9 Easy Outdoor Activities if you're not "Outdoorsy"

Enjoy Nature at Your Pace: 9 Outdoor Activities for the Not-So-Outdoorsy

Spending time outside isn’t just for hikers, campers, or people who own expensive gear. You don’t have to summit a mountain or sleep in a tent to enjoy the mental and physical benefits of nature.

In fact, some of the most restorative outdoor experiences are the simplest ones.

From boosting your mood to supporting your immune system and lowering stress, time in green spaces has proven benefits—even when it’s low-key, short, or close to home. If you’ve ever thought, “I’m not really an outdoorsy person,” this list is for you.

Here are 9 easy, approachable outdoor activities that help you connect with nature—no rugged gear, advanced skills, or big commitment required.

Download the ExploreMore app and download the "Not-So-Outdoorsy Outdoors Card" under the Funtivity cards. Check off each activity as you try them out. Upload photos and add notes to keep in y our personal adventure journal.

1. Visit a Community Garden, Farm, or Arboretum

If you love nature but prefer a calm, curated environment, community gardens, farms, and arboretums are a perfect fit. These spaces offer flowers, trees, paths, benches, and plenty of room to wander at your own pace.

Many are free or low-cost, and schools, universities, and cities often maintain gardens that are open to the public. They’re peaceful, beautiful, and a great way to enjoy nature without feeling overwhelmed.

(Pro tip: the ExploreMore app often highlights local spots like these—and yes, you can check them off a bingo card.)

2. Lounge in a Hammock

This might be the most underrated outdoor activity of all.

Hang a hammock in your backyard or bring one to a park. Read a book. Take a nap. Listen to birds or passing conversations. If trees aren’t an option, portable hammock stands work just as well.

It’s outdoors without effort—and it absolutely counts.

3. Take a Slow Walk Around Your Neighborhood or a Local Park

You don’t need a destination or a step goal. A casual walk around the block or through a nearby park can reset your mind more than you expect.

Go alone. Bring a friend. Walk the dog. Push a stroller. The pace doesn’t matter—showing up does. Bonus points if you notice something new you’ve never paid attention to before.

4. Sip Your Morning Coffee (or Tea) Outside

Start your day with fresh air instead of a screen.

Even ten minutes outside with your morning drink can improve your mood and help your nervous system wake up more gently. Front porch, balcony, backyard, or sidewalk—it all works.

5. Join a Guided Outdoor Activity or Easy Group Workout

Sometimes the hardest part of getting outside is deciding what to do.

Guided activities—like beginner hikes, outdoor yoga, nature walks, or light fitness classes—remove that friction. You just show up. If organized events aren’t your thing, invite a friend for a walk, stretch session, or casual movement meetup.

Group energy makes things feel easier—and more fun. 

(Pro tip: the ExploreMore app often highlights events near you under the events tab. Explore everything from group hikes to workshops to nature yoga)

6. Sit on a Bench and Do Absolutely Nothing

Yes, this is an activity. Our culture has forgotten how to do nothing. If this activity makes you cringe, that probably means you need it most of all.

Find a bench, picnic table, or low wall. Sit. Watch people. Listen to birds. Feel the breeze. Let your mind wander without trying to be productive.

This kind of quiet outdoor pause is deeply restorative—and often the easiest place to start.

7. Explore a Zoo or Nature Center

Zoos, aquariums, and nature centers are designed to make nature approachable and educational. They’re walkable, engaging, and great for all ages.

You’ll still be outside, still moving, and still connecting with the natural world—just with signage, paths, and restrooms nearby (and maybe even a gift shop).

(Pro tip: the ExploreMore app often highlights local spots like these—and yes, you can check them off a bingo card.)

8. Watch the Sunset (or Sunrise)

Pick one spot and return to it regularly. A backyard, park hill, parking lot, or lakeside all work.

Watching the sky change color is a simple ritual that builds awareness, gratitude, and a sense of rhythm with the day. No app, playlist, or destination needed.

9. Have a Picnic—Even a Very Small One

A picnic doesn’t have to be elaborate. A snack on a blanket. Lunch on a park bench. Dinner on the tailgate of your car.

Eating outside slows you down and turns an everyday task into an experience. That shift matters more than the food itself.

Why These Simple Outdoor Activities Work

These experiences are:

• Accessible (no special gear or training)

• Flexible (short or long, solo or social)

• Low-pressure (no performance required)

Research consistently shows that even brief, mindful time outdoors can reduce stress hormones, improve mood, and increase overall well-being—often more effectively than indoor exercise or passive screen time.

You don’t have to go far.
You don’t have to do much.
You just have to step outside.

Download the ExploreMore app and download the "Not-So-Outdoorsy Outdoors Card" under the Funtivity cards. Check off each activity as you try them out. Upload photos and add notes to keep in y our personal adventure journal.