I run for good. In 2012 I ran the 12 Days of Christmas for the Percy Hedley Foundation. In 2013 I attempted (with friend Lee Nyland), the 12 parkruns of Christmas for the Tiny Lives Trust.