Create Your Wild Summer

By Kat La Mantia | May 8 2023 | BlogAdultsChildren'sGeneralAll

Get outside, get moving, and go wild! This year, plan a summer that gets you back in touch with the earth. Outdoor activities can be fun for the whole family, whether you’re tending to a backyard garden or embarking on the ultimate backcountry camping trip.

Green thumbs, backpacking adventurers, and those who love to wonder and wander through nature at their own pace will find something to inspire them on our summer outdoor activity title lists! Find our favorites below, and then browse our lists to discover even more great outdoorsy picks.

Summer Gardening

Summer Birding

Road Tripping

Camping and Hiking

Kids Outdoor Activities

A beginner’s handbook to organic urban gardening
9781786786913
This is the ultimate beginner’s guide to establishing and tending an organic kitchen garden in any urban space, no matter how small, written by the YouTuber and TikToker known as Spicy Moustache.
$26.95 US
Apr 11, 2023
7-1/2 x 9-1/4
Hardcover
272 Pages
Watkins Publishing

9781426223167
$19.99 US
Feb 07, 2023
5-3/8 x 8
Stationery & Accessories
256 Pages
National Geographic

50 Fun Games to Play in the Car
9781922417985
The essential companion to keep you and your friends entertained on your next road trip.
$24.95 US
Sep 06, 2022
3-3/4 x 5-1/3
Other Formats
Smith Street Gift

9780847899234
2023-24 Lowell Thomas Travel Award for Best Travel GuidebookThis photo- and information-packed inspirational bucket list encourages hikers and armchair travelers alike to fully explore our nation’s crown jewels.
$60.00 US
Apr 04, 2023
10 x 10
Hardcover
384 Pages
Rizzoli

Fun Projects, Skills, and Adventures for Outdoor Kids
9780593448977
A hands-on, gloves-off, muddy boots activity book for young adventurers ages 8 and up, offering fun projects and adventures to build lifelong skills and knowledge about the natural world—from the host of MeatEater and New York Times bestselling author of The MeatEater Guide to Wilderness Skills and Survival
$27.00 US
Jun 13, 2023
7-3/8 x 9-1/4
Hardcover
368 Pages
Random House
Age 8-12 years

Growing Vegetables, Fruits, and Herbs in Small Outdoor Spaces (with Recipes)
9781632173928
This accessible gardening guide shows beginners how you can grow vegetables, herbs, fruits, and edible flowers when you have limited outdoor space, such as a balcony or window boxes. 
$22.95 US
Mar 15, 2022
6-3/4 x 8
Paperback
208 Pages
Sasquatch Books

Tips, Tools, and Techniques for Great Bird-watching
9781426222191
$24.99 US
Nov 15, 2022
7-5/8 x 9-3/4
Paperback
256 Pages
National Geographic

9780241436707
With its iconic coastal highways, lush wine regions, and mammoth national parks, California is the perfect destination for a leisurely road trip. It's yours to explore with Road Trips California, our redesigned and newly updated guide containing 24 drives across the country, from the surfer-studded beaches of Big Sur to the towering redwoods of Yosemite National Park.Packed with insider tips and information, this easy-to-use guide reveals California at its best: spectacular sights, hidden gems, and authentic local experiences. Our updated 2022 travel guide brings California to life. Road Trips California is your ticket to the trip of a lifetime. Inside Road Trips California you will find: - 24 easy-to-follow driving tours, each lasting one to five days- A laminated pull-out road map of California helping you navigate with ease- Walks, activities, and delightful detours to do along the way- The best local experiences alongside our pick of the most authentic places to stay, eat, and shop- Practical information: rules of the road, detailed directions, and driving tips- Covers: Wine Country, the Mojave Desert, Gold Rush-era towns, Yosemite National Park, and moreTouring the country? Don’t forget to check out DK Eyewitness USA. About DK Eyewitness: At DK Eyewitness, we believe in the power of discovery. We make it easy for you to explore your dream destinations. DK Eyewitness travel guides have been helping travelers to make the most of their breaks since 1993. Filled with expert advice, striking photography and detailed illustrations, our highly visual DK Eyewitness guides will get you closer to your next adventure. We publish guides to more than 200 destinations, from pocket-sized city guides to comprehensive country guides. Named Top Guidebook Series at the 2020 Wanderlust Reader Travel Awards, we know that wherever you go next, your DK Eyewitness travel guides are the perfect companio
$24.99 US
Apr 26, 2022
5-11/16 x 8-9/16
Paperback
264 Pages
DK Travel

