15 Fun Things to Do Outside in Your Backyard (2024)

Nothing beats a nice fire pit area for you to enjoy with your family or friends. You can grab a drink and chat, bundle up for scary stories, or make s’mores.

We’ve been gathering everything we need for a fire pit over the last couple of months and love the set up so far. Our newest addition is some new gear from Stanley. We’ve been using their camp mug and travel mug to keep our hot chocolate warm and beer cool, and we have a french press for when we can host our coffee-loving friends again.

The best part is that they’ll all be perfect for our camping trips too.Check out everything else in our fire pit set up:

Drinkware: Camp Mug + Travel Mug
Fire Pit: Breeo X Series 24 (they have a new customizable one too!)
Camp Chairs:Glodea
Table:We use our Cajon to double as a table outside

More: 21 Car Camping Essentials – Everything You Need to Pack

When the weather is warmer, setting up a picnic in the backyard is a perfect way to get outdoors. The best part is that it can be as simple or elaborate as you want.

You can cook up a meal in your kitchen, throw out a picnic blanket, and just enjoy it outdoors. On the other hand, you can set up a full spread outside and decorate the entire area. We don’t really have a lawn to set up on, so we’ll probably set up a table in the back so we can have meals outside.

3. Slackline

Next up on Jacob’s list is finding a place to set up a slackline. If you’re unfamiliar with it, slacklining is balancing on a suspended length of flat webbing from one side to the other. Think tightrope walking but on a flat fabric. Also, definitely not as high (although you can).

Usually, you can set it up between two trees a few feet off the ground. It’s a fun way to work on balance and exercise without feeling like it, which we’re all about.

I’ve always wished I had a green thumb, but unfortunately, I haven’t had much luck. Early during quarantine, someone told me AeroGarden was dummy proof so I picked one up. Somehow, I’ve managed to keep them alive.

Also, when my mom was in town while I was recovering from my surgeries, she started planting a few things in our backyard that I’ve been trying to keep alive.

I know she loves gardening and a few of our friends do it as something that helps them relax but also for the practical reasons of growing your own organic foods. I’ll be trying more in the next couple of months when gardening season here in Vegas really starts.

I’ve always loved the water, so when we were looking for a new house I wanted a pool and spa. It’s been too cold to use the pool, but we’ve been using the spa and I can’t wait to spend more time in the pool in the summer.

Pools aren’t cheap, especially if you’re looking to build an in-ground one, but there are a ton of other options as well. Our friends are putting a Cowboy Pool into their backyard (a pool made from an oversized metal stock tank that is traditionally used to give water to livestock). They even make inflatable hot tubs!

For anyone musically inclined, setting up a dedicated music area in your backyard can be a great way to use the space. Whether it’s around a campfire, or just throwing out some blankets and pillows, you can make a space to enjoy the outdoors while making music.

We’ll definitely be bringing out our guitar and cajon in the spring, and if you want to have other instruments for guests or the rest of your family, tambourines, wood blocks, egg shakers, and cowbells are great options. Things are always better with more cowbell!

One of the reasons we’re so excited about our new Breeo fire pit is because you can grill on it too! Not only can you cook on the sear plate that surrounds the top of the pit, but we also got the Outpost Grill Grate that sits right on top.

We will eventually get a gas grill as well for when we want to make super quick meals, but the Breeo will be great when we want to spend more time outside or have friends over when it’s safe. We eventually need to pick up a set of these Stanley Pint Cups as well!

One of the best backyard activities for adults is enjoying a drink. We usually keep it simple with beers, but we have friends who love hosting and mixing drinks so an outdoor bar is a no-brainer.

We probably won’t set up a permanent outdoor bar, but may pick up a bar cart that we can use inside and outside (and pick up a Stanley Shaker). We are a bit jealous of our neighbors full Tiki Bar set up though.

1. Watch Clouds
2. Bird Watch
3. Paint Nature (Sticks & Rocks)
4. Look for Animal Tracks
5. Watch the Sunset
6. Go Puddle Jumping
7. Have a Scavenger Hunt
8. Create Land Art
9. Make a Fort
10. Tree or Leaf Rubbings
11. Flashlight Tag
12. Scary Stories
13. Draw with Chalk
14. Blow Bubbles
15. Hopscotch
16. Build a Bird Feeder
17. Stargaze
18. Investigate with a Magnifying Glass
19. Hunt for Bugs
20. Water Balloon Fight
21. Forage for Food
22. Create an Obstacle Course
23. Build a Fairy Garden
24. Trampoline
25. Plant a Butterfly Garden

• Seating: We use a combo of these wooden chairs, our stand alone hammocks, and camping chairs.
• Table:Would love your recommendations. We just use our cajon for a small side table.
• Fire Pit:We absolutely love the one we have right now.
• Grill: We’ll be using our fire pit for now, but would love to add a gas grill to our yard.
• Drinkware:We love our Stanley camp mug and travel mug to keep our drinks warm and cool.
• Lighting: We have a few of these that we plan on hanging.
• Blankets: Some for the ground and some to keep you warm.
• Games: Corn Hole, Ladder Ball, Kan Jam, Giant Jenga, and Spikeball.