When the weather is fair, and you’re looking for ways to stay active, there’s no limit to the outdoor activities you can enjoy. While all outdoor activities are centered around you having fun, you also gain a lot of physical health benefits when you go outside. 

One study found that independent older adults who went outdoors on a daily basis at age 70 had fewer health complaints at 77 than those who were not active at age 70 and were now 77 years old. 

The active older adults reported:

• Less muscle pain and skeletal pain
• Fewer issues with sleep
• Less decline in activities of daily living (ADLs) 

Check out these outdoor activities for older adults so you can make the most of the season.

Outdoor Activities for Seniors to Enjoy the Weather

1. Take a Walk

Going for a walk is a fantastic way to stretch your legs, get out into the sun, and enjoy the fresh air. Whether moving briskly or meandering through a walking path, walking is a great outdoor activity that doesn’t require planning or equipment. 

2. Plan a Picnic

When the weather is nice, there’s nothing quite like packing a picnic basket, laying out a picnic blanket, and enjoying a delicious meal with friends. 

If you’re looking for recipe inspiration, here are a few ideas to get started. Incorporating fresh seasonal ingredients into your picnic is another excellent way to add a special touch. 

3. See Live Music Outside

Listening to live music outdoors is fun for people of all ages. You can sing along with fan favorites or hear new songs and discover you like a particular genre or band. 

You can find music events at a local park or bars and restaurants that feature bands in the area. 

4. Visit Farmers’ Markets

One enjoyable activity to do outdoors is to visit farmers’ markets. Supporting farmers from your local community and getting physical exercise while doing so has never been easier.

Going to farmers’ markets on a regular basis will give you a consistent source of fresh flowers, baked goods, and seasonal produce.

5. Go for a Swim

When you’re spending time outdoors, you’ll want an option that involves cooling off. Going for a swim in a pool is a refreshing way to stay active. 

If swimming laps isn’t quite your favorite activity, don’t leave the pool just yet. You can also participate in water fitness classes that help you stay fit without straining your joints. 

6. Journal in a Park

Sometimes, it’s good to take some time to yourself and write out whatever you’re feeling. While this activity can be done indoors, taking your journal to a nice spot outside may give you a touch of writing inspiration that you haven’t felt before. 

You could sit in a quiet park if you wanted fewer distractions, but you could also set up at a coffee shop and take in the noise and activity around you.

7. Try Gardening

Gardening has both physical and mental benefits, and you can feel proud of your work as your garden grows. Spending time gardening can be a meditative exercise you do on your own, or you can garden with friends and make it a social activity. 

8. Take a Day Trip

What’s more fun and exciting than a field trip somewhere new? Planning a day trip with friends gives you a change of scenery and something to explore. Whether sightseeing, shopping, or trying new restaurants, a day trip is worth doing. 

If you’re close to a major city, looking into the top activities in the city can give you a couple of ideas on how to plan your day trip. 

9. Dine Outside

Making small, everyday events special is an easy way to add something unique to your life. A great way to make a meal more special is to dine outside. You’re in the fresh air, can enjoy the sunset, and enjoy the patio area with your family and friends. 

10. Meditate

Taking time to check in with yourself is always important; you may enjoy meditating outside to the sounds of nature. Maybe you’re near trees, and you can hear birds chirping, or you may hear a small stream trickling–these calming sounds can help you relax, get into a deep meditative state, and take care of your mental health. 

11. Enjoy Lawn Games

Lawn games are a great way to get a group together and have some fun. The best part of lawn games is while you can develop skills and get better at them, they’re all beginner friendly, and anyone can join. Check out these popular lawn games. 

12. Attend a Sporting Event

Whether you have smaller local teams or are close to a national team, attending a sporting event is a great outdoor activity where you can cheer on your team with your community. You may know a sport inside and out, or just go because there was a ticket available–either way, you and your friends will have a great time. 

13. Practice Painting

Are you a seasoned painter who loves to capture scenery on the canvas? Or are you a beginner who wants to try painting for the first time? No matter where you land on the painting experience scale, there’s nothing like taking your supplies outside. Everything around you can inspire you to play with color and create a work of art. 

14. Perfect Photography

Photographing a sunset, a garden in full bloom, or people enjoying the outdoors are all interesting subjects for photography. If you’re looking into another art form to try outdoors, photography might be the one for you. 

15. Go to an Outdoor Community Event

While you’re looking for all kinds of outdoor activities, remember that so is everyone else in your community. There’s likely a calendar filled with fun events that you can attend. 

16. Play Sports

Playing sports is a great way to get physical activity and have fun with other members of your team. While we think of most sports as intense, strenuous activities, you can adjust them to make them more accessible and fun. For example, walking soccer is the same game–without running. You may have a regular game to look forward to each week. 

17. Attend a Craft Show

You’ll likely be able to find a craft show featuring local artisans and their unique creations. Look at your community’s schedule to find craft shows near you. 

18. Go Fruit Picking

Fruit picking is fantastic for those leading an active lifestyle because you’re working on picking the fruit, and then you get to enjoy it as a healthy snack later. Fruit picking is perfect for your physical health. When you’re going fruit picking, be sure to check what fruit is in season to make sure you’re getting the freshest fruit available. 

19. Spend an Evening Stargazing

You don’t have to plan all of your activities during the day. See what the night sky has to offer and plan to do some stargazing. You may recognize some constellations or learn new ones–and maybe you’ll luck out and see a shooting star. 

Here are some stargazing tips to get you started. 

20. Take Reading Outside

Sometimes, you just want to sit back and enjoy getting enveloped in a good story. But if the weather is beautiful, you may also want to spend as much time outside as possible. 

Grab a blanket and snack, and settle in a comfortable outdoor spot to enjoy your book. 

21. Try Your Luck Bird-watching

Bird-watching is a fun activity for you to get into nature and learn about the local birds in your area. Here are some of the birds you may see in your own backyard. 

Engaged, Active, and Fun: Life at Copeland Tower Living

Feeling inspired to try something new? Life at Copeland Tower Living is perfect for the active older adult. Outdoors or in, there are dozens of things to do at Copeland Tower Living. Call us today for a personalized tour and to learn more about our vibrant community.