We may be New York City dwellers, but we are country boys and girls at heart. It’s funny that the older you get, the more you start to embrace your roots. Or maybe it’s just all the concrete, but we find ourselves hanging out in wide open fields, snowy mountains, large lakes and lush forests more and more.

And so it says, being outdoors has TONS of benefits, and if you’ve been living under a rock (in the woods?) here’s some of the things it can do: improve memory, fight depression, lower blood pressure…

So, you need a new hobby.

Hiking, snowboarding, fishing, hunting.

There are a few of our favorites, the latter being one I used to do growing up a lot that many might find barbaric these days. While I am not out hunting deer like I used to (FYI as a farmer, hunting helps keep the populations in check AND it’s sustainable – we definitely eat what we kill and only kill what we need. We invite OTHER hunters to come in to help keep the population low – we’re not just out their mowing down Bambi in mass numbers), shooting skeet with a 12-gauge is still something I am pretty damn good at tyvm.

Anyways, back to FISHING.

I used to fish ALL. THE. TIME. as a kid in Colorado. We basically lived on rainbow trout (true story I am probably still the only person you know who purposely orders the trout at Cracker Barrel – and it’s amazing!). And fishing is a really awesome skill. It teaches patience and timing, and the thrill of reeling one in never gets old. In fact, Max loves to test his luck when we head to our friends homes on the lakes in the summer.

Okay, so you can catch and release, too, people. Many professional anglers of mine do that.

The point is, outdoor hobbies are really fun, and they teach a lot of really valuable lessons that you can’t learn sitting on a couch all day playing on an iPad. Hooking a worm, getting dirty, sitting quietly for a bite.. .the thrill of watching the line go tight or bobber shoot underwater is definitely something worth experiencing.

I get it, maybe hunting and fishing isn’t for you – but for many of us country folks, it is. And while I still haven’t personally eaten meat in three months, doesn’t mean I won’t love to get out there and do a little ice fishing with my son. We can release or I can still cook a mean filet for those fishing with us.

Anyways, if you’re up for it – I recommend you take a road trip to the World Fishing and Outdoor Expo in Suffern, NY. On Sunday, March 3 they have Kid’s Day and TONS OF ACTIVITIES.

You can use the reeling simulator, watch professional fisherman show how they fish (in real fish tanks). Did I mention these guys make millions a year – FISHING???

There are also really fun vendors – like the Bird Lady who will let you meet and host a real FALCON or OWL on your arm. You can grab homemade wool or alpaca socks (perfect for snowboarding and hiking!) that even are equipt to keep your feet warm in -20 degrees).

Here’s some more fun notes:

• Family Day – Sunday, March 3: The first 100 children 11 and under who arrive will receive a free rod and reel upon entry and all will receive completely free admission into the exposition.  Once inside, they can participate in a scavenger hunt where a fully stamped checklist results in the opportunity to visit the Grand Prize Giveaway Booth.
• The Hawg Trough: Be sure to check out the 5,000-gallon fish tank loaded with monster large mouth bass! The nation’s top professionals will be demonstrating the latest in (and the tried and true) lures – the best way to see how a lure acts in the water is to see it firsthand.
• Fishing Simulator: Fun for anglers of all ages, guests are encouraged to grab the rod and hold on at the realistic and thrilling fishing simulator.
• Hunting Dog Demos: Mike Wagner from Dusty W. German Shorthaired Pointers in Palmerton, Pennsylvania, will be onsite to answer questions on gun dog training, as well as host demonstrations on how to train bird dogs with love, respect and understanding.
• Saltwater Superday: Saturday will feature a series of saltwater seminars by some of the northeast’s top saltwater anglers, covering a variety of species and techniques.
• Whitetail Superday: Sunday will feature a continuous series of whitetail seminars by some of the region’s top whitetail hunters, covering tracking and stalking tactics for a successful hunting season.

Can’t make it to Suffern? You can catch the fun at the Saltwater Fishing Expo in Edison New Jersey on March 15-17.

Comment here and you can win FREE tickets to visit. ALSO – note that the first 100 kids under 11 get a FREE ROD AND REEL!