Family-friendly Adventures

David Ayer of Rockport, middle, signs a geocaching logbook after finding a cache with Jennifer Schehr of Cincinnati, left, and Jodi Spalding of Swartz Creek, Michigan, during the soft opening of Owensboro’s Barbecue, Bourbon and Bluegrass Geotour on Aug. 15. Visit Owensboro partnered with AFK Geocaching of Cincinnati to put on the event where geocachers searched the park using the Geocaching App to find “geocaches” and sign a log in the container. Visit Owensboro officials are hoping to host more — and bigger — geocaching events in the future.

Photo by Greg Eans, Messenger-Inquirer

Safe, family-friendly adventuring

Outdoor activities are seeing a rise in popularity thanks to social distancing measures put in place to combat spread of the coronavirus. As temperatures cool off and autumn colors begin appearing, try some of these options. GEOCACHING children about how the foods they love are grown paint what they see. Fall is a great time to host an

Take your family on a virtual treasure hunt by and eventually make it to the family dinner table. outdoor art sessions thanks to the assortment of geocaching. Download an app, such as GeocachBe advised: Some farms have changed the way vibrant colors synonymous with autumn landscapes. ing, to locate caches in various outdoor places, they host public picking because of the pandemic. then hunt for them and log your success. Recently, It’s best to contact the farm before visiting with an estimated 300 families from 15 states visited your family. BONFIRE Owensboro for “Barbecue, Bourbon and BlueA post-dinner backyard bonfire can entice just grass,” the city’s first big geocaching event. OffiNATURE BINGO about anyone outside. Tell scary stories over a cials are hoping to build a wider network of geoDraw up a bingo card, fill it with various plants, flashlight, put a new twist on s’mores, and make up caching sites and even land GeoWoodstock XIX, bird and wildfire, and then visit nearby parks and silly songs. the world’s largest geocaching festival, in 2022. nature trails and see who amongst your family can check the most boxes (and score the most PRODUCE PICKING points). STARGAZE

Produce picking is a popular autumn activity, Grab some blankets, a thermos of hot cocoa, but families need not wait for the autumn harbinoculars and a chart of constellations to enjoy a vest to enjoy a day picking fruit or vegetables at OUTDOOR ART CLASS sky full of bright stars. If visibility is compromised a nearby farm such as Reid’s Orchard or Cecil Pick a pleasant afternoon and set up an outin the backyard, head for a quiet spot outside of Farms. Visit during its harvest season, teaching door painting station, encouraging everyone to town to get a clear view of the night sky.