Florida is filled with fun things to do all year round, but especially during the summer. Discovering new hobbies and recreational activities can help you have fun, meet new people, and get outdoors. Being active will encourage healthy behaviors and can improve your mental health. Learning new skills will help you stay motivated and increase your self-confidence.
Getting Outdoors This Summer
When the temperatures rise and the humidity feels even higher, there is no need to stay indoors and hide. Florida offers an array of fun new adventures that can help you stay cool by being in the water, shade, or both. Staying active will help you stay healthy and sober, so why not have fun while doing them together?
Take advantage of this opportunity to learn a new hobby, sport, or recreational activity. You can choose one for the physical challenge, for the opportunity to be with friends, or simply due to personal interest. Is there something you have always wanted to try but never took the time or opportunity to do it? Seize the day. Make this summer the summer you finally took the initiative and gave it a try. Above all else, do your mental and physical health a favor and get outdoors this summer.
Florida has many well-known tourist destinations, as well as beautiful beaches, the Everglades, and plenty of stunning natural landscapes to explore. There is also an endless array of active adventures that await you. Here are five different types of experiences that you might enjoy:
#1. Learn a Watersport
Staying cool is easier when there is water spraying on your face, and the rush of the wind engulfs you. Watersports involve plenty of challenge and adventure and can be a lot of fun with a friend or even a group of friends.
There is no shortage of waterways in Florida. You can find your adventure on a lake, a river, or the ocean. You do not even need to own your own equipment. Instead, you may have friends or family members who will let you borrow theirs, or you can rent the equipment from local facilities. Try out one or two or all of the following water-specific adventures:
- Jet skiing – Jet skis are small, jet-propelled water vehicles that skim across the waves like a water-friendly version of a motorcycle. Jet skis can travel up to 70 miles per hour in optimal conditions.
- Paddleboarding – A paddleboard is a longboard, similar to a surfboard, on which you stand and paddle through the water—either flat water or waves. You can use a paddleboard for fishing, racing, and even yoga.
- Waterskiing – A person is pulled behind a boat while gliding across the water on one or two skis. The person holds onto a cable attached to the boat and works to maintain balance and stay standing.
- Wakeboarding – Wakeboarding is similar to waterskiing, except that the rider is on a single board, riding the crest of the boat’s wake to perform aerial maneuvers.
- Kayaking – A kayak is a narrow canoe-like boat in which the person paddling sits in a covered seat and paddles and navigates with a double-sided paddle. Kayaks are great for exploring waterways big and small.
- Speed boating – A speed boat or powerboat is a boat powered by an engine that allows you to travel great distances more quickly or tow someone who is waterskiing or wakeboarding.
- Parasailing – Parasailing involves wearing a parachute that is open while being towed by a motorboat. This activity allows you to be suspended over the water like a kite.
#2. Go For a Hike
There are plenty of places in Florida to go hiking and exploring. Florida has 175 state parks, and many of those parks have great places to hike and explore. There are places to explore with rock formations, plenty of trees and shade, and even waterfalls to keep you cool during the summer. You can also find hiking spots with a stream or a lake and go for a swim in the middle of your hike to cool down.
Hiking is a great exercise for your body, and you can choose a hike with a difficulty level that suits your ability and level of health. Beginning hikers can choose simple yet beautiful trails that provide scenic beauty and plenty of exercise. You can choose one with more challenging terrain or a longer route if you are a more advanced hiker. Hiking is something you can do on your own, with just one friend, or with a whole group of friends, and it is fun no matter who is there.
Psychologically, hiking is a great activity. Hiking is a great way to clear your mind and simply enjoy nature as you move along the trail. Being in nature can help lower anxiety and prevent depression. Hiking is also great because it offers you the chance to start something, work to complete it, and then experience the satisfaction and sense of accomplishment at the trail’s end. It can be very positive for those in recovery to have that satisfaction and sense of completion with each hike. Plus, it can be both fun and challenging.
