5 Free Things To Do in Rural Areas

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5 Free Things to Do in Rural Areas

5 Free Things To Do in Rural Areas


Due to inflation, we’re all spending more money on essentials like gas and groceries, leaving us without much money left over for summer fun. If you live in a city, you can find lots of free activities to help you enjoy the warmer weather on a budget, such as street fairs and festivals, outdoor concerts, farmer’s markets, open air malls, and free museum and zoo days. But if you call a rural area home like I do, it can feel like there’s nothing to do other than hiking or heading down to the local watering hole to grab a bite to eat. 

Going to the bar can get expensive, so I’ve had to get creative and come up with free things to do in my rural area so I can meet my savings goals. To help you beat boredom on a budget, I thought I’d share this list of 5 free activities you can do if you live out in the country like me. 

5 Fun, Free Activities To Do in Rural Areas

Foraging

Rural areas have abundant natural resources, so they’re a great place to go hunting for rocks or foraging for food. Most days I don’t even have to leave my yard to find something tasty to go with dinner, such as wild ramps, mushrooms, and dandelions. I’ve also found wild cranberries and blueberries growing in my area. 

However, make sure that you have permission to forage and aren’t trespassing on someone else’s land. You also have to be very careful when identifying different types of mushrooms, berries, and plants. Some of them can be poisonous and can make you sick if you eat them.

If you’re new to foraging and unsure which plants are safe to consume, ask a more experienced friend. My neighbor who’s been foraging for decades has kindly taken me under her wing and shared some of her knowledge with me. If you don’t know anyone who can tutor you, try checking out a plant identification book from the library or joining foraging forums online to improve your skills. 

Nature Photography 

Although hiking is a wonderful way to spend an afternoon in the country, walking the same trails can get boring after a while. Bringing along a camera or your cell phone and snapping some pictures of the scenery can help you see nature with fresh eyes.

When you’re looking for landscapes that would make good photos, you notice different natural features than you usually would. Suddenly a tree or a bird you would’ve passed without a second thought can become one of the most beautiful things you’ve seen all week! 

Trying your hand at nature photography can help get your creative juices flowing and make you more mindful and appreciative of how pretty the countryside really is. Plus, you’ll get a huge sense of accomplishment when you look back at old photos and see how much your images have improved over time. 

Birdwatching 

Birdwatching and nature photography often go hand in hand. When you take a picture of a beautiful bird, you can’t help but wonder what species it is, so you head to Google to figure it out. The rush you get when you correctly identify your first bird will get you hooked on this hobby. Before you know it, you’ll have five different birding books, a spotting scope, and a long list of species you want to check off your birding bucket list.

However, this hobby doesn’t have to be expensive if you’re on a budget. You don’t need a pair of binoculars or a birding book to step outside and start looking around at the birds in your area. Although I’m tempted to travel to new destinations to see unfamiliar birds, I also greatly enjoy staring out my window and observing the cardinals and house finches that reside in my trees. 

Have a Bonfire 

One of my favorite summer or winter activities is having a bonfire. When it’s chilly outside, the warm fire will keep you nice and toasty. And there’s nothing better than sitting around a campfire on a cool summer night with a smore and a cold drink in hand. 

If you live on acreage or near a forest, it’s easy to collect branches and sticks to add to your bonfire. However, you can also find free wood on Craigslist if you don’t have any fallen trees on your property. 

Although it’s fun to roast marshmallows over the fire with friends, you can also just enjoy the warmth of the bonfire and tell some ghost stories, which makes this activity completely free. Just make sure you’re following fire safety practices and any local rules and regulations regarding bonfires and fire pits!

Crafting 

Another thing you can do with branches from your yard is turn them into fun crafts. You can make DIY wreaths, candle holders, baskets, mobiles, and more from branches and twigs you collect from your land. Fallen pinecones and acorns can also be transformed into a garland by painting them and stringing them together. I’ve even seen crafters make pinecones look like flowers by trimming them, painting them, and arranging them into a bouquet or wreath shape. 

However, if you don’t have the crafting gene, you can still make beautiful art to display by simply pressing flowers. Take a walk and collect the prettiest wildflowers you see. Then press them between the pages of a book for at least a month. Once they’re dry and flat, you can display them in shadow boxes on your walls to liven up your home. 

What are your favorite free activities? Let me know in the comments! 

Read More 

Free Things to Do in Wisconsin

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