Activate America
Make Physical Activity Part of Your Summer Vacation Plans
During the summer months, getting your physical activity requirement is a lot easier! The weather is warmer, the days are longer, and there are opportunities at the annual company picnic softball game, the volleyball game at the family reunion, or with a summer recreational/sport leagues. Summer is also a time where families like to spend time together traveling, and participating in various activities. Summer vacations provide a great opportunity for families to get physically active together, whether they are traveling to the beach, the mountains, the lake, the inner city, a local, state or national park, or just visiting friends or family. Each location offers a unique option for exercise or physical activity.
The beach is a favorite destination for many families. While at the beach, it is easy to sit, enjoy the sun and relax; but your family can also go swimming, go for long walks on the beach, ride bikes, roller blade, wind/body surf, or fish. The water can be enjoyed by all ages and skill levels. Swimmers will get a great workout against the current, all ages can jump or ride the waves, and non swimmers can stand in shallow water and get a great core workout just trying not to get knocked down! The terrain at the beach is very easy to negotiate making it easier to ride bikes or rollerblade. If you want to make your workout more difficult, travel on the sand. Pack along various types of sports equipment to play on the beach, as well. Kids will love a pick up game of Frisbee, volleyball, football, soccer, paddle ball, etc on the beach. If you are playing with them, in the sand, you can get a good workout for you legs and core, as the sand will provide a great deal of resistance.
Is your family is planning on visiting friends, family, or going to a big city? Walking can be a great way to get your exercise, take in the sights, visit unusual or special places, or to just get around town. Large cities make it fun and easy to travel by foot, from place to place, with their larger sidewalks, window displays, safe pedestrian crossings and traffic flow patterns, lighting, and pleasing natural and historical architecture. Many large cities have interesting gardens or historical parks with playgrounds to visit. Plan a visit to the park and stay all day, playing, with a picnic lunch instead of eating out. While staying out of town, make sure you select a hotel that can accommodate your exercise or physical activity. Most hotels provide fitness centers, swimming pools and/or other recreational facilities. Take advantage of these facilities to keep on your exercise routine or to play with the kids.
A vacation to the mountains, a lake, river, or recreational resort has built-in exercise and physical activity. Families can get a lot of physical activity by hiking, backpacking, canoeing, waterskiing, swimming, rowing, fishing, rock climbing, or outdoor adventuring. If your family is spending the day doing these activities, no further exercise is needed! Usually when a family participates in these types of vacations, they also tend to select healthier food choices as well.
You don’t have to travel or go on a vacation to get physically active with your family. There are plenty of parks, trails and recreational facilities in Chester County to keep your family from developing an inactive lifestyle of staying indoors when the weather gets hot. Check out a list of Chester County Parks and Trails, produced by the Pennsylvania Advocates for Nutrition and Activity (PANA) listed on the Activate Chester County website www.activiatechestercounty.org. So whether you are traveling or staying at home this summer, you have plenty of opportunities to stay active during the summer months.