Top 4 Gifts for Outdoor Fun
Games I have played, lost, but still love
As summer starts to fade into fall, I like to make the most of my outdoor time and try to finally win a game against my husband. I think it says something if you continually lose and still want to play the games you never win. Does it say that I am crazy? Probably.
Here are my top four tried-and-true picks for games that actually work for the whole family. No athletic prowess required, and definitely none of that intense Spikeball nonsense.
The obvious champion. Cornhole is on every outdoor game list for a reason - it’s a classic. Plus, any game that lets you hold a cold drink in one hand while you play? That's just smart design.
Cornhole boards are an investment, but it is a gift that endures. We got our cornhole boards from L.L. Bean about 10 years ago and they still look great after countless family tournaments. This great retro striped one is marked down from $345 to $295. If you want to go all out, this gorgeous Elakai set is $349.
Carnival vibes, backyard style. Don’t let the simplicity fool you. Ring toss ($59.99) is addictive, doesn’t take up space in your garage, and is easy to assemble. Add a silly prize for the game winner and suddenly you’ve got carnival magic without the overpriced funnel cake.
If you are interested in a wall ring toss game, this one can be mounted indoors or outdoors. We had a mounted ring toss game on a tree for awhile. My oldest son nailed it on the first try. Me? Not so much. Absolutely maddening.
Skip the country club fees. You can create your own 3-hole course right in your yard. The Bucketgolf 3-hole game set ($199) includes three bucket holes, whiffle balls and a retractable golf club. The best part? You don’t need to know a birdie from a bogey to have fun.
Wild card game. I discovered the game of Stump during parent’s weekend at the University of Dayton. Dayton wasn’t ranked #2 party school by The Wall Street Journal for nothing. While it definitely can be a drinking game, it's equally entertaining sober. All you need is a tree stump, nails and a hammer. This video gives you a good idea how to play.
Honorable mentions:
Chickin' Lickin': I've mentioned this one before—still love it.
Pickleball: Super fun but too much family drama about whether shots are "in" or "out" when you don't have actual court lines marked off in our driveway.
Ladder Golf: Solid choice, but I like Buckethole better.
Giant Jenga: Shows up on every list, but I purposefully didn't include it because of its bulky size. Who has room in their garage for that?
From left to right: Cornhole board from Cornhole Games USA; Ring toss from Kettler; Bucketgolf from Dick’s Sporting Goods; Stump game.