It’s time to get out of the house and revel in the great outdoors.
If you’re not sure what to do or where to do it, visit stepoutside.org. The website has information on a variety of outdoor activities for every season. The homepage asks for the location you’re interested in and then customizes much of the content to match it.
The StepOutside.org homepage
The links across the top of the page list all the activities that the site covers: winter sports, camping, hiking, archery, fishing, hunting, shooting sports, motorsports and events. Each section features a map of the area alongside links to local venues that support the activity you’re interested in.
Scroll down the section pages and you’ll find numerous relevant articles. Some are specific to the area and others cover general information regarding your favored activity. They offer tips for safety, equipment, training, lodging and more.
There also are articles recommending trips you can take to engage in the activity elsewhere, such as popular hiking trails or seasonal fishing and hunting spots. Some of the categories have lists of upcoming events.
Each section also has a Find It Fast feature. Here you can find links to information on retailers, attractions, education, locations, events and frequently asked questions. For regulated activities, like hunting and fishing, you can find links to regulations, licensing, seasons, game lands and more.
In addition to the links at the top of the home page, the sections can be accessed by more elaborate links further down the page. These include a photo and brief description of the section’s contents.
Below the links is a section called The Latest, which features a variety of articles spanning all the activities featured on the site. In addition to how-to’s, guides and lists, there are more newsy articles with stories related to the great outdoors.
Step Outside is a professionally built site. The design is solid, with good typography and navigation. The photos and videos are all of good quality. The articles I read on the site were all well done and appeared to be written by people who know what they’re talking about. In fact, many use terminology that a novice might not know. If you like outdoor activities, this site is for you.
KEVIN O’NEILL is a staff artist for The Times-Tribune. Share your favorite websites and apps with him at koneill@timesshamrock.com.
Kevin OʼNeill has been a staff artist for The Times-Tribune since June 1993. In addition to doing illustrations and infographics and designing pages for the paper’s print and electronic publications, he writes InSites, a weekly column about websites and apps. Contact: koneill@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9100 x5212
