Are you wondering how to get outside and enjoy reading this summer? There are so many outdoor activities and places for you and your family to choose! 

A great strategy for reading is finding a spot outside where you feel refreshed and at peace. Being outside is a great way to make reading fun. You can do this by the pool, the beach, in the grass, or at a park around town. 

Lakeshore parks also feature literature to engage the mind and get outside and enjoy. Did you know that poems and art are featured at Windmill Island Gardens? Check it out!

Angie Pyle's grandson Bryden, 4, runs at the Holland Oz Project at Centennial Park in Holland, Mich., on Tuesday, July 9, 2019. L. Frank Baum was reportedly inspired to write "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz," while staying at his family's cottage at Macatawa Park in Holland. The free outdoor exhibit features a floral mosaic and "Yellow Brick Road" at Centennial Park with plans for six Wizard of Oz life-sized bronze sculptures outside the Herrick District Library across the street. Pyle said they were vacationing in Holland from McDermott, Ohio, and specifically wanted to check out the project. "Who isn't (a fan of the Wizard of Oz)," she said. (Cory Morse | MLive.com)
Picture from “The Holland Oz Project” by Cory Morse

Centennial Park features a Wizard of Oz theme, while a yellow brick road leads into Herrick District Library. L. Frank Baum, who wrote the Wizard of Oz, owned a home in Holland, Michigan, and was inspired to write the story while in Michigan. 

The Outdoor Discovery Center is another great place to visit to see native structures that relate to our chosen book, An American Sunrise by Joy Harjo. Check out their exhibits to the left! 

Poets and authors have long been inspired by nature as a subject. Many poets in England moved to the Lake District in Cumbria, England to write poems, such as “Lines Composed a Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey…,” by William Wordsworth. Check out some of the trails along the lakeshore community and write or enjoy the views. My personal favorite hiking spot is Sanctuary Woods!

Use this link to find more ideas for family activities outside. Some cool ideas include painting story stones or finding a guidebook for a hike through nature. 

Suggest more summer activities for readers in the comments below! 

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