Did you know that April is known internationally as Children and Nature Awareness Month? Coincidentally, the month plays host to an array of other nature-oriented celebrations and pursuits, including Nature Play Week (April 8 through 18), Earth Day (April 22), Arbor Day (April 26), and National Parks Week (April 20 through 28).
In truth, though, any time of year is an optimal time to get out and explore the endless wonders of the natural world. Furthermore, you don’t have to be a kid to enjoy such endeavors; many overworked adults stuck in the fast-paced lifestyle of today would also benefit greatly by taking a little timeout to experience the best that nature has to offer. Just the same, it’s vital for today’s children to be exposed to nature early on, seeing how we live in a hectic world where screen time has largely replaced green time, and AI tech, VR simulations, and CGI are quick and convenient, albeit, pale substitutes for all the naturally occurring bucolic callouts of our beautiful and bountiful planet.
Here in the Mid-Atlantic, though, we’re lucky. We live in a widely diversified region that provides us with plentiful opportunities for experiencing the very best of the natural world. Here are just 10 suggested activities and pursuits to consider for embracing nature throughout the Mid-Atlantic states.
Explore a National Park
As I mentioned previously, National Parks Week is among us. This year’s timeframe is from April 20 to April 28. Each day this week, National Parks everywhere are presenting a specific themed offering, making this an opportune time to get out and go exploring. Just remember, though, that you don’t need to wait for National Parks Week to visit.
While there are 63 National Parks across the country that actually carry the official “National Park” designations in their titles, you will find, in all, a grand total of 429 National Parks across a much broader assortment of categorizations. These include National Historic Sites, National Recreation Areas, National Battlefields, National Monuments, and even National Seashores, like my favorite—Assateague.
There is a wide range of all these aforementioned designations throughout the states of Delaware (First State National Historical Park), Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia. The latter two even include the officially named Shenandoah National Park and New River Gorge National Park and Preserve.
Go on a Hike
Getting out of the house and going on a simple hike is one of the easiest, low-key ways to get out into nature. Surprisingly, a nature-oriented hike can be found almost anywhere, even close to some of the Mid-Atlantic’s bustling urban areas, such as D.C. and Baltimore.
A nature hike doesn’t need to be anything formal; it can be as simple as taking a breather by going outside and visiting a nearby park, green area, or even a local woodland trail. The key is being “outside” in the natural world and getting a cleansing breath of fresh air.
Those who are up to more extensive outings, however, do have plenty of picks to choose from throughout the region. That’s because we live in such a diverse location where we have easy access to mountains, beaches, forests, parks, and more. From the Sugarloaf Mountain to the Appalachian Trail, Delaware’s Brandywine Creek River Loop to Virginia’s Cascade Falls National Recreation Trail, and the C&O Canal to Calvert Cliffs, a hike in nature is one of the best options for rediscovering the great outdoors.
Get Out on the Water
Pursuing the outdoors via a water-based excursion makes for another excellent way to connect with nature. Perhaps consider kayaking or canoeing at a local pond or lake, or even take to a creek or river with waterway trails that can allow for plenty of sightseeing along the way. Whitewater rafting around the region, like those excellent options in Western Maryland, comes as another highly recommended suggestion. Or you can take to tubing in a naturalistic setting, such as the Gunpowder River or even in Harpers Ferry.
There are also plenty of regional river cruises, like those on the Susquehanna, and many other sightseeing endeavors along the Eastern Shores of Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia. From dolphin watching and nature cruises to fishing and crabbing excursions, getting out on the water is another great way to make a splash with nature.
Spend Time at a Nature Center
Visiting one of the hundreds of local area nature centers throughout the Mid-Atlantic makes for a more mitigated exploration of nature, particularly for those who may not be up for the bold, outdoors approach. For instance, it is an exceptional suggestion for tiny tykes who are just becoming attuned to nature. Many nature centers even offer fascinating hands-on activities and explorations right on location, in an indoor setting or designated outdoor area. It’s also opportune for elderly explorers and others who may have limited mobility and therefore cannot go on long hikes in the vast wilderness. Furthermore, most nature centers operate year-round and feature primarily indoor exhibits. This allows for the opportunity to connect with nature any season, whatever the weather conditions may be outside.
Take Part in a Program
Whether you’re visiting one of the aforementioned national parks, nature centers, or another nature-based locale, throughout the year you’ll find a wide range of special programs and events going on at so many diverse places throughout the Mid-Atlantic. These may include nature walks with park rangers, special nighttime owl hikes with naturalists, guided tours with a featured focus, and so many other possible pursuits. All of the above range from easier low-key activities to higher-impact options. You’re sure to find one that caters just to you.
Go Birding
Whether you go the backyard birding route or join up with one of many existing birdwatching clubs throughout the region, there are verified therapeutic benefits in the hobby of watching and identifying the different kinds of birds you see around you. What’s more, it’s a pretty easy endeavor to take to, whether you’re an amateur just getting started or an avid avian pro. Even if you’re confined to one of the more urban metropolitan locales, you can see rock pigeons, crows, and myriads of other resident and migratory birds at any given time. But those fun outings into nature that combine hiking and birding, boating and bird-sighting, etc. are even better!
Enjoy a Plein Air Outing
If you have a creative, artistic side then perhaps a plein-air outing is in order. Here you can combine both your love for painting scenic sights and being out in the middle of the unbridled wilderness. While painting nature can be done at any indoor studio, there’s something pleasantly refreshing and personally interactive about being outdoors while you work.
You will find plenty of annually hosted plein air events taking place throughout Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia, respectively. Some are open to all without any registration necessary. Then, there are always private opportunities for scouting out your own scenic spot and setting up shop with your trusty easel, canvas, and paints.
Get into Nature Photography
Like plein air, nature photography provides another option for combining artistic interests with the bountiful beauty of the great outdoors. Whether done with a cell phone or mobile device or using professional cameras and other equipment, nature photography is a most soothing, cathartic pursuit. Here you are capturing a single moment in time—a moment that will never be repeated. It is a very transcending experience to think about, and the peaceful palatial surroundings of nature make the moment simply magical in the most realistic definition of the word.
Get Gardening
Whether you start a backyard garden or participate in CSA (Community Supported Agriculture), getting down in the dirt and planting is one of the easiest ways to embrace the natural world. Creating pollinator gardens, for instance, benefits the birds, butterflies, bees, and all life as a result of spreading the good. Then, there are all those benefits of growing your own produce and getting to literally taste the fruits of your labor.
Even if you have limited terrain to work with, you may consider starting a small container garden on the balcony of your apartment. Then, there’s the aforementioned option of getting involved with one of many existing CSA opportunities throughout the Mid-Atlantic.
Visit Zoos, Aquariums, and Natural History Museums
There are plenty of public and privately owned aquariums and zoological parks throughout the region. Baltimore, Maryland is even home to the one and only National Aquarium of great acclaim. The Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center at Virginia Beach is another exceptional suggestion. As for zoological parks, there are just so many possibilities! You can find out more or search by state on the Association of Zoos & Aquariums website.
In addition to aquariums and zoos, the region is home to plentiful natural history museums, many of which offer fascinating exhibits that even feature live animals. Other exhibits captivate visitors by presenting fossils or displays of life and shifts in the land and environment from long ago. Two of my favorite suggestions in Maryland are the Calvert Marine Museum in Solomons and the Delmarva Discovery Museum in Pocomoke City.
There are so many great ways to add more of the niceties of nature to your everyday life. These are only a few examples. Now it’s your turn to get out there and start exploring other possibilities as they apply to you personally.