Baseball

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America’s pastime is thriving and as fun as ever. Major and minor league teams dot the country no matter where you live. In most cases, baseball is also the most affordable of all the major sports. Pack up the kids, grab some hot dogs, and watch the amazing exploits of the next generation of great ball players.

Amusement Parks & Water Parks 

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In the last 20 years, amusement parks and water parks have exploded in popularity around the country. Amusement Parks offer a chance for you and your child to share in the experience of roller coasters and other fun rides.  Summer is hot! What better way to cool off than sliding down a twisting, winding tube of cool rushing water? It is a can’t miss with the kids and you will have just as much fun as well.

Fishing

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Not sure how to explain it fully, but like snow, fishing has a magic quality associated with it. When you are alone with a pole in your hand and waiting for that first vibration, your mind seems to clear. One of two things occurs. Either your brain for once is not thinking about anything else in the world except waiting for a bite. Or, your mind clears itself of unnecessary clutter, allowing you to focus on whatever issue is central in your life at that moment. In either case, a rare moment of clarity or needed escape is achieved. Once again just opinion, but maybe that is why fishing endures as such a very popular activity.

Camping

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In the same vein as hiking, outdoor camping allows for us to connect in a deeper way with our natural instincts. Our society is one based on comforts and instant gratification.  However, embedded in our DNA are still the most basic instincts of survival. Many self-help books recommend camping as part of a spiritual quest to gain understanding of your destiny. Similar to the 40 days in the wilderness Jesus endured. We don’t have to get that deep with it. One night in a tent set up in the backyard with the kids will suffice. Even when you can still see the lights of your kitchen from your tent, you still experience a sense of freedom that may have been missing.

Hiking

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In every geographic location, great hiking opportunities await. Down south in flatlands and marshes. The mountains of the west as well as the east. Anywhere in America is a great place to strap on the boots and explore. A friend of All Pro Dad recently hiked a portion of the Appalachian Trail with his son. He reported back of the spiritual growth they both experienced. Hiking, no matter what level of trail difficulty, is an exhilarating endeavor.