Adjust your Outlook: Get Outdoors!

If you're like me, you love being outdoors. The air is fresher, the sun enhances your mood, and it's great for sports. Belonging to a gym is a great way to get in shape, but they aren't as exciting or refreshing as working out outdoors. Many different activities you can do in the gym are significantly enhanced outdoors. The mountains and the ocean provide the best setting for taking advantage of these activities.

Another bonus provided by outdoor activities: they usually cost far less than a gym membership!

Rock climbing is one of the my favorite outdoor activities. While the task seems pretty simple (you just climb a rock right?) it is usually quite a challenge to complete. Sometimes it's a mind game knowing where to go next and remembering what works and what doesn't, but it's one of the most satisfying feelings you can get when you complete a problem. It also doesn't involve too much equipment to get started. Shoes and a crash pad are all you need to start bouldering, and we've even got an REI coupon which provides you with 15% off a single item.

Another great mountain activity is hiking. Mountains are usually great sources for finding trails to hike, and they provide you with a great scenic view below you. The trails can range in difficulty depending on how hard you want to work out and what your experience level is. It's more fun than walking, and it provides you with a better workout and better scenery (especially compared to a treadmill where you're usually staring at a boring wall!). It also requires virtually no equipment. You can just wear regular shoes or get a new pair of hiking shoes if you really want.

If you're lucky enough to live near the ocean, there are tons of activities for you to partake in. Ocean kayaking is one of my favorites. It gives you a great upper body workout, and it's exciting at the same time. It also gives you a great view at some ocean creatures you don't usually get to see up close. Sometimes you'll see dolphins, seals, jelly fish, manta rays, and lots of fish. Kayaks are not too expensive, starting from $230 at REI.

If kayaking doesn't sound like your thing then maybe fishing is a better option. While I don't condone anyone calling it a sport (it barely involves more physical activity than reading a book), it can be relaxing, and it gives you a chance to bond with friends and family. Plus you can catch your dinner (if you've never had fresh fish you missing out, trust me...). It's also really cheap. We have deals for up to 75% off fishing gear with one of our Cabelas coupons.

These are just a few activities you can enjoy. Mountains are also a great place for camping, snow sports, and mountain biking. And the ocean provides a great place for swimming, surfing and boating. So get yourself up off that couch and get outdoors while there's still time to enjoy the great summer weather!