Now that you've been cooped up for hours with nothing but arts and crafts and your imagination to amuse you, you're probably dying to get outside and make some snow angels or sandcastles. Whatever the season, you're never going to find a better time to enjoy all that nature has to offer. You've got two full hours in which to indulge your yen for fresh air.

As you wander, keep your eyes peeled. You've probably traversed the same route on countless occasions, but have you really taken the time to notice all the small things that make your neck of the woods unique? In all likelihood, you're far too busy to concern yourself with such trifles on a daily basis. The following guidelines should start you thinking in the right direction.

People and Places

Pretend that you've just learned the meaning of the word why and ask away. Why does the sign say “Don't Walk” when there are no cars in sight? Why do the geese come to the man-made pond on the corner every year at this time? Why is that strange man talking to a brown paper bag?

Make up your own answers, with no regard to the laws of urban planning, environmental science, or common sense. Try to give answers that tell a story, and see if your time outside doesn't turn into something quite extraordinary.

While you're out and about, take some time to observe the passersby. Take note of everything from what they're wearing to how they carry themselves. What secrets lurk behind their seemingly placid facial expressions? Where are they going? Where have they been? Every person is a mystery just waiting to be solved, and so is every park bench, street corner, and suburban home. Try to imagine what goes on behind the closed front doors. Consider all the little dramas that might have unfolded at the Washington and Elm intersection. Reflect upon all the romances that might have come alive beneath that hundred-year-old oak tree.