How to become "outdoorsy"

[Anonymous]

Step one - put on sneakers and go outside. Bring water and maybe a snack. Starting can be that easy.

Some fun, easy starter nature walks in the DC area:

Roosevelt Island
Huntley Meadows Park
National Arboretum

These are all fairly level and have parking. Huntley Meadows and the Arboretum even have nice restrooms! Check those out and then come back for more recommendations when you're ready for the next step!

[Anonymous]

these are all good suggestions, I'll add some more:

- put raw cashews, almonds and raisins in a bag. get fancy if you want with coconut flakes, caroob or chocolate chips, etc. Call it "gorp" if you dare/ Yum.
- drive a Subaru
- learn to compost
- wear a fleece pullover
- get one of those hardshell things for the top of your Subaru
- buy a bunch of stuff at Patagonia
- always carry a Nalgene water bottle

sometime the look helps with the attitude this was how many people at my NE school were. I personally love camping in a cabin. You must go to Yosemite!

[Anonymous]

Get a Subaru

[Anonymous]

order the book "60 hikes within 60 miles of DC" on amazon. Great mix of skill level hikes. Spend time in rock creek park or roosevelt island. We take my 3.5 year old on hikes every weekend. Going to try one of camping with her soon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hiking boots - and on meetup.com you can join a walking or hiking group.

But break the boots in first or you'll have blisters.

1300 here. If you are going to start out with well-established trails and low-key hikes, you don't really need the hiking boots. Good running/athletic shoes will be fine.

I actually think it's better to start small with hikes. Once you get into it more, then get hiking boots. Hiking boots aren't necessary if you are going to places where you aren't really hiking in the deep woods. And that's the kind of place you should start. Even going to a local park with bike trails to hike on is a good start, and you don't need boots for that. In fact, I find it's better not to wear hiking boots on paved trails.

It's when you are in the deep woods, long hikes, and especially hilly areas where you need hiking boots for (1) to protect your feet from snakes, (2) to keep your feet dry on long hikes, and (3) to protect your ankles on inclines or stepping on uneven ground.

But I don't think you should start with that kind of hike anyhow. Even just some paved trails is a good start.

+! I know when I wanted to hike and camp when I was young I thought it wasn't worth anything unless it was a two-week backpacking trip in the mountains out west so I ended up doing very little. Pp is right - go to a local park with easy trails - make it easy to get out there. As you do more of that, you'll get an idea of what you're interested in and then you can buy equipment for that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

doodlebug wrote:Start slow and most importantly, have the right gear for the circumstances. It's not fun if you don't have rain gear and it's raining or you don't have warm enough gear or dry enough gear for the snow etc.

Comfortable, waterproof shoes and a rain shell are good starting points. Mostly, just get outside! Go on walks. Go for easy hikes and pack a lunch to have out and about at the hike. Try snowshoeing when the weather comes...easier and cheaper than skiiing. Go outside and kick a ball with the kids. If you have a dog, throw a ball/stick for the dog and run and play w/ the dog. Rake leaves and jump in... things like that. I think some people are just naturally more outdoorsy than others, but I think even indoor people can learn to enjoy being outside if they have the right gear for the conditions. I hated being outside until I figured that out. Being overly wet/cold are kind of deal breakers for me.

I'm the opposite. I avoided things because I didn't think I had the "gear" or I felt overwhelmed when I went to a store to get the "gear" and I was bombarded with a million things I need to buy.

I actually fare better if I try something out on a small enough scale that the gear isn't all that relevant. As David Duchovny's character in Sex in the City said, "I'll let you in on a secret: hiking is actually just walking."

Start with walks in local parks with well-established trails. You don't need "gear" to do that. Just bring water. Once you get comfortable walking for certain distances, then up the ante a bit if you want to get more adventurous.

I would stick with day trips for a while before camping, especially if you've never been outdoorsy. What you want is to establish doing something outside on a regular basis. You are more likely to stick with that if you go for things that require minimal planning, preparation, and gear.

Um, having decent walking shoes that are dry and comfortable and a rain jacket and maybe gloves are all "gear." Those are things you'll want to have if taking up hiking or spending time outdoors. If you're wet and miserable or your feet hurt you're going to think being outdoors sucks and you won't want to do it again. Get the right "gear" (shoes, socks, jacket...things to be comfortable off the couch in a variety of weather) can make or break your experience, particularly when you're just getting started.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Step one - put on sneakers and go outside. Bring water and maybe a snack. Starting can be that easy.

Some fun, easy starter nature walks in the DC area:

Roosevelt Island
Huntley Meadows Park
National Arboretum

These are all fairly level and have parking. Huntley Meadows and the Arboretum even have nice restrooms! Check those out and then come back for more recommendations when you're ready for the next step!

+1

I was just about to write this too.

Canoeing at Fletcher's Cove (on the canal) is pretty low-key too.

[Anonymous]

I had an outdoorsy phase with my two young kids. But stuff changed. Mosquitoes. TTC, so might technically be pregnant half of any given month. And my running shoes need replacing. No $ in budget for another month. Toddler is uncontrollable now, so it gets boring fast. (He can't walk on a path, doesn't want to sit in the stroller, just points at stuff endlessly. Alright for a few days, but not for hours and hours every week.)

