In 2010, my son’s New Year’s Resolution was to: Watch More Sunsets (see the slideshow). He was 8.
With all the posts and lists of “What to Do on New Year’s Eve” — I wanted to offer up our newest family tradition to watch the last sunset of the current year and look forward to 365 new sunsets in the year to come. Read my post about 3 Spots for Beach and Ocean Sunsets in Orange County, if you need some ideas on where to go.
So, last year, we bundled up and packed ourselves into the car and headed to Ruby’s Shake Shack on Pacific Coast Highway (PCH). Wanna know what we saw when we got there?
Not a sunset! But we still sat and enjoyed our cocoa (instead of shakes). And when we left, we were treated to a festive view of the Shack.
The 2nd to the last sunset of 2012 was amazing last night – so I hope tonight is the same. Even if it’s not, we’ll mark the passing of another year together as a family whether in the sunshine or fog.
When you’re thinking of your resolutions for next year, brainstorm some simple things you’d like to do outside as a family. Here’s some ideas:
10 Simple Outdoor Resolutions
- Visit a national park
- Visit a state park
- Try paddleboarding, sailing, surfing or some other new water sport
- Hike a new trail
- Camp in your backyard
- Keep a bird list (of birds you see in 2013)
- Keep a nature journal – for kids this can be drawings
- Dip your toes in new body of water (a new stream, creek, lake, ocean?)
- Teach your kids a classic game from your childhood: jump rope, frisbee, bocce ball, handball, hopscotch
- Play catch
Or you can even steal my favorite: “Watch more sunsets.”
Thanks for reading all year long! Happy New Year!
Mel
Wednesday 2nd of January 2013
I'm a little late to the party, as usual, but I am going to try to remember this for next year. It is so much more doable than staying up until midnight!
Nikki Carr
Wednesday 2nd of January 2013
So thankful that you posted this, and even more thankful that I happened to check out this site on Monday morning!! Some ideas I stumble upon are so simple that I think, "Why didn't I think of that?!" With a 6 year old and a 3 year old I wanted to do SOMETHING special for the last day of the year, and catching the last sunset was PERFECT! We trekked down to Woods Cove in Laguna Beach for the sunset. The kids had fun playing in the sand, and I had fun take my new camera (a special Christmas gift from my husband) out for a whirl. We have special photos and memories now! Loved it! Thank you!
Michele
Wednesday 9th of January 2013
Nikki - your comment really made my YEAR! I always hope my reader friends are out there trying some of the things I suggest, but there's no way for me to know unless you comment. Your comment was so nice - it just made me smile all over. I hope it's a new family tradition on more days than just the last day of the year.