#3. Take a Tube Trip
A popular activity in Florida that is not too strenuous but is a lot of fun is to take a tube trip down a river. Buy, rent, borrow a tube or sturdy flotation device, take it to a river, climb aboard, and enjoy yourself. You can float and swim around all day as you enjoy the summer sun amidst shady trees and cool breezes. Being in nature can help clear your mind and relieve stress, and having fun can help you find more peace and calm afterward.
Tubing is fun to do by yourself or with friends, and it is a great way to meet other people. You can relax and float lazily, actively swim, splash, and have fun with others, or do any combination of all of the above. This activity gets you outdoors but is not too strenuous and can be really relaxing or fun—whatever you want it to be.
You can find a nearby river to take your friends and some tubes and go for the day. Two popular places you can take your tube and float all day are Ichetucknee Springs State Park in Fort White or Rainbow Springs State Park In Dunnellon. Both parks are lush with shady trees and plants. You will also see rock formations, wetlands, and plenty of wildlife as you swim and float down the river.
#4. Grab a Snorkel
There are legendary places to go snorkeling in the Florida Keys that people come from all over the world to see. There is also good snorkeling throughout the Florida coasts. The water is warm and clear, and calm, making it perfect for even beginners to learn and enjoy. Snorkeling is excellent exercise and a great excuse to be in the water.
For those who need the motivation to swim, snorkeling can provide that motivation. Through your mask, you can view the underwater world as you swim and explore. You can see and interact with tropical fish, turtles, and other sea life, get an up-close look at coral, rocks, and maybe even some manmade relics that have been left behind. Exploring and discovering makes it so fun that you may lose track of time and spend your whole day in the water.
Snorkeling takes minimal equipment. All you need is your bathing suit, snorkel and mask, and some fins. If you do not have your own, you can find places that rent them for the day to try them out before you invest in personal equipment. You do not need to be a strong swimmer, just comfortable in the water. The snorkel allows you to breathe while your face is underwater, and the fins help propel you through the water, so your legs do not get as tired. Snorkeling is relatively easy to learn but is still an excellent cardiovascular workout for your mind and body.
#5. Go Fish
Perhaps you are slightly less adventurous, or you just really like fish. If so, you’re in luck, as Florida has great freshwater and saltwater fishing. You can fish from the shore, take a boat out, or wade out into the water if you are fly fishing. Fishing can be exciting but is usually relaxing and a great time to contemplate or not think about anything. The best part about fishing is getting outdoors and existing in nature, allowing your mind, body, and spirit to have that break from everything else.
When you start and learn to fish, you can borrow equipment or buy secondhand equipment to find out what you like without investing too much money. Be sure to have a fishing license and be familiar with the local regulations. If you have never fished before, there are places you can learn, or you could even take a fishing tour.
Fishing is a great activity to do early in the morning while it is still cool out. Once you have your catch, there are even some restaurants in some regions of Florida where you can take your fish, and they will prepare and cook it for you. Or you can add to your challenge by learning to clean your fish and cook it yourself. Either way, this activity is the most delicious one because you get to eat your rewards.
Choose Your Own Adventure
You do not need to sit inside this summer and feel sorry for yourself because you are in recovery. You are free from substances, so take advantage of your freedom and find a new adventure that satisfies the soul. Do something that excites you, that maybe frightens you or challenges you a little bit, or something you have always wanted to do. Practice self-care by giving yourself the gift of fun and adventure this summer. Your mental and physical health will thank you.
Getting outdoors this summer and finding new hobbies and recreational activities will help you stay healthy and have fun. There are plenty of active things to do outdoors in the summer in Florida, from watersports to hiking, tubing to snorkeling, or, if you prefer something a little quieter, you can try fishing. You can also seek out your own adventures to help improve your mental and physical health, avoid relapse, and build self-confidence. Real Recovery Sober Living in Florida offers men’s sober living homes that are clean and affordable. We create stability and accountability in an environment that offers experience, strength, and hope as you rebuild your life in recovery. We strive to provide a fun, safe, and stable recovery environment with a robust community support system to help you successfully transition back into the real world. Call us at (727) 290-9156 to find out more.
