It isn’t necessarily boring because you live in or just visiting the countryside. There are a lot to see and do. So, we have created a list of 13 things to do in the countryside when bored that can keep you on your toes. In fact, you will find yourself very busy with so many things to do. Here are some ideas for things to do and see when bored in the countryside.
⦁ Be creative! Create art or take photographs
Art and the countryside have a rich tradition and history. Have you wondered why some of the most famous painters, like Claude Monet and Vincent Van Gogh, chose the countryside as their subject? It doesn’t take much to see the beauty of the countryside.
Take this time to improve your art or photography skills and capture the essence of the countryside.
⦁ Go on a hike
Never underestimate the power of hiking. Not only is hiking a good physical exercise, but also it clears your mind and you will feel refreshed. Being in nature can reduce stress, calms anxiety, and can lead to a lower risk of depression.
You can pick wild mushrooms and berries along the way to bring back for your favourite dish! As well as, you get to see sights and landscapes you wouldn’t find anywhere else.
⦁ Do online/remote work
There are a lot of jobs and work that could be done online or remotely. We are living in an exciting time when you can be an entrepreneur from anywhere and do business with the world online.
So why not take advantage of this and start your own business or find work that doesn’t require you to be there physically. For example, you can become a copywriter.
⦁ Spend a day lake fishing
Fishing is one of the most accessible outdoor sports in the world. Anyone, no matter the experience, can easily join in on the fun. Whether you grew up heading out onto the lake with dad or trying it out for the first time, you will find there’s something for you.
It is an activity that relieves stress, but at the same time creates sense of excitement when you get a bite. Depending on the rules in the area, you might even get to cook your catch!
⦁ Explore a long cycle route
One of the favourite activities amongst countryside goers is cycling along the lake or through the forests. What is more athletic and adventurous than getting some exercise and exploring new places?
There are different routes depending on your physical ability, however, it is always refreshing to have the wind blowing on your face.
⦁ Start a blog or vlog
This may or may not seem obvious, but you can show off the countryside through blogs or vlogs. Share with others your experience and maybe even start to monetize your content.
You will learn so much in the process, whilst having fun sharing all your thoughts and ideas with the world. If you need some inspiration, check out our articles about the countryside!
⦁ Take a wild swim
Staying close to nature will inspire you to be outdoors more. Many find themselves discovering their interest in wild swimming, a simple pleasure that encourages people to explore nearby rivers and lakes.
Wild swimming allows you to focus on the moment. Concentrate on your technique and your breathing, and nothing else. Be away from the daily struggle and forget all your troubles.
⦁ Learn outdoor cooking
Outdoor cooking is very different from indoor cooking. You might think you know your way around food, but cooking outdoors will give you another experience.
Learn how to cook on an open fire, use rough utensils, adjust to the wind and much more to cook some truly delicious dishes. Outdoor cooking is an enjoyable social experience and you get to try out exclusive outdoor cooking recipes.
⦁ Help out with the farm
Helping your farm and local community is a great way to meet new people, make a difference and be a part of a team. There are always things that need to be done on a farm. You can help out with taking care of the farm animals, such as collecting the eggs from the hen house.
You can also get involved with the development of the farm. What other products or services can they offer?
⦁ Go kayaking or canoeing
Paddling against the water is a great way to train your upper body. Consistent motion could also reduce the chances of heart diseases. As well as, you get plenty of vitamin D just by drifting along on the water’s surface with the sun shining on your face.
You get views that can’t be seen from land and find unique peacefulness. Bring a packed lunch so you can enjoy a meal on the water and surrounded by forests.
⦁ Learn about rural and farm development
Farms are always looking for ways to sustainably improve their efficiency. Take the time to ask around and understand the importance of rural development. Not everything in the countryside is boring.
For example, learn about aquaponics and vertical farming to see how they can solve world hunger. Did you know that aquaponics is a self-sustaining food production system?
⦁ Learn gardening
Gardening is a skill and hobby that stays with you. It is such a relaxing way to spend time outside and get some sunshine. There is no greater sense of accomplishment after harvesting the plants you nurtured.
Whilst in the countryside, you will have access to the best seeds, soil and fertilizer. One can’t ask for a better beginning than having the means and the tools.
