Some of our favorite activities have been shutdown, but there are still many more out there to enjoy. Lately, with so many public places closed, our routines for entertainment have received quite a jolt. Add in social distancing, being told not to be in large groups, and reduced income for many people and we have quite the mix on our hands. The list of restrictions can seem endless, but the possibilities for entertainment does not need to be reduced to Netflix and knitting. There’s a whole world out there to explore and learn from.
A Shutdown can change your activities, but you can still have fun
This post contains affiliate links – I may earn a small commission from qualifying sales.
Get Outdoors
Depending on your region, some parks may be shut down, but the most obvious choice on what to do is to enjoy the great outdoors. You might be running out of things to do indoors, but the outdoors supplies endless possibilities. Playgrounds, basketball courts and tennis courts are all being taped off and locked and the same goes for some parks in general. This does not mean the end to outdoor recreation, maybe just a new perspective.
Bike Trails
Bike trails are open. They can be used for not just biking, but for walking, jogging, skateboarding, scooters, and even leapfrog. Bike trails typically go for miles and pass meadows, woods, covered bridges and interesting buildings. Take time to look for nature at its best: budding leaves, emerging flowers, seeds dropping, birds perching.
Waterfalls
You may have a waterfall close by or you might have to drive over an hour to get there. Regardless of the trek, it will be worth it. Once again, nature comes to the rescue and restores our souls with calming sounds and tranquil settings. Savor the moment. Be present and let all of your senses enjoy the calm.
Hiking
There are trails for all levels of fitness. No need to over do it but push yourself if that’s what you need to do to feel recharged. Lace up a good pair of hiking shoes or go barefoot if the beach is nearby and hit the trails. I challenge you to only use your phone for photos. Take this time to look around and really notice your surroundings. Photography helps me focus on what is around me. It helps me search out those little things. Capture the moment of your toddler squatting down checking out a bug, your teenager being silly on a limb, or your loved one taking a silly selfie. These are fleeting moments. Cherish them. Document them.
Enjoy Outdoor Art
Gone are the days when art was only found inside a museum. Art is all around us. Look for murals around your town and towns nearby. If you don’t know the background for the image, you can learn about it when you get home, or look it up on the spot on your phone. Portsmouth Flood Wall Mural is a perfect example of how a functioning item can become an outstanding canvas for a community.
Statues, war monuments and outdoor art exhibits are perfect activities during a shutdown. They give us something to investigate. They help us grow intellectually and inspire our creativity. Strike a pose and have fun with them.
Graffiti is outdoor art. It may not always look great, but there are times when it looks amazing. Is there a wall, an underpass or a park that has a high concentration of graffiti? It makes a great background for pictures and you can learn a bit about current culture. Sometimes there is a fun phrase or even a name that you know. It’s always a quest because graffiti art is always being updated.
We encountered an amazing assortment of graffiti art in a back alley near Sydney Australia. Read about our Katoomba trip here.
Look For BIGS
Are there ‘BIGS’ in your area? I bet there are if you do a little research. Americans love BIG, weird structures: washboards, shoes, animals… The list is endless. People travel down Route 66 in search of BIGS and more items continue to pop up all around. The Louisville Slugger Museum’s bat is a great example. Read about our Kentucky trip here.
Cemeteries are a great activity during a shutdown
Growing up, I never enjoyed going to the cemetery with my parents because they seemed so sad and almost morbid. As I have gotten older, I’ve grown an appreciation for what the headstones offer. Every cemetery has hundreds of stories to tell, if only the stones could talk. Let your imagination ignite with creative storytelling based on the facts at hand. Did Rose own a flower shop? How many days a week do you think the guy with a semi etched onto his stone spent on the road? There are no wrong answers. This can be something you do alone or share as a family activity.
Cemetery activities:
-Who can find the oldest stone?
