Outdoor lifestyle, kids playing out - where?

[Indecisivelurcher]

If you have a really outdoorsy lifestyle and your kids play / hang out outside at weekends, where do you live? And do you love it?

What is a outdoorsy lifestyle? Does walking count? We cycle and walk but I hate camping. We go outdoors when we have a half a day or a day to spare. I prefer it to shopping. There are so many things you can do outdoors, sailing, kayaking, paddle boarding, horse riding, gardening, running, visit outdoors historic sites (like English Heritage or National Trust). Even Go Ape. You'll find something that suits most tastes.

It's all relative isn't it?

I suppose I'm thinking about informal sports or activities or just space to hang out, non paid, and able to be accessed if not alone then with minimal organised elements ie not a club.

My kids had that kind of childhood in a village in Scotland. Football, building dams in streams, playing in the park, rope swings, sledging, climbing hills, bike rides etc.
The informal outdoor activities got a bit more dodgy in the teenage years though and the wild swimming always worried me.

West Sussex, South Downs and beach on our doorstep. Originally from London, then lived in Surrey, been here 5 years. DS (15) broke up from school today and they went to town, grabbed some food, took it to the Green space on the beach, swam in the sea and played football until I picked him up. He and his friends regularly ride their bikes on the downs. Best move we ever made. Safer than Surrey, which people are surprised about.

We live on North London, but we own a pony and my daughter spends all her free time at the livery yard with her friends. She's there every day after school and all day on weekends. That's where she and her horsey friends hang out. She's 13, but has been riding since she was 6.

A village in France, good weather for 5 months of the year helps. Lots of free activities like tennis, basketball, cycling, pump tracks, lakes, hiking around. Having a large garden with a pool and a shaded and covered courtyard also make it very easy to spend almost all day outside.

We live in Scotland and the area in which we live all the kids play out from about age 6.

My kids are both involved in scouts so they do tons of outdoor adventurous activities and camping etc.

I live in the surry hills. The kid hang out in the woods and ride bikes there, go for hikes, rope swings etc they also mess about on the river - theres a swim spot but also with paddle boards (licence needed and the cost of owning ) and head to the large green park for cricket, football etc.

imho99 we're neighbours (East Sussex). We're on the coast so spend a lot of summer weekends at the beach (Shoreham and Worthing are both good), or any park with a splash pad is fun too. The rest of the year they are happy as long as they are outside with a ball (DS1) or a playground with good slides (DS2).

New Zealand. On their own they swim in the sea or school pool for 6-8 months of the year, lots of local reserves and parks, lots of friends to explore with on bikes or on foot. As a family we camp, hike, kayak and go to festivals and events.

Is that north island?

@Girasoli I am in Findon Valley, Worthing.

We live at Bondi beach, kids hang out at the beach, bondi or Bronte, or take a ball to Waverley park, or we take the dogs to centennial park and leave the kids in the playground while we walk.

Ah too many things abroad 😭