⦁ Horseback riding
Most farms have horses around. This is the perfect opportunity for you to learn a new skill. Horseback riding can be as relaxing or competitive as you want. You will get to know about how to mount, control and care for horses.
Fulfill your cowboy dream and ride a horse in the vast open fields.
We like to have a lot of fun the farm. During Wessels’ events you can be sure there are activities for the whole family surrounding the featured activities of the event. Occasionally we hold an adults-only event during evening hours. Event listings are updated here, on our FB page and often found in Nebraska Life & Nebraska Traveler magazines, York Chamber Chats, YCDC Community Calendar and local news sources.
You might be surprised just how much there is to do at Wessels during our family-friendly events. Bring the family and tell your friends! Proceeds from all events go towards maintaining our living history displays, educational program, animal care and facilities.
Create your own event! Wessels Farm is a great place for family reunions, birthday parties, bridal showers, team get-aways and more. We do allow weddings on the farm but we do not close the farm for an event held during our regular open hours as we are a living history farm first, venue as a bonus! Contact us to begin planning your event today!
Rural America in Pop Culture
People in rural America are both consumers of popular culture and subjects for the producers of pop culture. Entertainment options exploded out into the country, particularly in the last quarter of the 20th century. Movies, music, radio and satellite television receivers all brought the latest ideas and cultural trends home – for better or worse. On the other side of the equation, many storytellers, writers, filmmakers and musicians chose rural characters, landscapes and themes as sources. Their portrayals ranged from the idyllic to the grotesque – again, for better or worse.
As consumers, rural folks have always been avid media users. Newspapers, magazines, letters, radio, television and the Internet have helped break the isolation that is part and parcel of life in the country.
As soon as radio was invented – but well before REA brought power lines to the country – innovative farmers were figuring out how to generate their own electricity so that they could have power for lights and the radio. Farm news and country music became staples of early stations in rural America and the numbers of radios increased, as well.
As we’ve seen, rural folks quickly bought television sets when they were introduced. Then when cable TV systems expanded in town, huge satellite dishes sprouted across the country so that rural residents could get in on the boom in TV offerings.
When the Internet was introduced, farmers and rural residents clamored to be connected, but the distance has made access difficult. In the latest figures, only 39 percent of rural households have broadband connections to the Internet while 54 percent of city residents have it.
As sources for stories
Rural folks have rarely been portrayed in a realistic light. One of the earliest and most popular depictions of rural life in popular culture was the comic strip “Li’l Abner.” Al Capp grew up in New Haven, Connecticut, and his closest connection with rural life was a teenage hitchhiking trip through Appalachia. But that didn’t stop him from producing the comic strip that, at the height of its popularity in the 40s and 50s, was carried by nearly 900 newspapers in the U.S. for a combined circulation of 60 million. It created the stereotype of the “hillbilly,” launched the national phenomenon of Sadie Hawkins Day dances, and spawned a Broadway musical, two films and a theme park. But the strip portrayed Appalachian poor people – and rural people in general – as uneducated, stupid rubes totally lacking in worldly experience and common sense.
When television came along, the hillbilly tradition expanded into shows like “The Andy Griffith Show,” “The Beverly Hillbillies,” “Green Acres,” “Hee Haw” and “The Dukes of Hazzard.” For a time in the early 60s, these were some of the most popular shows on TV.
In the movies, hillbilly pop culture took a very dark turn with “Deliverance.” The uneducated hillbilly rubes of Li’l Abner became retarded and crippled misfits and savage sexual predators in the movie. These rural sadists terrorize a quartet of Atlanta urbanites on a canoe trip.
“Deliverance” spawned a sub-genre of exploitation movies that capitalized on the fear that some urban residents feel when visiting isolated rural areas. The “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” series, “The Hills Have Eyes,” and “Children of the Corn” were all premised on the fatal encounter between modern suburbanites and rural brutes.
Valerie Kaliff (left) understands that rural areas can have a sense of mystery and maybe even foreboding for urban folks. “It is unnerving to people because it is so quiet and still and you can hear the croaks or the frogs and the animals and the coyotes howl,” she says. “And it is eerie for people if you’re not used to it.”