If you’re an avid reader that loves the great outdoors, this article is for you. It can be a hard choice whether to curl up with a good book or go for a hike, but we are here to save the day with ways you can enjoy both!
Use Audio Books
There’s no denying that audiobooks are a windfall for people who love to read. With a smartphone, a pair of headphones, and one of the following apps, you’ll be trekking and enjoying your favorite book in no time!
Audible – With hundreds of thousands of titles to choose from (it’s the most extensive online digital audiobook library in existence). Audible is the audio companion to Amazon’s Kindle. It’s a great choice if you use your Kindle often because you can seamlessly switch from the e-book to the audio at whim. It is a subscription service, however, but audiobooks can get very pricey, so the free book per month is well worth the subscription price! You also get exclusive books and access to podcasts. Each book you buy (with credits or money) is yours to keep.
Scribd – Unlike Audible, Scribd is a monthly subscription that provides access to the audio library where you can check audiobooks out and then return them. It even has audiobooks for children. The library is extensive and well worth the price, including some newer books you won’t find on free platforms.
Chirp – With over 200,000 titles, Chirp is an excellent alternative for audiobooks. You pay per book, with no membership or subscription fees, and they have daily deals on author discounts. You can stream or download the audio for your smartphone and listen whenever you’d like, with or without service. The biggest downside is that newer books don’t tend to be available. Still, each book you buy is yours, and you won’t have to return them.
Read Outdoor Adventures
If you want to stay in for the day but are still craving a taste of freedom, you can choose one of the many books below that takes place in the great outdoors. Even better, you might learn a thing or two about ways to adventure that you didn’t know before!
Winterdance: The Fine Madness of Running the Iditarod by Gary Paulson
The Wild Inside: A Novel of Suspense by Christine Carbo
Turn Around Time by David Guterson
Welcome to the Goddamn Ice Cube by Blair Braverman
The Source of All Things by Tracy Ross
The Names of the Stars by Pete Fromm
Ranger Confidential: Living, Working, and Dying in the National Parks by Andrea Lankford
There you have it! Now you know how to combine your love of reading with your love of the outdoors. Don’t forget you can always hike to a special place and sit down with a paperback while you have a snack!
