Whether you’re taking a break from classes or work, the summer offers endless possibilities and provides opportunities to gather your friends and go on adventures that you’ll remember for years to come, and help you get through the next eight months of school/work.
Get Back to Nature
A great way to experience the summer is to get back to nature. There are so many national parks that feature breathtaking landscapes as well as beautiful animals—some of which you won’t see anywhere else.
Some options include The Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Death Valley, Big Bend, Capitol Reef, Hot Springs, Kenai Fjords, and many others. There are plenty of great options across the country.
Take in a Music Festival
Another great summer activity is to take in one of the many music festivals that are held across the country.
Every year, new festivals dedicated to the ever-evolving genres of music pop up, while established festivals add more features and become more extravagant.
Some great options still to come this summer include: Bonnaroo, Firefly, Glastonbury, Outside Lands, Woodstock, and many others.
Beat the Heat at a Waterpark
It can be tough to do much when the hot weather hits, and temperatures reach the 80s and 90s. One way you and your friends can beat the heat is to take a trip to a waterpark.
There are several waterparks around the U.S. that offer exhilarating rides, and some coastal parks even offer opportunities to witness and sometimes frolic with the marine animals.
Some of the more popular parks include: Discovery Cove in Orlando, Florida; Cowabunga Bay Water Park in Draper, Utah; Sandcastle Waterpark in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Noah’s Ark Waterpark in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin; Water World in Federal Heights, Colorado; Schlitterbahn Waterpark & Resort New Braunfels in New Braunfels, Texas; and many others.
Spend the Day at the Beach
Not a fan of waiting in line? You can still get the waterpark experience of frolicking in the water without having to first stand around waiting at your local beach (just minus the big waterslides).
Many beaches even host events during the summer from fireworks to foam parties, to wine tastings, to music festivals—there are often plenty of activities to partake in. Or, you can just relax on the sand with a picnic and that special someone watching the sunset.
Some popular beaches include Manele Bay, Hawaii; Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; Nantucket, Massachusetts; Clearwater Beach, Florida; Coronado, Colorado; and many others.
Try Some Gourmet Foods
Another great part of the summer is the number of food festivals that occur. It seems like every week there is a new festival that features some new twists on the classic comfort foods.
There are festivals for just about every pallet, including Ribfest, craft beer fest, mac and cheese fest, lobster fest, and many others.
No matter what kind of food you’re into, there’s a food festival for just about every kind of eater and dietary restriction (Kansas even has a spinach festival for vegetarians/vegans).
