Valentina Vučičić
By Valentina Vučičić /

What are some of the most popular outdoor activities?

What are some of the most popular outdoor activities?

Outdoor activities and outdoor adventures are getting more and more popular every day. In this article, you can read about the most popular outdoor activities currently out there!

Keep on reading to discover some of the most popular outdoor activities!

1. Cycling

Cycling began as a sport in 1868. Today, sales of bikes increased like never before. Sales of bikes and other bicycle accessories are 75% to $1 billion up in April compared to last year, reports NPD – a cycling research company. Why do so many people cycle, and why is cycling so popular? First of all, cycling is a free way of transport. Indeed, you have to bike your bike but buying it is a one-time investment – excluding the repairs that do not happen often, and additional accessories. Then, cycling is incredibly healthy. It is mainly an aerobic activity. In other words, your heart, blood vessels, and lungs all get a workout. That means you will breathe deeper. You may experience increased body temperature. That will improve your fitness level. It can also help your heart health, lose weight, keep active, release stress, etc.

Some say cycling became more popular thanks to the Tour de France. Truth or not, having a bike is like having a car – but more environmentally friendly. Besides, having a bike means having a gym whenever you want – for free! On top of that, it is a great outdoor activity to bond with friends or family, meet some new cyclists or get to a location more independently than with regular public transport.

2. Camping

People camped forever, but not like today with all that camping gear and camping checklists. But we always needed shelter. Yet, the history of recreational camping can be traced back to a person called Thomas Hiram Holding, a person who was a British traveling tailor. However, camping became popularised in the UK up on the river Thames. Today people camp everywhere because they want to reconnect with nature and the people. A lot of camping spots and camping places are designed for campers almost everywhere in the world. People realized how camping is easy, fun, and a great way to be and explore nature. That is why camping is one of the most popular outdoor activities. Try glamping – luxury camping in nature!

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3. Fishing

Fishing is indeed prehistoric practice. It dates back to at least 40,000 years. Since we – humans always needed food, we were finding ways to get it. Fishing was one of them. Only in modern times have people become fishers for fun, recreation, and even sport. Today people go fishing as a hobby and compete in many competitions. Catch and release fishing became very popular as many people know how harmful overfishing is to Earth. Yet, many people hate fishing as a dull activity. Yet, fishing can be fun if you are with the fun company and also if you know how to do fishing. Beware that if you plan to try this popular outdoor activity, you will find more peace and relaxation with it than entertainment and crazy fun like with some other activities. Try kayak fishing trip!

4. Hunting

Same as fishing, hunting is probably the oldest practice. People hunted for food forever – for plants and animals. Since humans destroyed much of the wildlife, animal hunting is forbidden in many places or restricted. Many people realize more and more how animals are also living beings like us, with emotions, and their own lives need to be evaluated. Thus, many people, including me, encourage hunting differently. For instance, we have mushroom hunting. This activity brings loads of knowledge, fun, and new skills. Plus, you get to eat highly nutritious foods. Maybe you find some new species – you never know! Since more and more people are interested in sustainable living, mushroom hunting is a way to go and has become one of the most popular outdoor activities.

5. Hiking

Hiking is an outdoor activity developed probably during the Stone Age. It happened around half a million years ago when people learned how to stand upright and walk. Hiking and walking meant survival and a chance to hunt, whereas today is more like a fun activity and a sport. Thanks to many marathons, especially marathons organized for different charity purposes, hiking has become popular outdoor activity all around the globe. People hike daily on short but also long distances. Many do it for health reasons. Even studies say that hiking is incredibly beneficial for our health. No wonder why so many people do it! Hiking is great for romantic trips and family bonding adventures!

6. Rafting

Rafting dates back to the 1800s, yet later it became more popular as a sport. Thanks to growing tourism in many countries, this fun activity became a very popular outdoor activity. Not only for the young but also for older people. Also for the groups of friends, family members, and team buildings. The bigger and the wilder the river – the more adrenaline the rafting will be. One of the most popular rafting spots in Europe is indeed rafting on the Tara river. If you did not know, Tara is the second biggest world canyon. It is also the biggest and the deepest canyon in Europe. White river rafting is also fun if you can find great rivers and locations, book your adventure and enjoy one of a kind experience!

7. Photography

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Photography has become one of the most popular outdoor adventure primarily due to social media and digitalization. People nowadays take photos not only with professional cameras that are expensive – well, not as expensive as they used to be – but also with their phones. Many phones have good cameras, so people take more photographs outdoors. Thanks to technology, we have some action cameras that can take perfect motion photos and videos while enjoying more dynamic activities in nature such as kayaking, climbing, rafting, etc. GoPro cameras are an excellent example of a new, compact – great camera to have outdoors.

8. Birding

Bird watching is an activity. It consists of recreational bird watching – very fun for all ages. Birds can be seen with the naked eye. But also with binoculars or a telescope. Bird watchers also record the voices of many birds and record their geographical location. I can tell you that this activity is perhaps the least popular of all on the list. However, it is an old activity too. Humans observed birds forever as they also have lived with them in harmony like today. For a good birding experience, go to national parks, reserves, and similar areas where many birds live.

Do not forget to be respectful. Also, many people do not realize that they enjoy this activity almost every day, sometimes more, sometimes less. It is indeed a fun activity, and if you only stop for a second a bit more and focus on the beauty of birds and how they sound, you will fall in love more with nature than ever before.

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Final words on most popular outdoor activities

Spending time outdoors is the best reward an individual can allow themselves. So pick your favorite activity, does no matter whether it is one of the most popular outdoor activities or not, and enjoy some quality time in nature! The activities are calling, and you shall answer!

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