Adventures on Foot
9780744058116
It’s hard to beat the satisfaction of traveling on foot – settling into a steady rhythm, surrounded by incredible scenery, with the freedom to stop wherever takes your fancy. This endlessly rewarding – and sustainable – activity is joyously celebrated in Hike, which reveals 125 of the most scenic and spectacular walking trails across the globe. It’s the ultimate inspiration for exploring under your own steam: ramble along coastal paths in Europe, scale soaring mountain peaks in Africa and trek through amber-hued canyons in North America.Compiled by a team of outdoor enthusiasts, this book is packed with ideas for your next hiking trip. Awe-inspiring images and compelling descriptions of each trail will have you itching to get walking, while handy maps, elevation profiles, and practical information – including things like distance and total elevation gain – will help you plan the nitty-gritty of your trip. We’ve also included the best places to explore en route – whether that’s lunch spots, epic viewpoints, or nearby must-see sights – as well as suggestions for alternative ways to tackle a trail. Hike is your ticket to the adventure of a lifetime. Inside Hike, you will find: - Practical top tips for getting the most out of each hike - including recommended stops, viewpoints en route, and how to make the hike shorter/longer depending on how much time you have.- Organized Chapters: Hikes are arranged within each chapter geographically, and include the distance and total ascent to help readers to find a suitable route.- Includes maps and elevation profiles - Covers 125 hikes, from straightforward day, walks to epic cross-country treks- A carefully curated selection of rides, chosen by hiking and travel experts - Each chapter covers a different continent (North America, Central, and South America, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, Asia, Australasia)About DK Eyewitness:At DK Eyewitness, we believe in the power of discovery. We make it easy for you to explore your dream destinations. DK Eyewitness travel guides have been helping travelers to make the most of their breaks since 1993. DK Eyewitness travel guides have been helping travelers to make the most of their breaks since 1993. Filled with expert advice, striking photography and detailed illustrations, our highly visual DK Eyewitness guides will get you closer to your next adventure. We publish guides to more than 200 destinations, from pocket-sized city guides to comprehensive country guides. Named Top Guidebook Series at the 2020 Wanderlust Reader Travel Awards, we know that wherever you go next, your DK Eyewitness travel guides are the perfect companion
$35.00 US
Jul 12, 2022
8-3/8 x 10-1/16
Hardcover
256 Pages
DK Travel

9781426373688
Companion to the bestselling National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book series, this delightful take-along nature guide helps young children find, identify, and learn about the fascinating animals, plants, and other wonders to be found at the seashore.
$9.99 US
May 02, 2023
8 x 8
Paperback
48 Pages
National Geographic Kids
Age 4-8 years

Seasonal Produce and Homegrown Wisdom from a Year in One Gardener's Plot
9780744069617
A unique, personality-driven guide to growing 40 allotment crops, accompanied by stunning photography from the author’s own plot.
$21.99 US
Feb 21, 2023
6-11/16 x 8-9/16
Hardcover
192 Pages
DK

9781426220623
Geared to the casual and experienced birdwatcher alike, this completely revised guide to 150 of the most common and interesting birds in North America provides the perfect way to appreciate the feathered friends outside your window, along with the tools you need to cultivate them wherever you live.
$21.99 US
Oct 15, 2019
8 x 5-3/8
Paperback
256 Pages
National Geographic

Sensational Prep-Ahead Meals for Camping, Cabins, and the Great Outdoors: A Cookbook
9780593578476
In this game-changing camping cookbook, food writer and adventurer Chris Nuttall-Smith introduces an ingenious prep-ahead approach to eating outdoors, with 80 easy-to-make and wildly tasty recipes.
$29.99 US
May 09, 2023
7-3/8 x 9-1/8
Hardcover
240 Pages
Clarkson Potter

The 100 Best Easy Hikes
9781632173546
This fully updated edition of this bestselling easy hiking guide (44,000 sold!) features the 100 best low-impact day hikes in Washington state, perfect for aging baby boomers, seniors, those traveling with small children, and anyone else interested more in a stroll than a climb.
$21.00 US
Feb 01, 2022
5-1/2 x 8-1/2
Paperback
320 Pages
Sasquatch Books

100+ Fun Ways to Learn About Space and Stargazing
9780593435489
Explore planets, stars, and constellations with this “out of this world” educational activity book for kids ages 5−7
$13.99 US
Sep 14, 2021
7 x 9
Paperback
160 Pages
Z Kids
Age 5-7 years

Foods They Like, Plants They Love, Shelter They Need
9780744069631
A practical guide to attracting a range of wildlife to your outdoor space, with advice, inspiration, and step-by-step projects.
$25.00 US
Mar 07, 2023
6-11/16 x 8-9/16
Hardcover
192 Pages
DK

100 Common Birds of Eastern and Western North America
9780593578544
A beautifully illustrated, fully revised and updated flashcard deck for birdwatchers at every level from leading ornithologist David Sibley.
$20.00 US
Mar 07, 2023
4 x 5-1/2
Cards
102 Pages
Clarkson Potter

400+ Parks, Monuments, Battlefields, Historic Sites, Scenic Trails, Recreation Areas, and Seashores
9781426222337
$40.00 US
Oct 18, 2022
6-7/8 x 9-3/4
Hardcover
560 Pages
National Geographic

A Journal for Refreshing Your Spirit in Nature: A Log Book
9780525654070
For nature lovers seeking a greater appreciation of God's creation comes a guided journal featuring inspirational quotes, thoughtful journaling prompts, and valuable information to enhance every outdoor adventure.
$16.00 US
Mar 02, 2021
5 x 7
Stationery & Accessories
224 Pages
Ink & Willow

How to Prowl for an Owl, Make Snail Slime, and Catch a Frog Bare-Handed--50 Acti vities to Get Wild with Animals
9781611809534
Calling all animal lovers! 50 hands-on activities and adventures that bring you closer to wild animals than you’ve ever been.
$17.95 US
Sep 13, 2022
7-1/2 x 9-1/2
Paperback
136 Pages
Roost Books
Age 5-9 years