Ah, summertime. Now that the days are longer, the kids are out of school, and the weather is lovely (or at least not freezing), it’s time to have some old-fashioned fun. It might be tempting sometimes to sit around the house, but here are 25 ways to make the summer unforgettable.
- Go camping under the stars. Pack up the tents and get used to the scent of pine trees under the Milky Way.
- Eat s’mores! You don’t have to go camping — just fire up the grill and enjoy.
- Visit an animal sanctuary or nature park.
- Volunteer to play board games or talk to seniors at a retirement community.
- Three words: Disco karaoke night.
- Take a nature walk on a trail you’ve never seen.
- Go through the family photo album with your kids and relive some memories.
- Join a book club. Heck, form a book club!
- Write a letter (Yes, the old-fashioned way!) to a dear friend or relative you haven’t seen in awhile.
- Pledge to do five acts of random kindness for total strangers.
- Visit a local orchard or farmer’s market and fill your bags with fresh local produce.
- Go to a street festival or art fair in your community and support local artists.
- Organize an old-school board game night for your friends.
- Do something cultural: Visit the opera, the ballet, the symphony, or a museum.
- Volunteer to read to kids at the library. You can revisit your favorite books from childhood.
- Bring over a casserole or chili to someone who finds it hard to get around.
- Collect old towels and blankets to give to the animal shelter. Volunteer to care for the animals and give them love.
- Try a new cuisine you’ve never experienced before. Thai, Indian, and Vietnamese food are great places to begin.
- Two words: Road trip! Try going somewhere just for a fun day trip.
- Invite your dad or grandpa to go fishing with you. Make it a family event.
- If your kids are old enough, ask them to teach you something they know how to do and you don’t.
- Raise money for a good cause by organizing a car wash or bake sale. Call your local school — they might be grateful for your help.
- Train for a race. Even if you’ve never run before, challenge yourself to have fun. Invite a friend to be your training buddy.
- Host a great old movie night with a theme: Black and white only, Oscar Winners of the 1950s, Classic Noir, etc.
- Learn a new skill. It can be knitting, a language, or anything you’ve always wanted to do.