Yes, we have all felt sequestered this spring, summer, fall, and now into winter. But as Americans, we are incredibly resilient. Out of sheer necessity we have found a plethora of ways to entertain ourselves. While Netflix was a short-term solution, this year, many looked no further than beyond their sliders to the Great Outdoors.
Even if pool season is over where you live, you can probably still don a thick sweater and a scarf to enjoy some games that are fun for the whole family. (We are not endorsing any of these products for gain. They just look really entertaining!)
- Backyard Playset
For a little DIY project, you can assemble a swing set that comes complete with a slide, solid rock wall ladder, a two-person glider, and a raised clubhouse. It’s not as complex as constructing a treehouse of course, and you can keep the kids safer as they’re lower to the ground! For a nostalgic twist on a popular childhood activity, bring their new favorite playground home.
- Soccer Field
Here’s another great way to get the family out in the sunshine with this mini soccer field. It inflates in less than two minutes and provides a cushiony space for running and goal scoring! Plus, it’s easy to deflate and stow away if you need the room for another gathering.
- Lounging
This is a great patio swing chair. Perfect to make your own little book nook so you may sink your teeth into the novel you’ve been dying to read. For full on relaxation, here’s a nice selection of hammocks from L.L. Bean.
The experts at House Beautiful showcase 30 Fun Pool Floats You’ll Want to Lounge on All Summer Long. If you live in a more tropical climate, you’ll still be enjoying these. But ordering some fun floats as gifts this time of year will give you that spark of summer to look forward to! It’ll be here before you know it!
- Outdoor Chess Set
Remember the critical game of chess Harry and his friends had to win in Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone? Perhaps The Queen’s Gambit restoked your interest in the game you may not have played in years. Either way, this oversized chess set is the stuff of competition! So, if you have a little stretch of land that cries for architectural interest, this may just be your solution.
- Connect in a Row
In this throwback to your childhood, take this life size version out to the yard for a three-dimensional board game. It stands 2.5 feet tall and comes complete with a carrying case as well as a finished frame. Whether as an attraction at the next birthday party you host, or just some family fun on a Saturday afternoon, this is another way to get out in the fresh air.
- Bowling
Your neighborhood bowling alley may not be a place you’ve wanted to frequent right now, but you can bring bowling to your backyard with this nicely priced set of pins and balls. Crafted out of New Zealand pine, the pins are hand-painted. You can actually play indoors or outdoors on a flat patio or sandy surface.
- Are You Ready for Some Football?
As in spending Sunday watching, not playing! After your backyard bowling tournament, it’s time to fire up that BBQ and gather around the firepit to watch hours on end in your open-air cinema. This inflatable movie screen is just one of countless models and styles that will allow you to cheer on your team while feeling like you’re in the action. Put on your team hats and bring out those blankets to get the stadium experience. Although you may not have a dome over your backyard, there’s nothing like a day spent watching football. You can even invite neighbors for a socially distant sporting event!
With a screen like this, you can also make your own Friday Night at the Movies. Grab some snacks and some lounge chairs for a drive-in without the car. Watch your favorite film under the stars. Or actually, fire up some more popcorn and make it a double feature.
- Backyard Camping
You can literally take all of the above ideas and roll them into an exciting family camping staycation! Country Living provides 25 excellent ideas to turn your backyard into the ultimate camping destination. Julia Ludlam writes, “That’s right—turning your backyard into your own personal campsite is a fun and pretty easy way to experience the great outdoors without packing the car and the bags and (perhaps the best perk of all) no one will ask, “Are we there yet?” (Another bonus: indoor bathrooms. Are you sold yet?) Create a backyard camp by pitching a tent, setting up the best camping chairs around a fire or one of these best camping stoves, and cook up some delicious campfire recipes (s’mores are a must-have sweet treat while telling spooky stories!).”
From pitching a backyard tent, to concocting this elevated s’mores recipe, to staging games and grilling these creatively dressed hot dogs, you can create the stuff of memories while taking a break from the routine.
Your Alfresco Retreat
When you put your mind to it, there are endless ways you can use your backyard space. It’s a dining room, a kitchen, a family room, a camp site, a playground, an outdoor theater, a soccer field, a bowling alley. You can even imagine it as Hogwarts for a big game of chess!
So even if you can’t enjoy your shimmering pool just now, your backyard is a blank slate of fun. Over the years our clients have shared imaginative ideas like these that have made their backyard space a multi-purpose arena.
As if outdoor entertaining couldn’t get any better, it is more casual by nature, so clean up is easy with paper plates and hand-held foods. What more could you want? Juicy burgers and gooey snacks. Good stuff. So, step away from your laptop and get out in that fresh air. Your alfresco retreat awaits!
Providing pool and home improvement loan solutions since 1979, Lyon Financial loves all the versatility a backyard brings. We also love the difference we can make for your family by providing something that puts years of memories within reach. Call 877-754-5966 for more information about creating your ideal backyard oasis.
