10 Outdoor Activities for Seniors That They Will Love

With those overly hot summer temperatures now a thing of the past, the pleasant fall weather finally upon us, and everyone having been stuck inside their homes for so long now, the time has come to participate in some leisurely autumn activities. Better yet, this is the perfect opportunity to get your parents out and about and afford them some quality time with those grandkids that they care so much about.

Need some inspiration? Here are a few outdoor activities for senior citizens that are guaranteed to help them make memories that will last a lifetime.

1. Bird Watching

A perfect activity for those older adults who enjoy the outdoors and find lots of appreciation for watching mother nature go about her life. Gather up your family members and head to a local park, so you can watch those beautiful birds soar and sing their songs. Heck, you could even purchase a book that discusses the species of birds that can be found in your area or download an app about bird calls on your smartphone.

Yeah, we know, the young’uns probably won’t find bird watching to be all that exciting, but they will love the opportunity to spend time with their grandparents. Plus, you could bring a frisbee for them to throw around or let them fly a kite during downtimes, that way they won’t get bored.

2. Gardening

Gardening is an excellent activity for older folks, as many of them probably already do it or at least have memories of a time when gardening was a far more important method of getting food onto the dinner table. Gardening is a great way for seniors to enjoy the great outdoors, while also getting in some physical activity that isn’t terribly strenuous.

In addition, they’ll also get some delicious fruits to snack on and veggies to throw into their next stew, soup, omelet, or whatever else tickles their fancy. Yeah, the warm weather is starting to go away, but there are still plenty of crops to be grown in the fall season.

Many different varieties of beans can be grown all the way up until the frostiness of winter begins; broccoli, brussels sprouts, turnips, lettuce, cauliflower, and several others are suitable candidates for a little fall gardening as well. Pop on over to your local flea market and pick up some seeds for your parents!

3. Going for a Walk

Ah, the classic walk. Who doesn’t love going for a nice pleasant stroll? It’s great exercise and the whole family can get in on the action. Throw on a jacket, enjoy the breeze, breathe in the fresh air, and behold all the lovely sights, smells, and sounds of nature. If you want to spice things up a bit, you could drive your parents and kids out to a local park, botanical garden, or arboretum. That way you don’t have to settle for the boring old neighborhood.

4. Going to an Art Fair

These fun events are always a popular destination for the elderly and their adult children. While the kiddos might not have a ton of fun at one of these, hire a babysitter and take your folks to see the latest works from the local artists in your area. There is always something unique to find at an art fair, whether it’s a beautiful painting, an odd sculpture, or a lovely new dish.

Why not get mom and dad a gift while you’re at it?

5. Going to the Zoo

Here we go! Here’s one that the grandkids are sure to love just as much as the grandparents. Zoos are beginning to open back up and now is the perfect time to hop in and see the animals before it gets too cold. Some zoos even have memberships so that you can go multiple times for a nice deal.

Pack up some snacks and go visit the gorillas, elephants, giraffes, and polar bears. Just, you know, don’t feed the animals french fries please. Or climb on the rocks.

6. Golfing

Does one of the previous fun activities we mentioned not sound “fun” enough for your parents? No worries. We’ve got you covered. Did your dad like to golf on the weekend with his business buddies? Did your mom like to get in on the putting as well? For those sportier folks out there, why not take them on a little golfing escapade? See if they’ve still got the skill necessary to kick your butt.

Golfing is great because it’s physically stimulating, and, since there are golf carts available, you can walk as much or as little as your parents want to. Plus, if you want to get the grandkids involved in the action, then you can all go out to mini golfing. These fun courses are wacky and exciting enough for the young ones while also providing a decent challenge for the adults.

7. Fishing

A fantastic grandparent/grandkid bonding activity, fishing will provide your folks an excellent opportunity to spend some time with their grandkids, all while showing them the basics of one of the most relaxing activities you can take part in. They can throw on some peaceful music, pack some yummy snacks, and enjoy the tranquility of the lake. Plus your kids will love that they can be just as cool as grandma and grandpa.

8. Fruit Picking

Yet another fantastic outdoor activity and one that you most likely don’t partake in very often. Why buy fruit from the lame old grocery store when you can just go and pick it yourself? Go visit a local apple orchard or berry garden and get picking! This is a great way to stock up on some plump, juicy strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, or raspberries.

Or, seeing as how it’s October*, heading over the pumpkin patch and picking out some suitable candidates for a jack o’lantern or pumpkin pie can be a great way to get your folks out of the house.

*Disclaimer… fruit, including pumpkins, can be picked during other months of the year.

9. Picnicking

Another classic outdoor activity. Why eat inside when you can stuff your face with grub all while enjoying the great outdoors? For a more authentic feeling you could even purchase a classic woven picnic basket and a checkered red-and-white picnic blanket. Now how fun does that sound? 

Pack up some sandwiches, potato chips, or any other picnicky foods (might as well throw some Oreos in there…), and pick a nice relaxing spot at the park or by the lake. The grandparents and grandkids are sure to love it.

10. Or… Cornhole!

Of course, we had to save the best for last! You want to know the great thing about cornhole? Everything. It’s fun, it’s a sport that doesn’t cause you to sweat, you can eat and drink while you play it, and, most importantly, it brings friends and family together.

Oh, yeah, and with Cornhole Worldwide you can even create your own customized cornhole boards and bags. Yeah, that’s actually the most important thing. Why not pick up your parents their very own custom cornhole board as a way of saying thank you for putting up with you as a kid?