Comedian Robin Williams once said, “Spring is nature’s way of saying, ‘Let’s party.’” 

As the weather warms up, make the most of this season by getting outdoors to enjoy the fresh air, sunshine and loads of fun with your grandkids with these family activities:

Plant a flower or vegetable garden

Gather up the grandkids, head to the nursery and pick out flats of flowers or packets of vegetable seeds. When you get home, plan the arrangement and spacing of the plants. Then have everyone pitch in with digging and planting. To maintain your grandkids’ interest in the garden, have them help with watering when they come to visit.

For expert gardening tips, check out Bryan Reed’s monthly column in the BEACON. You can find his past articles at BeaconSeniorNews.com/wc-gardening.

Visit a state or national park. 

Forests and parks come alive in the spring, and there is no shortage of national parks and forests within a short drive. Not only does the greenery begin to fill in, but wildlife abounds, so it’s the perfect time of year for a nature hike. Be sure to take along your binoculars and a camera to capture newly blossomed plants, animals and birds.

Fly a kite. 

A breezy spring day is perfect for flying kites. For even more fun, order a kite kit in advance for your family to design your own. Then, check out YouTube videos on how to fly a kite before you head out.

Go garage saling. 

Spring is when rummage sales get into full swing, so go on a treasure hunt for great buys. Before you head out, check the newspaper classifieds and Craigslist for garage sale listings. Then plan your route to make the most of your outing.

Hold your own garage sale. 

Set up a lemonade stand. 

For the entrepreneurial family, this is a fun way to spend a spring day. Bake up cookies or brownies, make some lemonade and design colorful signs. Then hang the posters at nearby corners and main intersections. Better yet, take advantage of the extra traffic when a neighbor holds a yard sale.

Make a yard ornament. 

Gather up your grandkids to brainstorm a fun project to liven up your yard or landscape. Here are a few ideas to get you started: a birdhouse or colorful bird feeder, painted planter, mosaic walkway or welcome sign, a fun sculpture or musical wind chimes. Once you’ve decided on a project, you can find design inspiration, instructions or kits online to bring your vision to life.

Go on a picnic. 

Pack some finger foods like sandwiches, cheese sticks, veggies and dip, fruit, cookies and beverages. Then head to the park to enjoy some play, relaxation and grub.

Build a fort. 

This is an excellent way to put your stash of construction materials to use. Another option is to buy several sections of privacy fencing for prebuilt walls for your fort. There are many ways to build a fort. Search online for easy, low-cost ideas.

Play disc golf. 

These courses are fun for all ages, and there are several around town—at Watson Island, Palisade’s Riverbend Park, Westlake Park in Orchard Mesa and Riverbottom Park in Montrose, to name a few. Just head to your nearby sporting goods store and pick up a few discs before you go.

Go on a scavenger hunt. 

Make a list of items that are found outdoors, such as an oak leaf, clover, piece of trash, chunk of gravel, dandelion, pop can, speckled rock, wildflower and so forth. Before heading out for the hunt, set a time limit and any safety rules. Then split up into two teams and see who can bring home the most items on the list. Bonus points for picking up trash and helping clean up the environment!

Go for a bike ride. 

Whether it’s a ride through your neighborhood or on a paved trail system, a bike ride is a great way to get outdoors, enjoy the sunshine and fresh air and take in all the sights of spring.

Attend a soccer or baseball game. 

Nothing says it’s spring like a baseball or soccer game. Get some tickets to a Grand Junction Jackalopes game, or check the game schedule for your grandkids’ school or local league. Before you go, be sure to dress in the colors of your favorite team.

Take a scenic drive. 

Spring is the perfect time of year to roll down the windows and take a scenic cruise. Kick back, put on some happy music and enjoy the blue skies, budding trees and bursts of colorful flowers.