Backyards can be tremendously versatile spaces for recreation and relaxation, and backyard fun can consist of activities ranging from the construction of insect habitats to pool parties and cookouts. Nature activities, such as gardening or birding, can be a great deal of backyard fun. Yard games and activities can be very entertaining, and can be useful for letting young children run off excess energy. Grilling food, swimming, and simply relaxing in the outdoors can also be very pleasant activities.
One of the simplest ways to have backyard fun is to simply enjoy the wildlife that comes to visit. Birds, rabbits, squirrels and other creatures grace even the most urban of backyards, and feeders can be used to attract a larger and wider selection of animals. People who live in wilder areas can expect to see and enjoy larger and more unusual animals.
Gardening offers another option for backyard fun. Ornamental plants can be added to make a backyard more aesthetically pleasing. Herb gardens, vegetable patches, and fruit trees can be cultivated to produce fresh produce throughout much of the summer season. Many people find gardening to be restful and therapeutic.
Backyard fun is often associated with packs of happily screeching children. Items such as swing sets and water slides can be added to a backyard to give children things to do during the summertime. Even a humble sprinkler or plastic yard slide can offer a refreshing break from the summer heat.
Yard games also offer the potential for backyard fun. Bocce ball and badminton require only a small amount of setup and equipment but can provide hours of low-key relaxation in the backyard. Adding a bocce ball court or horseshoe post to a backyard layout takes only a short while as well.
Cookouts offer the potential for a great deal of backyard fun. Typically, these combine a good deal of socialization and relaxation with the actual cooking of food on a grill. Backyard furnishings such as patios and built-in lighting or grills may make it easier to cook out but are not necessary for this sort of fun.
Other backyard design elements, such as pools and fire pits, can provide a great deal of backyard fun. Children and adults alike can enjoy a summer swim or splash, and a hot tub offers excellent relaxation potential during cooler outdoor evenings. Even sitting around a fire and simply relaxing can provide a low-key sort of backyard fun at the end of a long day.