With warm weather approaching and restrictions lifting, there’s no better time to go outside. Whether you’re looking for outdoor activities, wanderlust inspiration, or guides for living off the land, these five books will help you make the most of your next adventure.
For a female-forward, inspirational journey to stoke your wanderlust, choose She Explores: Stories of Life-Changing Inspiration on the Road and in the Wild by Gale Straub. Read stories about women who have stepped away from every-day life long and short term. The women identify as enthusiasts, creatives, founders, professionals, nomads, transplants, and advocates. Each story is accompanied by inspiring color photos of natural landscapes and women in action. Learn tips along the way in topics like solo hiking and finding the best sleep spots. You’ll meet women from all walks of life: artists, scientists, archaeologists, musicians, mothers, young, old, those out for long-term camping trips and weekenders. Inspire your wanderlust. Best gift for female explorers.
$24.95, Hardcover
240 pages, 7 1/2 x 9 ½
Chronicle Books
ISBN: 9781452167664
Looking for creative outdoor activities to try with children? Wild and Free Nature: 25 Outdoor Adventures for Kids to Explore, Discover, and Awaken Their Curiosity by Ainsley Arment offers a great companion. City dwellers need not feel intimidated, you don’t have to live near the woods to enjoy nature. Try the “lost art of family walk” to identify the trees and bushes in your neighborhood. Learn to keep a nature journal with pressed plants. Children will enjoy the instructions for drawing fun animals like giraffes and squirrels. Make an outdoor mud kitchen, grow your own mushrooms, keep chickens, bake with flowers, or take an adventure to a national park or museum. Color photos and recipes provide information and instruction. The activities are simple, easy-to-follow, and can be done by most anyone. Best for engaging children outdoors.
$22.99, Paperback
128 pages, 8 1/2 x 11
HarperOne
ISBN: 9780062916570
For the adventurous traveler, choose 100 Hikes of a Lifetime: The World’s Ultimate Scenic Trails by Kate Siber. In true National Geographic style, the color photography throughout is stunning making this a great coffee table book. Those looking for a more practical guide to hiking trails will not be disappointed– each entry includes specifications detailing distance, difficulty, directions, cultural considerations, and nearby places to see. The guide covers trails all over the world with hikes like Copper Canyon, Mexico; Valle de Luna, Chile; Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda; and the Snowman Trek, Bhutan. Whether you want to be inspired by beautiful settings from the pages in a book or by traveling there in person, this guide delivers. Best coffee table book for world travelers.
$35.00, Hardcover
400 pages, 8 3/4 x 8 ¾
National Geographic
ISBN: 9781426220951
If you’ve always dreamed of living off-grid or being more self-sustainable, Farm + Land’s Back to the Land: A Guide to Modern Outdoor Life by Frederick Pikovsky and Nicole Caldwell offers practical tips to get you started. This book is a how-to guide for returning to the land, whether that’s in the mountainside, countryside, or desert. Each section includes inspiration, dwellings, provisions, and essentials. Learn how to fly fish, tap maple trees, cut wood, raise chickens, keep honeybees, and make essential oils. Be inspired by photos of Earthships, farms, tiny cabins, and people living, building, and gathering. Best for living off the land.
$29.95, Die-Cut Hardcover
272 pages, 7 1/2 x 9 ½
Chronicle Books
ISBN: 9781452173337
Spend the night out in nature with The Camper’s Survival Guide: Food Prepping, Gear, First Aid, Etiquette, and More by Tamsin King. Small enough to fit in a pocket or pack, but filled with useful information. Learn tips on clothing to wear, gear to pack, tents to pitch, meals to cook, and places to camp around the world. You’ll also find full-page quotations to inspire your journey. Be prepared with helpful, country-specific etiquette tips (camping is illegal in Greece, but Norway and Sweden offer full freedom.) This book is a great choice for beginners. Best guide for campers.
$9.99, Paperback
150 pages, 5 x 7
Racehorse Press
ISBN: 9781631584091