9 Ways to Live in the Moment, Olympic-Style
Do a puzzle, create some art, play a game or read a book.
It’s hard to be in the moment these days when there’s an almost-gravitational pull to look at the news on our phones for the one-billionth time. But one of the most powerful lessons we’ve learned while traveling is how valuable it is to immerse ourselves in the experience at hand. To refocus your attention away from the news, here are 8 exceptional ways to have fun and be present, Olympic-style.
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Chill out to Classical Music
If watching Merriman Falls in Olympic National Park with classical music playing in the background does not ground you, few things will. Classics by Beethoven, Haydn, Chopin and Beethoven play as water spills over the 40-foot falls located in the Quinault rainforest of the national park. Amazon Prime members watch for free or you can rent or buy the video.
Start Embroidering
Nothing keeps you in the moment more than embroidery, so pick up a needle and thread and try this cross-stitch embroidery kit that features a coastal scene from Olympic National Park.
Do a Puzzle
Focus your attention on putting together a gorgeous image of Mount Olympus in Olympic National Park. This 1,000-piece puzzle will keep you occupied while giving you a glimpse of this stunning but uncrowded national park in Washington.
Immerse Yourself in a Book
Curl up with a book set in the park. Author Stephen Meyer’s Twilight book series is based in Forks, Wash., in the heart of Olympic National Park. The vampire-themed books written for teenagers sold 100 million copies in 50 countries. Find out why so many could not put these books down.
Start Coloring
Get in touch with your artistic side with the stunning The National Parks Coloring Book by Jen Racine. You’ll feel like an artiste as you work on these pages featuring 24 of the most popular national parks in the country.
Ignite Your Child’s Imagination
Are your kids complaining about being bored? Let them take themselves on a virtual trip to 20 national parks with National Parks of the U.S.A. Kids ages 6-9 will love this beautiful, award-winning hardcover book by Kate Silber and illustrated by Chris Turnham, which covers 20 national parks with gorgeous maps, illustrations and fun trivia about the animals and flowers that inhabit the parks. It’s available in hard cover.
Spend Time in the Kitchen
Bring to life the scents of the cuisine around Olympic National Park when you start cooking the recipes in Beauty and Bounty: A Celebration of Olympic National Park and Olympic Coast Cuisine by Lynn Adams.
Play a National Parks Board Game
Looking for an award-winning board games that highlights the amazing national parks across the country? Play Trekking the National Parks, in which players compete for points by claiming park cards and collecting trail stones as they travel across the country, stopping at national parks along the way. Every park card has a beautiful park photo accompanied by an interesting fact, inspiring and educating players.
Laugh Out Loud
Order Subpar Parks: America’s Most Extraordinary National Parks and Their Least Impressed Visitors. This gorgeous book is from the wildly popular creator of @subparparks (https://www.instagram.com/subparparks/) and features illustrated one-star reviews of over 75 our nation’s national parks along with informative text, anecdotes and tips from park rangers and more.
