Recreation is an activity that people voluntarily pursue for personal enjoyment or satisfaction, usually during their free time. Recreation takes a wide variety of forms and occurs in many different places, indoors and outdoors, depending on the preferences of the individual. Since the 1940’s, recreation has become a highly visible element in modern life. Higher incomes and improvements in working conditions and transportation have given many people more money, time, and mobility for recreation.
Today, recreation is a major industry. People spend billions of dollars annually on recreational activities. The major categories of recreational spending include video and audio equipment and related services; sports and recreation goods and related services; memberships in clubs, sports centers, parks, theaters, and museums; amusement parks, campgrounds, and related services; admission to spectator events and movies; gambling; magazines, newspapers, and books; pets, pet products, and related services; photography goods and related services; and tours.
Recreation provides enjoyment and relaxation for millions of people. It may also make an important contribution to an individual’s mental and physical health.
Kinds of recreation
include media activities, social opportunities, sports and physical activities, hobbies and games, outdoor activities, cultural events, and travel. The most popular form of recreation for many people is watching television. Related media activities include social networking, online shopping, playing video games, and listening to music. Socializing includes visiting with friends or attending social gatherings. Online dating includes both socializing and media.
Sports includes watching spectator sports, either in person or through media, and participating in such activities as running, tennis, or golf. Walking is the most common form of physical activity.
Hobbies include gardening, reading, driving for pleasure, and interacting with pets. Collecting is a popular hobby, as are card games and online games.
Many people participate in outdoor forms of recreation. The most popular are running, jogging, and trail running; road biking, mountain and BMX biking; bird watching and viewing wildlife; fishing; and hiking.
For many people, attending cultural events is a favorite form of recreation. Such people may attend museum exhibits, theater performances, and concerts. Individuals travel to visit friends and relatives, sightsee, go to beaches and waterfronts, visit nature areas, go on excursions and cruises, and enjoy theme parks.
Opportunities for recreation.
Private businesses, nonprofit service organizations, and government agencies all provide recreational activities. Nonprofit recreation services are offered by boys clubs, scouting organizations, and religious groups. Most local governments have a recreation and parks department responsible for maintaining facilities and offering programs financed by taxes and fees. At the state, provincial, and national levels, recreation is primarily provided through parks.
