5 Perfectly Totable and Super Fun Outdoor Games

The calendar says that it is officially summer!!! Does your family enjoy playing outdoor games? We had so much fun with a couple of them this past weekend at the lake that I wanted to share our current top 5 with you (in no particular order.) πŸ™‚ These are all small enough to throw in the car when you head to your next reunion or get together with friends. They are also all reasonably priced and readily available at either sporting good or department stores. My husband has always been known as “the entertainment coordinator” in our family. You can be sure he has something packed for fun!

“So I recommend having FUN, because there is nothing better for people in this world than to eat, drink, and enjoy life. That way they will experience some happiness along with all the hard work God gives them under the sun.”

Ecclesiastes 8:15

1. Bocce

Bocce

This one is a long-time family favorite….perfect for almost all ages. The game can be played with just two players or with two teams made up of up to four players each. Basically, the smaller white ball called the “jack” or the “pallino” is thrown somewhere on the lawn. Teams take turn trying to throw the larger bocce balls as close as possible to the jack and also knocking their opponent’s away. The scoring is quite simple, and a game can be played fairly quickly.

Playing bocce at the lake

Our three kiddos a few years ago at the lake

2. Spike Ball

Spike Ball

We were introduced to this one a couple of years ago. It can definitely create some good competitive exercise and lots of smiles! Here are the rules according to spikeball.com.

“Lovingly known as β€œthe trampoline ball game,” or β€œif volleyball and foursquare had a baby,” the sport of roundnet is played 2 vs 2. A player starts a point by serving the ball down onto the Spikeball net so it ricochets up at his opponents. They have up to 3 hits between them (think bump, set, spike) to control the ball and bounce it back off the net. When they miss, you score. First team to 21 wins.”

Look at how much fun our boys and some friends were having last weekend! This is the good stuff.

Boys playing Spike Ball

3. Yard Yahtzee

Father's Day

Most of you have probably played the Yahtzee dice game at some point in your life, so I am assuming that you know the premise of play. What makes this one mean so much to us is that a few years ago, I took an afternoon with my kiddos and my husband’s momma to make ours! We found a tutorial on Pinterest to get us started and took it from there. I am blessed with an extremely creative and talented mother-in-law with all of the necessary tools for this project. That was a pretty special day at her house and a pretty special Father’s Day gift!

Nick making yard dice

Julia making yard dice

 

4. Molkky

Mollky

This one is our newest addition, and I have to say…..probably already my FAVORITE! I ran across this Finnish game at Marshall’s right before Father’s Day this year, and thought it looked fun. I had never seen it before. Have you? How fun is it that the throwing pin is called a “molkky” and the numbered wooden pins are called “skittles?!?!” The other fun part of this game is that you can play with as many players as you want!

It is similar to bowling in that you knock over pins. If you knock over more than one pin, you score the number of pins you knocked over. If you knock over just one pin, you score the number shown on top of that pin. You then stand the pins up right where they landed so that they start to spread apart. Players take turns until one reaches 50 points…EXACTLY 50. If you go over, your score goes back to 25. It is fun to get strategic with which pins you try to knock over.

Playing Mollky

5. Baseball

I absolutely could not write this post without including what I consider the greatest game on the planet. You certainly do not even need a real bat, ball or glove to pay. Just pick up a cheap plastic bat and wiffle balls and HAVE SOME FUN. You can get a bunch of people involved in a big game or just have a home run derby. I promise it will be a “hit!” Get it? Ha!

Here are some special photos of our little baseball players over the years. I don’t think a day has gone by at the lake without a little baseball action. You may remember my very first post about Mitch’s baseball-themed graduation reception. Baseball has just become a major part of who we are.

2007 - NIck with Papa Steve who started all of this!

2007 – Nick with Papa Steve who started all of this! First official summer at our cabin.

 

2008 - catching pop flies

2008 – Mitch and Nick catching pop flies

 

2010 - Little sis getting in on the action

2010 – Little sis getting in on the action

 

2011 - Nick the batter

2011 – Nick the batter

 

2010 – Mitch the young pitcher

 

2017 - Mitch the college boy back on break

2017 – Mitch the college boy back on break. Not much has changed!

So there you have it…our top 5 picks. The next game I would really like to invest in is a good quality regulation corn hole game. We do live in the Cornhusker State after all!!!

Have you tried these? What are your favorites? I would love to hear! I am always looking for something new and fun because I love creating fun memories!

Don’t forget to subscribe to my email list to receive my posts as I write them. It means the world to me to be able to share simple ways to celebrate life with you! God bless!!

 

 

 

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4 Comments

  1. GB

    So blessed to be a part of all this! Gathering with family and making memories is what gives life meaning. The sweetness of these moments will linger in our hearts and minds forever.❀️

  2. I love how you intentionally make life fun. You are creating memories for your family (and this time mine- thanks for including Trey) that are priceless. Bless your loving heart ❀️

    • Karen Carlson

      Oh, thank you, Dani! We LOVE having friends join us. I love how you used the word “intentional.” I think that as crazy as it sounds, we sometimes need to PLAN for fun. I hope these guys remember a happy childhood. πŸ™‚

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