Enjoy mother nature

Now that it’s officially summer, we need to get ourselves outdoors to enjoy Mother Nature! There is a myriad of options to choose from, depending on what strikes your fancy. There are beaches, lakes, ponds and rivers… local, state and national parks, and nature reserves to name a few. In the UK, we also have meres, lochs and downs! In case, you haven’t guessed already, this week I’m sharing suggestions to get you outdoors in whatever destination option speaks to you.

One way to immerse yourself in the wild is to visit a state or national park. And a tremendous advantage is that the U.S. has magnificent national and state parks. The beauty of these natural treasures can take your breath away literally! If you plan on going often, think about purchasing a year-round pass from the U.S National Parks Service for substantial savings. This option beats Netflix hands down! In any case, Netflix will be around in the darker and colder months when you want to curl up on your couch. The great thing about these parks, is that they almost always have hiking trails and picnic areas, so you can enjoy a good hike and then stop for a picnic lunch. Some even have nature centers with bird watching spots, as well as special activities and tours to get introduced to the local natural environments. I challenge you to do a little research to see which park locations suits your fancy.

Years ago, before television and computers sabotaged our leisure hours, stargazing was a common pastime. Consider stargazing for some of your summer evenings! You just need to spread a blanket in an area that offers a wide view of the sky, and the darker your viewing area, the more stars you’ll see. I advise checking your local paper or the internet to see when planets such as Mars, Venus and Jupiter as well as the constellations will be visible in your area. There are also the Perseids Meteor showers that make an appearance every summer. This year, they’ll be around from mid-July to almost the end of August. Check your local newspaper for optimal viewing times. You can download from the internet current star maps to help you locate constellations of the changing sky. Take a picnic basket, go early and enjoy a full evening of relaxing fun.

Summer is also a great time to pick and enjoy fresh fruits and vegetables. If you look in the local paper, you can often find places where you can pick berries, peas and beans, squash, orchard fruit, and more. Not only will you be enjoying time outdoors, but you will also be eating healthy vibrant unprocessed foods, fresh from stalk and vine, that are chock-full of nutrients.

If you are searching for some quiet summer fun, don’t forget your local library. Of course, I know that isn’t an outdoor activity, but after you choose a book, you can catch up on your favourite author anywhere you desire. Personally, I prefer the hammock in my backyard.

I wish you a wonderful week as you begin to enjoy your summer and I hope I’ve sparked some inspiration for you to enjoy Mother Nature. And give your forecast a good going over and plan for a delightful week ahead!