Milestone Moments Outside
Sharing your love of the outdoors with loved ones can be amazing. For mom’s milestone birthday, we spent some windy moments at Virginia Beach, before checking out a local State Park. If friends or family are a bit hesitant to join you outdoors, here are a few helpful tips to make it fun!
Help them feel safe! Give them a heads up on the type of trail you’ll be exploring, what clothing they may need (like rain gear), how much water to bring, if they need to pack any snacks, and let someone else know where you are going.
Make it easy!
If you are hoping to entice loved ones outside, make it easy for them! Choose a centralized spot to meet. A trailhead is where your trail actually starts and in many state and metroparks, the trailhead has parking nearby. Remind people if they need permits or fees to get into the park.
As soon as we entered this park, the trail head was to the right, next to the parking lot.
Help them get the lay of the land!
Most trailheads will include a map or wooden sign post with important info, like trail names and mileage. On this sign post, the first image shows its meant for hikers and cyclists. The post will also share if a specific activity, like biking or horse back riding, is not allowed. Point out similar posts during your hike to help stay on track, and to keep your short hike from turning into a much longer hike!
Talk to family or friends about how long they might want to be outside and what kind of trail they want to do. Two common trails for day hikes are loop trails and out-an-back trails. Both have the same starting and ending point, but a loop trail is a circular route and an out-and-back trail has you starting at the trailhead and backtracking.
Remember what they love!
If someone does decide to try something new and explore outside, help them out by focusing on what they love. Mom and I had fun trying to identify (mostly guess) what plants and trees we were spotting. She was convinced some of the plants we saw were also grown in Florida. Have someone who is more into water? Try a hike that includes passing by streams or finishing at a waterfall. More of an active adventurer… choose a bike friendly trail.
Why was it a milestone?! We were convinced it was a milestone birthday and were shook when we realized we were a year off! Regardless, we surprised her with a intimate celebration and a plan to celebrate the same birthday two years in row. We hit the trail the next day. Hearing a parent say they’re happy you got them to try something outside their comfort zone is pretty special. And just like that, I am are one step closer to hosting a camping trip for this Caribbean mom! Milestone all around.
