Is it hot where you are? It has been here in New Hampshire. If I wasn’t sure about whether or not it was summertime before, I am now! We had a weeklong streak of hot, humid days and now we have the most beautiful weather; I can’t stand to be inside. With two young children, I have to find ways to keep them entertained. Some of my favorite things to do during the summer are:
Go to the beach
Who doesn’t love laying out in the sun or feeling the salty waves against your skin. After I spend a day on the beach I sleep so much better.
Have some ice cream
When we visit my in-laws on the Cape we love going downtown and have a scoop of ice cream from the candy shop. What better way to beat the heat than with creamy, delicious ice cream?! I love me some chocolate, strawberry and mint chocolate chip. Of course, the mint chocolate chip has to be the green kind. 😉
Take a road trip
Since moving to New Hampshire (we used to be in Massachusetts) we have discovered that we are surrounded by the most beautiful places to explore. Camp grounds, lakes, historical landmarks and state parks. What are you close to that you can explore? It’s worth taking a look.
Ride a bike
I bought the most beautiful bike (and trailer to pull the girlies) when we lived in Massachusetts, but I failed to realize how difficult it would be to take advantage of a fun time because we were surrounded by hills! We lived right smack dab in the middle of one and while going down the hill with the trailer was easy and fun; going back up was a completely different story. Now that we are on a culdesac, not to mention in a beautiful neighborhood, going out for a bike ride has been much easier and much more fun.
Have a family date night
This has been my favorite activity of summer. We built a beautiful deck this summer and added a large, 4 sided picnic table that is perfect for dinners outside. We love the family time and having dinner outside means we aren’t turning the tv on while we’re eating. This really helps us connect with the kiddos and get them talking at the table. It’s just as fun to lay on a blanket in the yard after the sun goes to sleep and look up at the stars.
Catch fireflies
I used to catch fireflies every time I saw them when I was a little girl. I love sharing this with my girls and seeing their eyes light up when they see the fireflies dancing in the dark.
Have a dance party
We love love love turning on some tunes and getting jiggy with it. 😉 Not only is it fun, but you can burn some calories too! 🙂
Go to a waterpark
Not only do we have beautiful, scenic places here to visit, but we also discovered a small waterpark just a few miles from our house. When we went, it was during the week so ticket prices were a tad cheaper. We took snacks and drinks with us so that we weren’t spending a lot of money on concessions. In total, the whole day cost us about $60! Not too shabby 🙂
Read a book
My favorite thing to do in the morning is make a cup of tea and sit out on the front porch with a good book. I recently finished ‘Birthright’ by Nora Roberts. If you haven’t read it yet, add it to your list. It was so good, I couldn’t put it down. I finished it in a day!
Go to an outdoor concert
I haven’t done this yet. Actually, I’ve never been to a concert before, but it’s on my bucket list for this summer.
Walk the boardwalk
This is actually an activity that I haven’t done since I was in high school, but it’s definitely something I want to start doing again. We usually take walks downtown on the Cape (when we get ice cream) and window shop, but it’s not the same as walking a boardwalk and feeling the planks under your feet. We vacation to Scarborough, Maine every September and stay at a hotel overlooking Old Orchard Beach. Down the road from our hotel is a boardwalk packed full of wonderful things to look at, shop for and eat! So maybe it’s more of a fall activity for us, but equally as fun during the summer.
Go to the farmer’s market
We have a couple of these close to us because we now live in a farming community, but they pop up all over the place during the summer. The produce is always so fresh and rich in color. They make the best addition to a summer bar-b-cue.
Have a cocktail
I find myself enjoying a cocktail more often in the summer than I do in the winter. I think this is because we spend more time outside socializing and more time at my in-laws enjoying the extra hands the are eager to help with the kiddos. You could get real crazy and have it in a coconut instead of a ‘regular’ glass too!
Go to the park
This has to be one of my favorite budget-friendly activities. The kids get to meet new friends and the fresh air does wonders for my head when I find myself in a shitty mood. Trust me, the faster I get out of one of those, the better it is for everyone. I like getting on the swings and running around (when my body lets me) just as much as the kids do! 😀
Just have fun!
My absolute favorite activities during the summer are those that bring smiles and joy to my little family. We love laughing together and having a wonderful time. This is much easier when there seem to be more hours in the day because the sun is out just a tad bit longer. Whatever it is you decide to do, make sure you ave fun doing it!
