As warmer weather approaches, you might be preparing to explore the outdoors. Whether on land, by sea, or checking out what’s around you in the air, you’ll want to pack plenty of sunscreen and think about some of the things you can do while you’re out getting fresh air. Here are a few suggestions on things to take with you as you go out for your adventures in the warm weather.
Explore the outdoors by land
Getting outdoors always starts on land. Whether you’re going for hikes, camping, or even out for a drive, there’s lots of terrain to explore in this big country of ours.
If you’re going camping for the first time in a long time (like I am) this summer, you might need to update your equipment, or get it for the first time. Best Buy has a vast selection of Camping and Hiking Gear available, from tents to camping stoves, and even solar panels if your plans to stay off the grid aren’t as “off the grid” technologically. There are also some other fun little gadgets you can take with you too. In the next few days, I will have a review prepared for the Wacaco Nanopresso, which is a hand powered espresso maker I plan to take camping and hiking with me this summer. As a daily coffee or espresso drinker (I’m not that picky,) this is one of the coolest little devices I’ve ever owned. It’s really light and is barely bigger than the size of a 500ml water bottle.
If you’re going to be out exploring trails on foot, you’ll want to not only stay hydrated, but keep all of your gear safe too. Consider a new camping backpack, and maybe even new water bottles. If you’re going hiking or camping as far into the wilderness as you can, the former Boy Scout in me reminds you to take proper emergency supplies too. Don’t forget to pack a First Aid kit, and just to be on the safe side, don’t forget waterproof matches and water purification tablets too. You never know what you’re going to find (or won’t find) in unfamiliar terrain. I’ve had many camping trips where the weather forecast called for clear skies, only to be rained on in the end.
If you’re going out exploring, you might also want to consider a new pair of binoculars if you’d like to do things like take in all the wildlife around you. If you’re taking your camera with you to take a lot of photos, you might also want to consider a new lens. If you’re thinking about packing light and just want your phone with you, I’ll talk about some options at the end of this blog with the help of one of my Best Buy blogging colleagues.
Lastly, you may also want to consider a new GPS, depending on where your adventures take you. It’s possible to get by on the roads and highways with maps through your smartphone, but if you like off-roading or hiking or taking an RV, you can get specific GPS devices to cater to those mediums, complete with extra features like topographical mapping and even emergency satellite capabilities. RV specific GPS devices are really key for your land travels, because they can specifically tell you about roads and areas your RV can and can’t go. It’s not going to be fun if you head down a road one way and find out you can’t turn around or go further because your vehicle is too big! To learn a bit more about those types of GPS devices (specifically from Garmin), please have a read of a recent blog about some of Garmin’s newest GPS offerings.
Explore the outdoors by sea
One of my favourite childhood memories is the amount of time I spent fishing with my dad. While I wasn’t the most outdoorsy kid, I liked the tranquility of being out in the middle of a lake with just nature surrounding, throwing a line in the water and just relaxing. Once I just kicked back and started to enjoy the atmosphere around me, I never cared if I caught anything. When I was 16 or 17, my dad bought me a float tube and flippers so I could just go and sit out on the lake without a boat. I’m a really big fan of these float tubes because you don’t need to rely on anybody or anything but yourself to enjoy a couple hours in the water.
Whether you’re fishing this summer, kayaking, or just going out to the beach for a swim, make sure you’ve packed your sunscreen and the things you need to do to get the most out of your morning, afternoon, or weekend!
Explore the outdoors in the air
Well, exploration this summer in the air is going to be a little bit different. It might still be tough to get on an airplane and go spend a weekend in Miami or Vegas, but there’s still plenty to explore around your area with the help of a drone. Taking a video drone out in the middle of nowhere can give you an amazing bird’s eye view of the parks and lakes around you. You can use your drone to capture a few minutes of the scenery around you, or maybe even help you find your way to new camping spots or lookouts if you’re visiting somewhere new for the first time. While you’ve obviously got to mind obstacles and be careful where you’re flying, a drone can help discover some uncharted territory. Just be sure that you’re following Canadian drone flying guidelines.
Exploration in the air doesn’t necessarily have to mean leaving your feet either. During the quietest summer nights in the clearest skies, you can always look up and see the majesty of the stars—or even more than that! There are a lot of different astrological events taking place throughout 2021, including a Meteor Shower in August. With the help of apps like Skyview and Skyview Lite to help identify what is where (and accompaniment from a good pair of binoculars or a telescope), you’ll have a great night relaxing with perhaps a warm hot chocolate or coffee while looking up at the stars.
Where will you go exploring?
If you’re planning to pack light and want to rely on your smartphone as your camera to cut down on packing weight, there are still lots of different accessories you can get for your phone that will help you capture the best pictures possible. Check out this blog by Ted Kritsonis entitled “7 key accessories you should consider for your phone,” which speaks about some of the technology out there to get the best photos. Ted also keeps his finger on phone photography in general and has a great blog around taking better photos, entitled “5 tips for taking better photos.”
No matter where your travels take you this summer, stay safe and stay hydrated!