Also speedy evening: DH gets home, dinner, kids bedtime, dark. Have to get them down on time because school starts early.

It seems to rain often when I make outdoor plans.

I can tell because I have gained weight! Drastically.

Sucks because they're all just little things. But put them all together and I've been an indoor only couch potato.

[Anonymous]

Go rent a rowboat at Fletcher's Cove in DC, get some cheap fishing rods and worms, and take your kids fishing!

[Anonymous]

Area nature centers are a great place to start-- fun & educational for kids, and most have nature trails (& often creeks) around them. Some places to start (nature centers & trails):
-Rock Creek Park
-Potomac Overlook
-Long Branch nature center
-Theodore Roosevelt Island
-Huntley Meadows
-Scott's Run
-Great Falls/C & O Canal
-Carderock
-Cabin John Park/nature center

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hiking boots - and on meetup.com you can join a walking or hiking group.

But break the boots in first or you'll have blisters.

1300 here. If you are going to start out with well-established trails and low-key hikes, you don't really need the hiking boots. Good running/athletic shoes will be fine.

I actually think it's better to start small with hikes. Once you get into it more, then get hiking boots. Hiking boots aren't necessary if you are going to places where you aren't really hiking in the deep woods. And that's the kind of place you should start. Even going to a local park with bike trails to hike on is a good start, and you don't need boots for that. In fact, I find it's better not to wear hiking boots on paved trails.

It's when you are in the deep woods, long hikes, and especially hilly areas where you need hiking boots for (1) to protect your feet from snakes, (2) to keep your feet dry on long hikes, and (3) to protect your ankles on inclines or stepping on uneven ground.

But I don't think you should start with that kind of hike anyhow. Even just some paved trails is a good start.

True. Just this summer I hiked, in sneakers to the top of an inactive volcano at 10,000 feet and then around the rim which was jagged, steep and the sides fell off onto the abyss and full of that dust stiff and volcanic sharp rocks. I will say though, my two big toes turned black and are in the slow process of falling off. I hope they fall off by thanksgiving.

I'm not gonna say the hike was pleasant in my sneakers and at the descent I considered doing it barefoot, but volcanic rock is very sharp, so I simply carried on in painful agony. However I was more focused on my lungs that can't function too well at 10k feet. Talk about being winded!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hiking boots - and on meetup.com you can join a walking or hiking group.

But break the boots in first or you'll have blisters.

1300 here. If you are going to start out with well-established trails and low-key hikes, you don't really need the hiking boots. Good running/athletic shoes will be fine.

I actually think it's better to start small with hikes. Once you get into it more, then get hiking boots. Hiking boots aren't necessary if you are going to places where you aren't really hiking in the deep woods. And that's the kind of place you should start. Even going to a local park with bike trails to hike on is a good start, and you don't need boots for that. In fact, I find it's better not to wear hiking boots on paved trails.

It's when you are in the deep woods, long hikes, and especially hilly areas where you need hiking boots for (1) to protect your feet from snakes, (2) to keep your feet dry on long hikes, and (3) to protect your ankles on inclines or stepping on uneven ground.

But I don't think you should start with that kind of hike anyhow. Even just some paved trails is a good start.

True. Just this summer I hiked, in sneakers to the top of an inactive volcano at 10,000 feet and then around the rim which was jagged, steep and the sides fell off onto the abyss and full of that dust stiff and volcanic sharp rocks. I will say though, my two big toes turned black and are in the slow process of falling off. I hope they fall off by thanksgiving.

I'm not gonna say the hike was pleasant in my sneakers and at the descent I considered doing it barefoot, but volcanic rock is very sharp, so I simply carried on in painful agony. However I was more focused on my lungs that can't function too well at 10k feet. Talk about being winded!

Really??

[Anonymous]

I say, go big or go home.

Sign up for this course:

http://www.ancestralknowledge.org/event-registration/?ee=1162

And become REALLY comfortable in the outdoors!!

(Note, I have no connection to the organization, except that my kids did their summer camps for a few years.)

[Anonymous]

doodlebug wrote:Start slow and most importantly, have the right gear for the circumstances. It's not fun if you don't have rain gear and it's raining or you don't have warm enough gear or dry enough gear for the snow etc.

Comfortable, waterproof shoes and a rain shell are good starting points. Mostly, just get outside! Go on walks. Go for easy hikes and pack a lunch to have out and about at the hike. Try snowshoeing when the weather comes...easier and cheaper than skiiing. Go outside and kick a ball with the kids. If you have a dog, throw a ball/stick for the dog and run and play w/ the dog. Rake leaves and jump in... things like that. I think some people are just naturally more outdoorsy than others, but I think even indoor people can learn to enjoy being outside if they have the right gear for the conditions. I hated being outside until I figured that out. Being overly wet/cold are kind of deal breakers for me.

Where do you go snowshoeing around here?? i would love to take the kids. Used to do this in NE.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:order the book "60 hikes within 60 miles of DC" on amazon. Great mix of skill level hikes. Spend time in rock creek park or roosevelt island. We take my 3.5 year old on hikes every weekend. Going to try one of camping with her soon.

Thanks for that suggestion! (not the op)