With the warmer months approaching, you’re likely excited to get outside and enjoy the fresh air and sunshine. There are so many different outdoor activities that seniors can participate in to stay active and healthy and spend quality time with family and friends.
If you’re looking for ideas to get involved in an active lifestyle during this time of the year, check out our eleven great outdoor activities for seniors so you can make the most of the summer months in Gladstone.
1. Gardening
Spring and summer are seasons of growth – so why not celebrate it with gardening? Gardening engages the senses and provides both physical and mental health benefits. Studies have shown that gardening is a form of aerobic exercise that promotes strength and dexterity.
This activity gets you outside, away from a screen, and your concentration is all on what’s in front of you. The sensation of digging through dirt, pulling weeds, and burying the seeds is therapeutic, and there’s nothing better than charting the growth of your hard work.
You can choose to grow fruits, vegetables, herbs, or flowers from seeds – or all of the above if you’re an avid gardener.
2. Picking Fruit
So many delicious fruits grow in the summer. Going berry-picking with friends is an excellent way to spend a summer morning. There are many fruit-picking patches in the Kansas City metro area.
Berry-picking is a relaxing, fun activity where you literally get to enjoy the fruits of your labor. Filling up a basket with freshly picked berries is a calming activity. You may look up recipes on what you can make with the berry – or leave them on your counter to eat whenever you want. And remember, no one is going to say anything if you eat a berry fresh from the vine.
3. Walking
Going for a stroll in the sun is an easy way to get outside and benefit your health. The sun can provide vitamin D, which is associated with strengthening bones.
This can be something you do alone to let your mind wander about all the beautiful nature around you, or a perfect time to catch up with a friend at a local farmers market to walk and talk about anything and everything while looking at what the market has to offer.
Just remember to drink plenty of water, wear sunscreen and bring a hat if necessary. You may consider timing your walks for early morning or in the evening to avoid the hottest time of the day.
4. Participating in Exercise Classes
Warm weather offers so many opportunities to work on your physical health outside. While exercise classes may usually be categorized as indoor activities, changing it up to outside is a refreshing change of pace. Yoga and chair exercises are just some examples of exercise classes you can do outside.
If you’re near a pool, doing exercises in the water is easy on your joints and provides a way to stay cool.
5. Going on a Picnic
Spending time outdoors doesn’t mean you have to be exercising. Sometimes, it’s all about stopping and appreciating the nature around you.
Picnics are a great way to take in the outdoors with friends over a delicious meal – maybe pack some of the fruit you’ve picked or vegetables from the garden you’ve grown. There are many beautiful parks in the KC metro that are perfect for picnicking.
6. Attending an Outdoor Show
Outdoor venues are a great place to see music events and plays. Going to a local park to see bands or theater groups perform is the perfect way to spend a summer evening.
In our area, the most famous outdoor stage is Starlight Theatre, where you can see a variety of National Broadway Tours or choose from their concert series.
7. Reading and Writing
Reading and writing don’t need to be categorized as indoor activities. In fact, changing the usual routine and bringing your book or journal outside can be a great way to engage your other senses when you’re focused on the task at hand.
Who doesn’t love a pleasant breeze and the sounds of birds chirping when they’re reading a good book? If you’re writing, there’s no shortage of interesting things to use for inspiration. You could use the lush nature around you to write a poem or for a descriptive setting for the scene you’re writing.
8. Creating Art
Much like reading and writing, going outside to work on your art is another fun outdoor activity. Whether you’re more into crafts, painting, or drawing, there’s nothing like nature to get your creativity flowing.
You could sit outside at a table with your friends as you all work on the crochet or knitting projects you’ve been meaning to get to – or you take your sketchbook, sit down near the flowers, and draw all the beautiful sights around you.
9. Partaking in Photography
This enjoyable activity allows you to connect to your inner Ansel Adams. You could try capturing sunrises and sunsets, close-ups of local wildlife or wildflowers, or even combine some of your summer interests and capture a photo of your garden every day. By the end of the summer, you’ll have an entire photo story that shows your garden’s growth, plus some new art to add to your home!
10. Bird-Watching
You’ve likely been hearing birds chirping excitedly in the early morning hours since early spring. Grabbing a pair of binoculars to go bird-watching can be a fantastic way to appreciate the lovely plumage of local birds and learn how to identify the different species in the area. You can check out books on bird-watching from your local library.
11. Attending Sporting Events
Enjoying a sports game at least once in the summer is a great way to see more of what your local community has to offer. Right here in KC, we love a chance to support the Chiefs, Royals, Monarchs, Sporting KC and the KC Current!
You may also want to play a sport yourself. You may have played a sport when you were younger or want to try something new. Engaging in a sport is a fun way to exercise while getting the social benefit of playing with a team.
As you’re making the most of summer, it’s important to take safety precautions to make sure you’re staying healthy. This includes plenty of hydration, wearing cooler clothing, protecting your skin, and knowing when it’s time to go inside to cool off.
Enjoy the Great Outdoors at The Grand Royale
At The Grand Royale in Gladstone, MO, we know how many engaging and exciting activities there are to do in the summer. Our programming includes all types of fun outdoor activities for seniors. We ensure that our residents make the most of this time of year to do what they love most.
Schedule a visit to see the active lifestyles our residents lead. We’re ready to welcome you.