When the temperatures start heating up, I start constantly fighting the urge to ditch all my responsibilities and spend my days enjoying the sun. Needless to say, when I do get an afternoon—or even a few hours— off, I like to grab a little extra Vitamin D. Because my schedule can be a little unpredictable, I try to always be prepared with plenty of supplies in my car for park adventures, outdoor naps, trail hikes, and anything else I find time for.
If you’re into impromptu adventures outdoors, you should probably make your own warm weather car kit to toss in the trunk or backseat.
- Water bottle: This is pretty obvious, but staying hydrated is important. And while drinking beer outside is my favorite kind of outdoor activity, water is a little more practical.
- Blanket: Picnics, naps, lounging around playing cards—a blanket is probably the most important item you can keep with you. It’s also great for times you need to sleep in your car.
- Tennis shoes: After one too many time wearing useless sandals when I’ve wanted to go traipsing through the woods, I decided to start carrying some more practical footwear with me. Don’t forget to toss in some socks too!
- A pack of cards, a frisbee, and a book: While just soaking up some sun and enjoying nature is nice, it’s always good to have some things to do also (especially if you convince someone to come with you).
- A change of clothes: Shorts are probably a lot more comfortable (and practical) when it comes to all your outdoor adventures. This way, you’ll also have a change of clothes in case it starts raining during your hike or you slip and fall into that creek you tried to cross—because no one wants to wear soaking wet clothes all the way back home.
Becoming Bradshaw 