Whether you’re tired at the end of the night and just want to unwind, or you’re in need of something to watch while you wait for new episodes of Running Wild: The Challenge, here are 10 (plus a bonus) binge-worthy shows that will satiate your desire to be outdoors all year long.
Southern Survival: Outdoor Gear, Tested
Where to Watch: Netflix
Number of Seasons: 1
Great For: Learning, while also getting a good laugh
Head to BattlBox Ranch to test some gear. This quirky mini-series follows friends as they test out gear in a number of ways to find out if they’re worth the buy, and whether or not these items could help save your life. Though some of their methods are a little unorthodox, their trials are incredibly entertaining, and you might even find some great new gear while you’re at it. If you finish the show and absolutely cannot get enough, you’ll want to head to battlbox.com and sign up for a subscription box.
Magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Where to Watch: Disney+
Number of Seasons: 2
Great For: Animal lovers, kids, Disney adults
If you love the magic of Disney but could do without the hefty price tag, take a trip behind the scenes at Animal Kingdom with National Geographic and Josh Gad. Recognized by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, Disney’s Animal Kingdom is a leader in the world of animal care and conservation. Learn more about the amazing animals that call the park home and learn what it really takes to make the park run on a day-to-day basis.
The Amazing Race
Where to Watch: Hulu, new season premieres this fall on CBS
Number of Seasons: 32
Great For: Travel inspo, exploration
As teams of two trek across the world in hopes of winning $1 million, teams compete in a number of challenges. Once one challenge is complete, the teams are informed of their next destination. The challenges vary from mental to physical, and if teams cannot complete them fast enough, they get eliminated. The new season is estimated to be released on September 27, 2023.
Building Off the Grid
Where to Watch: Max, Discovery Channel
Number of Seasons: 12
Great For: Architecture lovers, DIY-ers
If you’ve ever wanted to live off the grid, this is the show for you. Watch along as families make the move from big cities to remote corners of the world to start living their dream lives. With limited building restrictions, the possibilities are endless, as long as they can build it themselves. Whether you’re looking to live in a yurt in the North Pole or a completely self-sufficient “Earthship” in Montana, these families are building their dream homes, as fast as they can.
Our Great National Parks
Where to Watch: Netflix
Number of Seasons: 1
Great For: Getting a glimpse at national parks around the world
Narrated by former president Barack Obama, discover the beauty of some of the most beautiful national parks in the world. This five-part mini-series offers beautiful imagery of the parks and will have you itching to book plane tickets for your next adventure. Rotten Tomatoes gave it a 100%, and it has an 80% score from viewers.
These Woods are Haunted
Where to Watch: Max
Number of Seasons: 3
Great For: Spooky Season
It’s after the Fourth of July, which means that the next big holiday everyone is really looking forward to is Halloween. If you love a good haunt, but you’re tired of the played-out stereotypical creepy houses and cemeteries, you’ll want to try this show on for size. There are some things in the outdoors that are hard to explain—Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster, and the Jersey Devil, just to name a few. Hear these true accounts from those who braved the forest.
Unlikely Animal Friends
Where to Watch: Disney+
Number of Seasons: 4
Great For: Wholesome entertainment, animal lovers
We’ve all seen photos online of cats and goats snuggled together, but if that just isn’t enough for you, you’ll want to check out these four seasons of Unlikely Animal Friends for absolute cuteness overload. Warm your heart with these sweet stories of animals becoming friends in unlikely pairings. Fair warning, you may want to keep the tissues handy, in case there’s an emotional story or two.
Earth Moods
Where to Watch: Disney+
Number of Seasons: 1
Great For: Travel inspo, meditation
If you’ve ever wanted to enjoy the beauty of nature in the comfort of your own home, it’s easier than ever now, thanks to this National Geographic and Disney+ original series, which doesn’t have narration. Follow along on this incredible journey through nature to the combined beats of music and the planet. This unique mini-series is great to throw on when you want to see beautiful photos and videos while relaxing and learning about remote locations on Earth.
Treehouse Masters
Where to Watch: Max
Number of Seasons: 11
Great For: DIY-ers, people who want to live off the grid
Do you ever find yourself thinking, living on the ground is super basic and not rugged enough for an outdoors person like me? If so, you should watch this show ASAP (if you haven’t seen it already). Nelson Treehouse builds high-quality homes up in the trees and showcases them on their television show Treehouse Masters. If you’ve been looking for a sign to build your dream treehouse, this might just be it.
How to be a Cowboy
Where to Watch: Netflix
Number of Seasons: 1
Great For: Wannabe ranchers
Do you have what it takes to be a real cowboy? Take a trip to Radiator Ranch to see if you have the chops. This show offers viewers laughs and a cowboy’s advice from time to time to ground it in reality. Learn more about the rodeo season and how one rancher brought his passion mainstream with the help of social media. There may be some mild chaos, but what else would you expect from cowboys?
Bonus: Cunk on Earth
Where to Watch: Netflix
Number of Seasons: 1
Great For: A good laugh
NOT Great For: Actual educational purposes
At the end of the day, if you’re looking for a great way to wind down, try this four-part mockumentary series produced by the BBC. Diane Morgan plays her iconic character Philomena Cunk and travels the world, talking with real historians. If you watch this and find that you just cannot get enough of Philomena, make sure to check out Cunk on Britain and Cunk on Shakespeare.
