The holiday weekend is here – the time for barbecuing, going to the beach and getting together with loved ones. So while you’re out enjoying the warm weather, here’s a fun activity that you could try out – flying a kite. It’s simple, relatively inexpensive and something fun to do if you have kids. And more importantly, it brings out the kid in you!
This past weekend, I was walking in a park and saw some kids flying a kite. It sounded like a fun activity so when I got home, I did some internet research on where to get one. I found plenty of online retailers that sold kites but I didn’t want to wait for the kite to be shipped to me so I found a hobby shop in my area. I was surprised at how many different types of kites they had: single-string, double-string, kites shaped like boxes, diamonds, and even cartoon characters. Wish they had this many when I was a kid! In the end, I ended up choosing this really cool looking kite, shaped like a plane with a working propeller. I made my way to a local baseball field and to try my new kite out.
I forgot how much fun flying a kite can be – and how much of a workout you can get from it. It felt really good to be outside, enjoying the sunshine and getting fresh air. And because the wind was light, I ended up running a lot.
Since my kite flying adventure, I’ve learned some more things about kite flying that I never knew. Right here in DC, the Smithsonian has annual kite flying festival in early March. Next year, I’m going to make my way down there and take part in the fun. I also learned about ‘kite fighting’. It’s a competition that is centuries old, where kite flyers all compete to be last kite flying by cutting each other’s kite strings. I would love to see one of those.
So for this holiday weekend, try out kite flying with your family. It’s a great outdoor activity that you and your family can do together.
Look below to see me in action, flying my kite!
Justin - A Lumen
