Fresh air, mountain views, and freedom from the hustle and bustle are just a few benefits of exploring nature. Whether you take a weekend trip to a remote forest or check out a nature preserve less than an hour from the city, enjoying the natural world can be an excellent way to recharge.

There are quite a few ways that you can truly get the most out of taking a trek through nature. If you're new to hiking, biking, or 4-wheeling and haven't done them in a while and want to determine the best activity to jump in, check out our guide to starting all three.

What Type of Activity Fits Your Lifestyle Most?

Before you reserve that TripAdvisor activity or rent a bike, determine your vacation preference. Doing this can help you find an activity that fits your lifestyle the most. For example, hiking may be something you want to enjoy if you're looking to take your time exploring the area.

If you're a thrill seeker that wants a fast-paced experience, then four-wheeling might be up your alley. Think about the type of experience you're looking for and how each activity fits into it. You may even determine that you want to do all three.

Starting Hiking, Biking, or Four-Wheeling

If you're new to hiking or biking or interested in learning about four-wheeling for beginners, you've come to the right place. Here are some tips for starting out with these activities:

• Focus on conditioning: These activities can be a great way to exercise, but you first need to condition yourself. This could be anything from creating a routine cardio workout to engaging in strength-based training. Also, don't forget to consult a doctor before beginning any physical activity or training.
• Select trails fit for beginners - Don't start on the most demanding trails when you're just beginning. Instead, look for routes with shorter distances (potentially five miles and below) and with lower elevations. It's best to start slow and work your way up when beginning any physical activity.
• Go in a group: It's always a good idea to do these activities with others. Not only is it more fun, but it also creates a safer experience.
• Get the right equipment: Whether you're hiking, biking, or four-wheeling, it's crucial to ensure you have the suitable materials before you get started. For example, always look at reviews and even ask for recommendations from friends when looking for an adequate bike or ATV. Additionally, you'll want to invest in protective clothing, helmets, navigation equipment, and other essential items to ensure you're prepared to start adequately.
• Put safety first: Always make sure you're making safety a priority. Invest in items like first aid kits, and ensure that someone knows your exact trail location in case something happens.
• Educate yourself: Find as many educational resources about the activity you want to do as possible. For example, if you want to engage in four-wheeling, ensure you're spending the time needed to understand how to have the best — and safest — time. This could include reading the owner's manual, talking to the staff at an outdoor-equipment retailer to determine the right four-wheeler to purchase, becoming familiar with the controls, and practicing changing between gears.
• Perform necessary maintenance: This goes more for four-wheeling and biking, but look into any maintenance tasks to ensure your vehicle is ready for use. This task can include checking your four-wheel vehicle's fuel levels or the air pressure in your bike's tires. You may want to create a checklist of things to look into before you set off.

These are just a few of the things you can do to prepare for starting hiking, biking, or four-wheeling. The most important things to remember are to educate yourself and practice safety.

Reasons to Pursue Each

If you're wondering about which activity to pursue, take a look at these reasons why each one could be a fit.

Hiking

• You want to take your time: Sometimes, it can be hard to catch all that nature offers if you're moving quickly on a bike or four-wheeler. Hiking and walking in nature allow you to take in your surroundings at your own pace.
  
• Physical conditioning: Walking and hiking may exercise muscles in a different way than biking can. Hiking is a great activity to look into if you're training for a marathon or just want to condition your body in a specific way.

Biking

• You want a faster experience: Maybe you want a bit more of a thrilling experience. If so, biking is definitely something you should consider. Maybe you're looking to quickly travel from one campsite to another or want the experience of mountain biking on a more advanced trail. Either way, biking can provide the best of both worlds as it lets you experience nature at a faster pace while still allowing you to slow down when you need to.

• You want a low-impact way to exercise: Biking can offer a unique cardiovascular experience if fitness is a priority. Riding a bike provides a low-impact way to work out your legs while also allowing you to build lung health.

Four-wheeling

• You're looking for a thrill: Riding through mountainous terrain on a four-wheel vehicle can be as thrilling and fun. Depending on the trail, you can experience nature in a fast-paced and exciting way while four-wheeling. It can also help you reach or move through areas that would be harder to get to on a bike or hiking.

• Speed is a priority: Also, four-wheeling can provide the speed you're looking for. If spending a lot of time in one area or taking your time to look at every natural landmark isn't the top draw for you, four-wheeling can offer another option. Also, four-wheeling provides some flexibility, as you can still stop and view nature at your own pace.

Hiking, biking, and four-wheeling are excellent activities that can motivate you to spend some time in nature. However, before jumping into either event, ensure you have the right supplies to start. Investing in the right products will make your experience efficient and safer.