When you’re busy working and being a family man, it can sometimes seem like there’s never enough time left over to spend with your friends. You might have time to meet up for the occasional beer at your local sports bar, but gone might be the days when you could freely plan a fun day or weekend away and do something exciting with your closest friends.
Those days might seem like a distant memory, but you might simply need an activity in mind to give you the motivation to make it happen. Here are some exciting ideas for fun days out that you may see the value in planning.
A Themed Party
Whether you or one of your friends is celebrating a birthday, there’s every reason to use it as an excuse to plan a themed party. Think back to your high school days when people used to come up with theme ideas for casino night prom events.
You could take the same ideas and run with them for a casino-themed party your friends are unlikely to forget. Everyone can dress up in casino attire, and you can all play fun games like slots, roulette, and poker. You can even play with fake money to take the gambling aspect out of it. Such parties can be ideal for meeting up with old friends you may not have seen in a while.
A Fishing Trip
Fishing is a relaxing activity that you can do on your own and with your family. However, it can also be a fun activity that you do with your friends. You might decide to pack a cooler and head to your local river, or you might even have a boat you can take out on the lake and try your luck with your rods. The hours can fly by when you have all your closest friends together doing an activity you all enjoy.
Fishing trips can also be a flexible activity. For example, you might only have one afternoon to spare, so you can arrange to meet your friends at a local river. Alternatively, if you have an entire weekend at your disposal, you might plan a two-day trip out of town. It’s something you can do regardless of your time constraints.
A Hunting Trip
There are many different hunting clubs in the United States, and you may have been fortunate enough to be a member of one where you met some of your dearest friends. Suppose hunting season is fast-approaching, and you have all the appropriate equipment, licenses, and permits. In that case, you might consider planning a hunting trip away with an overnight stay in a hunting lodge.
Spending extended periods in the wilderness with your closest friends can be a unique bonding experience, and it might also be the perfect excuse to take a break from your daily life routine.
A Sports Game
There are many major professional sports leagues in the United States, such as the NBA, NHL, and NFL, just to name a few. If you follow a particular league or sports team, you might be able to turn their next game into an opportunity to spend time with your friends.
Visit a local sports bar with your buddies to watch it on TV with other bar patrons, or set up your home TV and invite your friends over. You might even provide pizza and other snacks to make it an even more memorable experience.
Even time-poor men can benefit from such activity since it takes minimal effort to plan and only requires a few hours of your time. However, if you’d prefer something a little more exciting, you might treat the men in your life to tickets to see your favorite sports team in person.
A Motor Racing Event
Motor racing is a massive part of American culture, with thousands of people watching major events like the Indianapolis 500 and the NASCAR Cup series. If the motor racing season is about to get started, consider whether going to one of the events with your friends or watching them on TV could be the social occasion you’ve been waiting for.
Many regional and national motor racing events offer overnight camping, which is bound to pique your curiosity if you love hauling your RV out of storage. If you have limited time to spare, consider inviting the men over for pizza and beer to watch racing on TV.
An Adventure Activity
Daily life can become quite monotonous, especially if you can still remember how much fun you used to have before you had adult responsibilities like a job and family. Although, there’s no reason you can’t take a break from home and family life and participate in an adventure activity with your friends.
Go BASE jumping, overnight caving, heli-skiing, or even waterfall rappelling. Many different thrilling, adrenaline-fueled activities might grab your attention and provide the perfect opportunity for social outings.
Play Golf
Many millions of people in the United States play golf. It’s an ideal relaxation sport and one that allows you to meet new people, build character, and challenge yourself. If you have a golf green nearby, consider dusting off your clubs, calling a few friends, and making a day of it. You can let your competitive streak shine through with your friends, share a few laughs, and enjoy time outside and away from the office.
Go to a Concert
Seeing your favorite bands live in person is generally an experience you never forget. If a band you like plans on playing at a venue near you, it might be the ideal opportunity to meet up with old friends you haven’t seen in a while.
You might plan to meet up beforehand and go to the concert together, meet them there, or travel out of town and stay overnight at a hotel by the concert venue. While going to a show can require a small amount of planning, it can be worth the time and effort when you get to experience something fun outside of your regular routine.
It’s only natural to fall into a rhythm when you grow up, become employed, and settle down with a family. However, everyone deserves to relax from time to time and enjoy their social life. If you need a break and some time with your friends, consider these fun activity options above.
Featured Photo by Kimson Doan on Unsplash
