Spring time is just around the corner! The rainy days in the Pacific Northwest are coming to an end, and the sun is starting to shine. The days are getting longer, and it is such a great feeling. I can feel myself coming out of my shell and I’m ready for something new.

Come spring time, my hobbies begin to shift. I start to move away from cozy, indoor hobbies, and start to adopt more outdoorsy, outgoing hobbies (but still a bit cozy!). I put down my video game controllers and I break out the hiking boots. But don’t worry, I still play video games at night 😉

To inspire you to get out and try something new this year, I wanted to share a handful of hobbies and activities I am excited for this spring season:

hobbies

gardening

It is one of my dreams in life to have my own garden. Being able to grow my own food and herbs and eat them for dinner sounds so rewarding. And now is a perfect time to start planning what plants you’d like to grow this year!

Unfortunately, I rent my house and do not have a yard I am able to plant things in. There also is not much natural light in my house, so my plants tend to struggle. Not to worry; if you’re also like me, I have a solution! For Christmas, Peter’s mom gifted me a hydroponic garden. I started growing seeds on January 2nd, and now I have a very lively herb garden! The hydroponic garden is a great alternative if you also cannot plant in your yard and do not have much natural light in the house.

I find gardening to be such a meditative activity. I really can hone in on the tasks I need to do to keep my plants thriving, and forget about all of the other worries I previously had. It’s been such a great hobby for me!

hiking

If you just started following me this winter, then you might not know that I love hiking! I consider hiking to be one of my favorite cozy hobbies. And you may be looking at this post right now, thinking I am a crazy person. But hear me out!

I feel at my best when I am in nature. When I set foot on a trail and all I can hear are the birds, the rustling of the leaves in the trees, the trickle of the nearby creek… That is when I feel at peace. Not much is better than breathing in the fresh air of nature. Spring time is the perfect time to get outside too. It’s not too cold, and it’s not too hot either. The flowers are just beginning to bloom. There’s so much to love about the outdoors!

Plus, hiking is a (mostly) free hobby you can partake in. Can’t beat that! If you’re interested in more free hobbies, take a look at my last blog post where I share a few more.

reading, but outside

Reading is one of my favorite cozy indoor hobbies, but also one of my favorite outdoorsy hobbies!

The feeling of taking a book outside and reading it while the sun is shining, is the BEST. Early spring time is the perfect time to read outside because the bugs aren’t out in full force yet. Lather on some sunscreen and get yourself outside with a good book!

birdwatching

Head to a local park or nature reserve and go birdwatching! One of my favorite parts of spring is being able to listen to the birds chirp. I also find it quite relaxing to watch the birds flit around and do their thing. Learn more about your local wildlife and ecosystem, and watch it at work!

embroidery

I have a weird mental block where I feel like I can’t knit during the spring and summer. I know I can always knit vests and lighter weight items, but there’s something about it that makes me not want to do it.

If you’re the same as me, then embroidery is the perfect crafty alternative! Embroidery allows you to give new life into an article of clothing. You can add new details to something you’ve thrifted, or to something you already own. It’s a great way to breathe new life into something old!

pottery

Whenever Valentine’s Day rolls around, I am constantly seeing couples pottery classes. It sounds so cute, and makes me want to get into pottery!

Spring is the perfect time to try something new and take new classes. I don’t know about you, but I feel so much more lively and willing to go out when the weather is warmer and the days are longer. I’ve actually signed up for a 5-week pottery course and I’m so excited to be able to create something and hold it in my hands!

water coloring

There is something about water coloring that makes me think of spring. The light textures and colors remind me of the longer days and blooming flowers.

Now is a great time to break out water coloring tools, or to take a class and learn more about the art! I might have to take my own advice and take a painting class myself this spring.

activities

flower fields

Spring is when the flowers start to bloom, and here in Oregon and Washington, there are tons of flower fields and festivals to visit. Last year, I visited this tulip festival and had a blast! There are acres and acres of beautiful tulips to look at and take photos with.

There are lots of different flower fields to look at, so do some research and have fun with it!

cherry blossoms

Cherry blossoms are another phenomenon that happens around Oregon and Washington. Each spring, cherry blossom trees begin to bloom and it is such a sight to see. I remember seeing the pink blooms for the first time last year and I was just awestruck. There’s nothing quite like it!

picnics

Like I mentioned earlier, spring is a time of year when I want to go out and be around people more often. Having picnics is a great way to do that! Pack lunch, snacks, a blanket, and pick a destination! Go enjoy nature and a meal!

tea parties

Hosting a tea party is something I have wanted to do for awhile now. Make fresh teatime sandwiches and cookies, a pot of tea, and have some friends over! This is a great way to experiment with baking and cooking, and share it with people you care about.

spring themed mocktail night

In my 2024 New Year’s resolutions, I wanted to cut out hard liquor. And lately, I’ve had a bit of an itch for fun drinks. So I began to do some research on spring themed mocktails! This is such a great way to treat yourself in the middle of the day. Also, mocktails allow me to use some of the fresh herbs I’ve been growing in my hydroponic garden!

farmers markets

Lastly, farmer’s markets begin to pop up around this time of year! I love going around the farmer’s market and looking at what fresh fruits and veggies are in season, getting a quick bite, and perusing the crafts and homemade goods. I also love people watching at the market. It’s so nice to see people out and about, enjoying their lives. Plus there are cute dogs!

Spring time is the perfect time to get out there and try something new. I hope this list has given you inspiration and motivation to do a new hobby or activity!

What are your favorite springtime activities and hobbies?