The Way We Play - Monmouth Magazine

While much has changed over the last half century, at least one thing hasn’t: we still enjoy a little downtime, a chance to escape the hustle and bustle of our everyday lives. But the ways in which we choose to unwind have evolved.

Recently, the Monmouth University Polling Institute asked Americans about their favorite hobbies, comparing the data with Gallup and Roper polls conducted in 1974 using the same questions. The TL/DR version: Americans still love to cook and want to see more of the world than ever before, but fewer of us likely know how to mend a torn seam. Here’s a fuller look at how our extracurricular pursuits have evolved with time.

An illustration of a woman dressed in 70s-era clothes cooking in a 70s-era kitchen contrasted with a man in modern day clothes cooking in a modern looking kitchen.

Cooking Reigns Supreme

Then, as now, cooking is Americans’ No. 1 hobby. But perhaps inspired by the rise of food culture, the countless cooking shows on TV, and the abundance of social media chefs, more of us than ever are donning aprons for fun: 68% in 2024, up from 37% in 1974.

An illustration of a woman dressed in 70s-era clothes spinning a pottery wheel contrasted with a woman in modern day clothes using a 3-D printer for her craft.

Crafting is No Longer Niche

Like travel, the percentage of Americans who report craft-making as a hobby has more than doubled in the last half century, from 21% in 1974 to 46% today.

An illustration of a man dressed in 70s-era clothes exiting a plane from the UK contrasted with a woman in modern day clothes departing to Italy.

Traveling Has Taken Off

Back in 1974, fewer than one-third (29%) of Americans reported traveling as a hobby. Today, that percentage has more than doubled to 61%, making it Americans’ No. 2 favorite hobby. Our dream destinations have changed with time too, suggesting a growing interest in exploring diverse cultural experiences beyond Europe (see sidebar, below).

An illustration of a man dressed in 70s-era clothes with a fishing rod standing next to a campfire contrasted with a woman in modern day clothes taking photos with a camera.

The Arts Ascend

While participation in classic pastimes such as camping, swimming, hunting, and golf remained relatively steady over the last 50 years, Americans are increasingly engaging in creative pursuits. The number of people reporting photography as a hobby jumped from 10% to 30%, while painting, sketching, and drawing skyrocketed from 9% to 29%.

An illustration of a man dressed in 70s-era clothes watering a flower contrasted with a woman in modern day clothes cutting a string from a sewing spool pin with a pair of scissors.

So Long, Sewing

Nearly every hobby mentioned in the poll saw increased participation, but not everything trended upward. Gardening, which tied for the No. 1 spot in 1974, dropped to No. 3 this year despite a 10-percentage-point increase in people reporting it as a hobby. Meanwhile, sewing was the only hobby that saw a decrease, dropping from 25% in 1974 to 19% today.

» Compiled by Breanne McCarthy and Tony Marchetti from Monmouth University Poll Data.