Two years ago, I started a family tradition of doing something outside with everyone together for the holidays. Each year, I propose a different activity, and we create memories together: grandparents, aunts, uncles, and grandkids.

In 2007, ten of us went on a walk after our Christmas meal. We drove to a nature trail near a lake, and spent an hour or two exploring the sunny and snow-free, but very crisp winter day. Most of the group got to witness an awesome surprise: a bald eagle taking off from a tree by the water ten feet in front of them. My younger sister and her husband are avid bird watchers, and it was their first bald eagle.

Last year, I took twelve of us on our first fishing trip for Thanksgiving, and it was a complete surprise to everyone. I have to admit I was worried with this surprise: it was a very cold and windy day, but each person got into the experience in different and wonderful ways. We made our own fishing poles out of bamboo harvested the day before from my mother-in-law’s backyard. My younger sisters liked making the fishing poles, I loved learning how to put a hook, weight, and bobber on a fishing line, and my parents really enjoyed visiting with everyone while we fished. The kids seemed to enjoy every bit of it, especially digging for worms and having hot chocolate while we waited for the fish to bite.

This year? I’m inviting all the kids in the neighborhood for a Thanksgiving morning game of kickball with warm muffins and hot cocoa. My boys are always waiting all day for their aunts, uncles, and grandparents to arrive, and getting the kids up and out with their friends will help pass the time while the adults get the turkey ready to go in the oven. I imagine it will help my neighbors and their kids too.

Whether it’s the same outdoor tradition every year or trying something new, getting outside is a great way to give one another space to breathe some fresh air and discover another way to spend time together that will give each of you memories to last a lifetime. And by the way, do you think I knew how to fish before I took all of us? Nah, I knew someone in the group would know how to do it, and sure enough, he taught us all.

Rebecca P. Cohen is Founder and President of Rebecca Plants LLC, a gardening and outdoor lifestyle company that inspires families to be outside and improve their well being. Mark your calendar for December 17^th at 10:30a.m. EST and join Rebecca for her 30-minute radio program “Get Out of the House” on Diva Toolbox radio, where you’ll take a virtual vacation: guests and callers from around the country will share their favorite ways to get outside for the holidays.

Copyright 2009 Rebecca Plants LLC

Forcing fun isn’t really possible, but when my kids are having trouble peeling themselves away from video games, I have been known to put my foot down and take them outside.  After just a few minutes, they forget that I forced them to do it.

A friend of a fellow garden designer and writer, Starla J. King, http://www.rebeccaplants.com/wordpress coined the term “forced family fun,” and with that concept in my head this past weekend, I looked forward to putting it into practice when the time was right.  

Sure enough, late Sunday morning, my two boys, 5 and 7, were clinging to their cartoons.  In conspiracy with my husband, we created a ballot of two choices for family time outside:  fishing or renting a small boat, both of which were new to us.  Each of the four of us submitted our anonymous ballot.  Upon reading the small pieces of paper, we discovered that my husband and I picked something different.  But, the boys each changed their ballots to choose both fishing and renting a boat.

We didn’t need to pack much for our spontaneous adventure:  life jackets for the kids, a small backpack with retractable kids’ fishing rods that I bought from a big box retailer last summer, and a picnic lunch.  And we didn’t have to go far.  We found a public fishing lake just 10 minutes away through NWF’s Nature Find http://www.nwf.org/naturefind, where you just enter your zip code to find nearby parks.

Our lunchtime fishing trip turned into wonderful family time that lasted five hours.  The excursion was such a hit, seeing dragonflies, fish, geese, and even a heron, that we all decided we would go fishing once a week from now on.  Try your hand at forced family fun, and see just how fun it can be.

Rebecca P. Cohen is Founder and President of Rebecca Plants LLC, a gardening and outdoor lifestyle company that inspires families to be outside and improve their well being.  For her free list of 50 Outdoor Activities for Busy Families, visit http://www.rebeccaplants.com/outdoorliving.asp