-Storytelling
-Stone Rubbings (bring paper and a pencil or crayon with you)
-Find a name that starts with each letter of the alphabet
-Find a name that appears in your family tree
-Find a last name of someone you know
-Find the most unusual headstone
Seek Out the Quirky
Regardless of where you live, there are quirky things to be found. When I don’t have anything to do, I refer back to books like Ohio Oddities, Weird Ohio or websites such as Roadside America.
Small Towns
Smalls towns give you activities to do during shutdowns or any time you need something new and different to do. You might not see the individuality right away, but you will if you really look around. Small towns haven’t been made into cookie cutter monstrosities like most cities, so their unique character still shines through. I like to track down a local coffee shop, walk around town with my drink and see what I discover. Here are a few things to be on the lookout for:
- Fire hydrants
- Water towers
- Architecture
- Churches
- Doors
- Little Libraries
- Cool spots to take pictures (alleys, steps…)
- Human Interests: What do they have in their yards/porches/garages. Humans can be very entertaining!
There is a little town, Haydenville, in Southeast Ohio that is only about a mile long, but it has the most interesting history. A brick factory was started here and they used those bricks to make everything. The church and its architectural features are so intriguing. Multiple styles and sizes of bricks are used not only on the church but on the sidewalk and other homes. Some of the homes feature pipes as a design element. Something unlike I’ve ever seen before. To top it all off, there is a tiny home that has been converted from an old silo. Many of these homes have historical designation so for such a tiny town, you can literally spend a few hours reading all about the history and significance.
Gardening and Growing
Science proves over and over that when we tend to something other than ourselves, our mood changes and our self-worth improves. You do not have to be a green thumb to enjoy the pleasures of growing plants, whether they’re indoors or outdoors. A vegetable garden can be as simple as a few tomato plants or as elaborate as you would like. Container gardening has become extremely popular and allows for great versatility. I have started several seeds indoors as a hobby now that I have so much more consistent time at home. It’s been fascinating to see life emerge from dormant seeds. A few easy to grow choices to start indoors with the plan to transplant are pumpkin, gourds, and zucchini.
I also have ordered monarch caterpillars which have been very entertaining. Their growth is very rapid and the anticipation of having actual butterflies morphing out of their cocoons in a few weeks is almost better than anticipating a holiday. We will set the butterflies free once they are ready.
On that note, planting a butterfly garden is another option for improving the earth and your mood. Working in the dirt is also said to build antibodies which is always good. Did you know Monarch butterflies are 100% reliant on milkweed? The downfall of this is that milkweed is rapidly disappearing as more and more land gets developed. It is a weed but because of the need, you can now buy it online and at some gardening centers. A simple act that results in big rewards.
Travel From Home
Tapping into travel, you can track the journey of the monarchs as they make their annual pilgrimage from the US to Mexico. Tracking can also be researched for other species and birds depending on your interest. It helps us all feel a bit more connected and to realize we can all make a difference.
Volunteer
Without being able to interact much with others, volunteering at this time can be a bit more challenging. The easiest thing to do is to bring a bag and gloves on your excursions so you can pick up trash and make the world that much more beautiful for the next person. You can also donate books and canned food to the Little Libraries and Little Pantries that are popping up everywhere.
You can give a ray of light, hope and encouragement by making a no-sew blanket. My Very Own Blanket gives full details. Fleece material can be shipped directly to your home. All you need is a sharp pair of scissors, a needle and thread.
These are all ideas that make a difference to someone, you just don’t get to necessarily see the smile that follows. When activities are on shutdown, we have to take it upon ourselves to continue being great citizens and helping one another even if it’s not directly.
This is a crazy time, but we are all blessed in multiple ways. We will start functioning again soon and the things we took for granted, like getting our hair cut and having lunch with friends, will be that much more appreciated. When that time comes, I hope we will all support local small businesses that much more. It is so important for these businesses to be supported because they truly shape the essence of our towns.
You’ll get through this and be a stronger person because of it. I’d love to hear some of your recommendations for activities during a shutdown. It would make my heart happy to see pictures from your local walks and discoveries. Stay safe and healthy!
