The Art of Swimming
Three near-drownings elucidate the wisdom of a 17th-century guide to swimming safety and technique.
thegreatoutdoors
A collection of 23 issues
The Mall of the Wild
Even cable series must adapt to survive. Possible spinoffs of “Naked and Afraid” explore charted territory.
What Doesn’t Kill You Doesn’t Kill You
A visit to a bear sanctuary could cure you of your bear phobia. Or it could turn your fear into a full-blown obsession.
The Wolf Is Waiting
Imperceptibly and without warning, your pulse accelerates, your mind races, and panic grips your body—for anxiety attack sufferers, every day is a case in survival. A journey to the wild to confront the fear.
What the Fuck Cricket Is
Experts answer what they know. The Non-Expert answers anything. This week, we solve one of Earth’s trickiest mysteries involving bats, balls, and scuttlewicks.
Cloud Fracas
Once again, our British explorer discusses the latest news with a talking dog while they investigate odd features of the English countryside. This week: iCloud and deadly mud pits.
Get High or Die Trying
If you read Outside, stay home. When we celebrate a hiker who sawed off his hand, we pay tribute to an idiot and ignore countless smarter climbers.
To Will a Mockingbird
Fashions come and go, but names tend to stick around forever, even hippie ones.
How to Hunt
Those who can't do, learn. In this installment of our series in which the clueless apprentice with the experts, we get licensed, wake up very early, and track turkeys in the woods.
I Dream in Malcolm Gladwell
A new sport is taking hold, one that involves marshmallows, sticks, and fire.
The Secret Journal of Levi Johnston
In just a few short weeks, vice-presidential hopeful Sarah Palin's future son-in-law has traveled from the hockey rink to the political arena. What happened in between?
Renaissance Clan
Spring approaches and soon we’ll have apple pies, baseball, and that other great American tradition: Renaissance Fairs. A view from the performers’ perspective, where all the doubloons in Stratford won’t fix your carburetor.
My Bloodthirsty Valentine
What says true love better than ear-shattering shrieks interspersed with low, guttural growling? If you're in the market for a uniquely thoughtful Valentine's Day present, we have the perfect, possibly rabies-infected gift for you.
Washington, DC
Official Washington, DC, is tailored for certain groups of people: tourists, politicians, and lobbyists. But setting aside the monuments and museums leaves a series of parks where the city's history and social conditions are thrown into stark relief.
New York City, Part II
A city so nice, we had to cover its parks twice. Outsized attention is a given for places like Central Park. But in a city as big and speckled with green spaces as New York, small, local parks are always a quick walk away right when you need them.
New York, Part I
Hundreds of miles of pavement and incredible real-estate prices may suggest that humans have placed an indelible stamp on New York City. But the wilderness is just biding its time.
Seattle
The Pacific Northwest stands tall when it comes to preservation and natural beauty--so why were New Englanders called in to design the Emerald City's parks?
Toronto
Toronto's new mayor has prompted a revival of civic spirit, including a push to celebrate the city's public spaces. But what if your experiences in its parks are memorable for all the wrong reasons?
London
When you're a twenty-something in love with the urban life, parks can seem invisible. But, as they say, having a kid changes everything.
San Francisco
San Franciscans love green space, and locals never find themselves too far from a good picnic spot.
Do-Re-Moo
A report from the world of cow singing in England, where cattle stampede to hear Johnny Rotten imitations.
Be Not Afraid
Between rescuing Joaquin Phoenix from a car wreck and dodging bullets during an interview, German director Werner Herzog leads a dramatic life. According to his private diaries, we shouldn't be surprised.
What Would Teddy Do?
Last week Maine citizens voted on Question 2—whether or not to outlaw the “baiting, hounding, and trapping” of bears. So why didn’t such an apparently humane measure pass?