Category Archives: Outdoor Entertaining

When the weather warms and your parties move outdoors, try these simple ideas. Entertaining doesn’t demand any elaborate decor, just simple food, good company, and your patio.

Outdoor Fans Provide Cooling Relief

Misting Fan
Outdoor fans are the ideal way to stay cool when the outdoors get hot. Designed and rated for outdoor use, our fans come in a variety of finishes and styles. Most are available with a misting kit for added comfort. We have beautifully decorative models as well as sturdy, portable fans with extra large water reservoirs. Take a look at our selection and find the outdoor fan that is perfect for you.

Outdoor TV’s Represent Luxury in Outdoor Rooms

Outdoor Television
If you have an outdoor oasis, you probably spend a lot of time there. The outside room, a gender neutral, outdoors version of the “man cave”, has become increasingly popular in recent years. Kitchens, bars, family rooms, and even offices have all received the rustic treatment with spectacular outdoor getaways becoming a hot trend. One of the most fun elements of spaces is the outdoor television. You can watch your favorite shows, sporting events, movies, and more without leaving your backyard. They are also perfect for pool-side viewing pleasure. Whether you go with our affordable 22″ model or the luxuriously large 55″ version, you will love the low glare and durable outdoor tvs offered at BackyardCity.com.

How to Get Your Grill Ready for Spring!

Black Dog Grill and Smoker
Grilling has been a staple of spring and summer time cooking for most American families since the 1950s. There is something some alluring about gathering in the backyard for fun, food, and fellowship. Spring is here and summer time will soon be upon us. Make sure that your gas or charcoal grill is prepped and ready! Here are a few tips for getting your grill ready. Remember: If your grill is showing excessive rust or deterioration, it is time to buy a new BBQ grill.

Tips for Prepping Your Grill for Cookouts:

1) Take the grates off your grill and give them a thorough cleaning. It may take some soaking and scrubbing, but removing the dirt, grime, and excess debris from last season will give you a great start. You may want to re “season” your grates after you clean them. Rub with vegetable oil and bake them at 450 degrees for two hours (this should only be done on grates that are 100% metal and have no plastic or wooden parts).

2) If you use a propane or gas grill, take off the tank. Clean it and inspect for any damage or wear and tear. Check for cracked or torn hoses that lead from the tank to the grill. Refill or replace your propane tank as necessary. If you use charcoal, make sure that you are stocked up and ready for your first grill.

2) Make sure that your grilling area is clear of debris. Excess leaves and other fire hazards should be removed. Low hanging tree branches should also be removed or adjusted to prevent fire.

3) Replace any grill brushes, tongs, etc. that look excessively worn.

Comfortable Camping Means Family Fun

Family Camping
Camping is a great way to get your family out of the house for some fresh air, relaxation, and bonding. Whether you are in a tent or Airstream, staying in the great outdoors will provide a rejuvenation to mind your body. It’s a great way to get in touch with nature, but you don’t have to miss out on the little luxuries of life while camping. Portable grills allow you to cook gourmet meals on any type of outdoor excursion. With gas and charcoal models available, you can be sure that you’ll find exactly what you are looking for. Portable hammocks make luxurious relaxation possible. With a portable hammock, you don’t need trees or hardware. Everything you need is wrapped up in one portable package. They are cozy, comfy, and easy to take on all your camping excursions. Another great item to take with you on camping trips is family games. You or your children may miss your everyday electronic devices, such as video games and computers, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t have a great time. The Murbles Game is a great source of family entertainment for camping trips. It is easy to play with no setup. The Murbles set is color customizable and easy to take along. With great food, a relaxing environment, and family entertainment, your next camping trip will be a home away from home that allows you to get in touch with nature in the most comfortable way possible.

Swing Set Updates That Keep Kids Interested

The backyard swing set you bought for your kids when they were small was probably filled with challenging and fun equipment just right for their age and size. Bucket swings for safety, a short ladder leading to a scoop slide, and maybe even a club house for hours of pretend play. As kids grow older, though, their ideas about what’s fun and challenging evolve. Making sure that the backyard swing set doesn’t become an unused eyesore means keeping up with your children’s changing interests and abilities. By updating the swing set periodically with equipment and accessories that meets your kids’ current needs, you can ensure that the swing set continues to appeal to your kids over the course of many years.

Alternative Swings

Swings are an affordable place to start when it comes to updating a swing set’s accessories. If you haven’t done so already, swap out the bucket swing or half-bucket swing with a traditional belt swing or two.  Don’t stop there, though. Swings come in all shapes and styles, and a little variety adds a lot of appeal to a backyard swing set.

Belt Swing  Buoy Ball Swing  Pine Wood Chair Swing

Slides

Swing sets generally come with a standard scoop slide, which is straight, smooth, and adequately thrilling for little ones. As kids get older, though, they tend to prefer a more exhilarating ride. Replacing your original slide for a spiral slide can offer that extra bit of thrill to older kids. Spiral slides are often completely enclosed tubes, too, similar to what you find on commercial or public playgrounds. The enclosed spiral brings an additional measure of excitement to the sliding experience.

Super Wave Slide  Super Tube Spiral Slide

Climbing Accessories

Climbing equipment offers growing kids a fun way to challenge their bodies’ developing abilities. While not usually appropriate for young children, climbing accessories help older kids gain confidence, strengthen muscles, and refine gross motor and motor planning skills. Monkey bars may be the most common type of climbing accessory found on standard swing sets, but they can be added to an existing swing set that doesn’t already have them. Rope ladders and rock wall climbing kits are available, too, and are exceptionally appealing to adventurous kids.

Rock Wall Climbing Kit  Rope Ladder 

Making small but meaningful changes to your backyard swing set over time will not only encourage years of continued interest by your kids, but will also reinforce the value of your initial investment in the swing set.