There are plenty of nature lovers’ activities to enjoy in Illinois even if you can’t leave your property. This list of 11 fun things to do include activities you can enjoy whether or not you have a yard and are fun for those who have balconies too. Scroll on for more details.
- Watch The Clouds Go By
Flickr/Joanna Lee Osborn Whether from your window, balcony, or backyard, you can watch clouds go by without ever leaving your property. The best part about this activity is looking for images and shapes in these fluffy, white formations.
- Stargazing
Flickr/skyseeker As our solar system is within the Milky Way, we are graced with a night sky that is filled with stars. If you’re lucky enough to live somewhere without much light pollution, you can see constellations, shooting stars, meteor showers, and much more throughout the year from your own backyard.
- Looking At The Moon
Pixabay/rkarkowski There’s no place in Illinois that you can’t see the moon when it is shining. No amount of light pollution can block it out. In fact, sometimes you can see it during the day.
- Bird watching
Wikimedia Commons/Daniel Schwen This is another one of those nature lovers’ activities that you can enjoy from the yard, window, or balcony. Get out your binoculars for a better view of birds that are further away.
- Catching Fireflies
Flickr/B Rosen If you enjoy interacting with wildlife, you’ll soon be able to catch lightning bugs in Illinois. Go out into your backyard at night when these critters light up the grass and grab a few or just watch.
- Listen To The Sounds Of Nature
Flickr/David B. Gleason No matter the time of day, you can open your window or step outside and hear the birds singing, the wind howling, or any number of other sounds. At night, the spring peepers come out and have a chorus, or you might hear coyotes. Geese, finches, and livestock are active during the day.
- Feed The Birds
Pixabay/PilotBrent Putting out a bird feeder is a great way to interact with nature and wildlife. If you’re used to going to zoos, parks, and other attractions that feature critters, this is a great alternative if you are stuck at home. You never know what you might attract.
- Have A Picnic
Pixabay/BibBornem Take a blanket and your meal outside or just eat near a window to enjoy the refreshing atmosphere of the outdoors. Any meal can be turned into a picnic meal.
- Sunbathing
Flickr/m00by There’s plenty of opportunity to catch some rays and enjoy the sun on your property. Take a chair, towel, or blanket outside and pretend you’re at the beach.
- Gardening
Wikimedia Commons/Mariegriffiths The backyard, window, or balcony is the perfect place to set up your personal garden. Whether you keep potted plants or grow flowers and other vegetation in the ground, this is an excellent way to enjoy nature.
- Playing With Pets
Wikimedia Commons/Ugandan Rose Especially if you have dogs, spending time outdoors is crucial. Canine friends absolutely cannot stay cooped up indoors. If you have a nice yard, your other pets might enjoy a chance to roam around outside for a bit too.
What other nature lovers’ activities can you enjoy from your own backyard? Share your ideas with us below in the comments.
Flickr/Joanna Lee Osborn
Whether from your window, balcony, or backyard, you can watch clouds go by without ever leaving your property. The best part about this activity is looking for images and shapes in these fluffy, white formations.
Flickr/skyseeker
As our solar system is within the Milky Way, we are graced with a night sky that is filled with stars. If you’re lucky enough to live somewhere without much light pollution, you can see constellations, shooting stars, meteor showers, and much more throughout the year from your own backyard.
Pixabay/rkarkowski
There’s no place in Illinois that you can’t see the moon when it is shining. No amount of light pollution can block it out. In fact, sometimes you can see it during the day.
Wikimedia Commons/Daniel Schwen
This is another one of those nature lovers’ activities that you can enjoy from the yard, window, or balcony. Get out your binoculars for a better view of birds that are further away.
Flickr/B Rosen
If you enjoy interacting with wildlife, you’ll soon be able to catch lightning bugs in Illinois. Go out into your backyard at night when these critters light up the grass and grab a few or just watch.
Flickr/David B. Gleason
No matter the time of day, you can open your window or step outside and hear the birds singing, the wind howling, or any number of other sounds. At night, the spring peepers come out and have a chorus, or you might hear coyotes. Geese, finches, and livestock are active during the day.
Pixabay/PilotBrent
Putting out a bird feeder is a great way to interact with nature and wildlife. If you’re used to going to zoos, parks, and other attractions that feature critters, this is a great alternative if you are stuck at home. You never know what you might attract.
Pixabay/BibBornem
Take a blanket and your meal outside or just eat near a window to enjoy the refreshing atmosphere of the outdoors. Any meal can be turned into a picnic meal.
Flickr/m00by
There’s plenty of opportunity to catch some rays and enjoy the sun on your property. Take a chair, towel, or blanket outside and pretend you’re at the beach.
Wikimedia Commons/Mariegriffiths
The backyard, window, or balcony is the perfect place to set up your personal garden. Whether you keep potted plants or grow flowers and other vegetation in the ground, this is an excellent way to enjoy nature.
Wikimedia Commons/Ugandan Rose
Especially if you have dogs, spending time outdoors is crucial. Canine friends absolutely cannot stay cooped up indoors. If you have a nice yard, your other pets might enjoy a chance to roam around outside for a bit too.
For more like this, check out these 12 reasons why Illinois will always be home.
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