How to Live an Outdoor Lifestyle in Florida

Florida: humid and hot most of the year, with bugs thrown in for good measure. You currently live in Florida but you’re tired of staying indoors all the time and want to live the outdoor life. So how do you live an outdoor lifestyle if you’re an indoor person in Florida?

First, a quick history lesson. Do you know that only the northern part of Florida was meant to be settled? This is the reason why Florida’s capital is located way up north within the Panhandle in Tallahassee. The capital city is meant to be the middle ground between Jacksonville in the east and Pensacola on the West.

The rest of Florida is considered swampland and uninhabitable. But look at us now, flocking in to enjoy the sun, sharing the space with retirees, and living with nature. Here’s our tips on how to survive.

Walk, Swim or Hike Early in the Morning

Early morning is a bit cooler most days, so we try to be out the door as early as we can to walk around our neighborhood. I’m usually out the door within an hour after the toddler wakes up to walk and exercise. See a day in the life of a work from home mom for more details.

The walk usually lasts about an hour but it gives us a great start to the day. A little fresh air with not a lot of sun and crowds is what helps makes my day complete. No need to go to a gym, all you have to do is find a park or a sidewalk that you can walk in safely around near your house and ta-dah, instant exercise.

It’s also a good time to go to other parks or the beach where you live. We find that the earlier we go to the beach or a park/preserve, the less people there are. If it is a particularly popular spot and parking is terrible or has few spots, then it’s easier to find parking.

Then when we’re done with the park or the beach, then we still have time to make lunch at home to save money (part of our FI philosophy) and have the rest of the afternoon to run errands or do more stuff at home. After all, our philosophy is to still have fun while pursuing early retirement.

Map Out Parks In Your City

If you’re indoors and want to go out more, why not use the time to look for parks in your area? All you have to do is go on Google Maps and find green spaces/nature/parks in there. There’s never been a better way to find information online.

You can also opt to go to google.com/travel and see what outdoor points of interest there are in your city. This tool is how we are finding new points of interest in every city we go to!

Bring the Outdoors Indoors

Most homes in Florida have a patio facing the backyard area. Think of old plantation homes that had wrap-around patios in the front and back of the homes. These are common installations in the Southern states of the US.

Who wouldn’t want a chance to bring the outdoors indoors? This means you won’t have to leave the comfort of your home but still enjoy watching the sunrise, the sunset, or even the wind on your face. There’s nothing wrong with staying home, right?

That previous picture I painted of Florida? That’s not real. Florida is really hot and humid, especially during the summer. And did I mention that summer means daily thunderstorms?

The best time to visit Florida will be during winter, and maybe spring and fall if the weather cooperates a bit longer. The sun is not as hot on your skin, and the breeze can be cool enough to enjoy a day out.

How to enjoy the outdoors during summer

Summer in Florida means mosquitoes. These little buggers attack you as if there’s no tomorrow. They’re just terrible. They’re worse if you have the blood type that seems to attract these pests like candy. Being bitten by them? No fun, as you get more red and start to itch like crazy.

We were recently provided an amazing product that seems to answer these issues for us. It’s called the Ambush mosquito trap.

The Ambush Mosquito Trap

Back in the Philippines, our weather is hot and humid every single day. So having bugs around is a known and common annoyance in day to day life. We had these bug swatters that were shaped like tennis racquets and they were so funny. They literally fry the mosquito as they get caught on the racquet.

However, a downside to that contraption is that you’ll have to wave that darned thing around like crazy and you have literally nothing else to do after.

So, in our quest to enjoy more of the outdoors, we looked for a bug zapper of sorts, that’s safe to use around a baby and is hands free. We were also using for a fairly bigger one that we can leave on our porch and turn on and off as we please.

Ambush Mosquito Trap Review

When we first opened the box, I was surprised that there’s almost no installation required, except for the handle for the top which frustrated the heck out of me that the handle just went in the trash. Would have been easier if the handle was already installed, and wouldn’t take much space either, given that it folds down.

The lure is included when you first buy the product, and it had a really strong smell upon opening. I wouldn’t open that packet with a small child present, especially if they wanted to touch or smell it. I had to quickly wash my hands after opening the packet to get rid of the smell.

Trap was actually big, and already installed with the mosquito net. It’s actually lighter than I expected, so it’s easy to move around. A downside is that the power supply is so clunky and it’s much heavier than the actual lure itself. However, the power supply is rainproof, which is a great plus as we get torrential downpours in Florida during hurricane season and summer.

It was quiet when we turned it on, and did not have a funky smell. Our kid also likes to touch the top of the machine and it feels safe enough that he won’t be able to inhale the fumes nor touch the lure.

Overall, we think this trap is a great addition to our porch and us embracing the outdoors more, with our toddler also being an outdoorsy baby.

Read outdoors if possible

One thing I can’t wait to do outdoors is to read! One of our projects is to set up a comfortable bench or day bed in the back yard overlooking the preserve and I’ll spend a few hours there reading or working.

It would feel perfect with a perfect breeze, no bugs, and have the peacefulness and privacy of the backyard. I could spend hours reading or working outside while by baby toddles and plays on his car and other toys! That way, the baby won’t feel so stuffed indoors, and our kid is just an outdoor person.

Reading outdoors gives you a change of scenery without having to leave the comfort of your home. Reading is also one of the cheapest activities and hobbies to ever take on. It’s free – just borrow a book from the library, take it home, and walk to your comfortable spot. Your only cash outlay is the cost of driving to the library or if you can bike and walk there, then it will only cost you your time!

Any other ideas on how to live an outdoor lifestyle?

Feel free to list them out in the comments below. Our toddler just can’t get enough of the outdoors and we make it a point to discover new places with him. If not, then, we end up going back to the local park walking distance from our place.

Parks are also a cheap (or free) way to discover something new in a different city so try it out!