Exam season is wrapping up, the weather is getting warmer, and summer is right around the corner. As a junior, this will be my third summer in college and I find that the same pattern repeats itself every year. My friends and I get so excited and hype up the epic summer we’re about to have, and then actually get home and end up sitting around with nothing to do. Over the years, we’ve attempted to break this cycle and find ways to keep ourselves entertained and get outside, so I wanted to share our favorite activities to give you some inspiration!
Pool Days
While this might be the most obvious summer activity, I have to mention it because pool days are my absolute favorite, and there are plenty of ways to spice them up and keep them fun. Even if swimming isn’t your thing, you can lie out and tan, read a book, make a craft, or play a game. My friends and I also like to use our pool days to make fun meals, whether it be grilling outside or trying a new blended drink. We take pool days very seriously, and if there is a particularly nice day, sometimes we even call out of work all at once to spend as much time by the pool as possible.
PickleBall
Even if you’re not the athletic type or think sports aren’t for you, I’ve found that pickleball is pretty cheap and easy to get into as a way to get some physical activity with friends. Especially if you don’t take it too seriously, it is super fun to just mess around and get some movement in outside. There are plenty of free public courts, so once you get a paddle and a ball, you can play as much pickleball as you want and you always have a free activity to do when you’re bored.
Mini golf
While mini golf isn’t free, it is relatively inexpensive and worth it for something to do every once in a while. Especially if you go at night, it won’t be busy with kids, you can go at your own pace and just have fun. I like to actually play and keep score, but there are no rules and you can take it as seriously as you want. You can play in teams, try to do trick shots, or even play all at once and the first to get it in the hole wins.
Take a Walk
Walking is another free, flexible activity that you can easily personalize to what you want to do. Depending on how intense you want it to be, you can walk, jog, run, or even hike. You can just walk around your neighborhood or take it a step further and drive with friends to try a new trail to find some cool views. This is an easy way to get outside and get some movement in, and it’s a great alternative to just sitting around and complaining that there is nothing to do. It is also easy to switch it up — make it a bike ride or bring a pet with you for extra fun.
Movie night
The main trick to finding fun summer activities is to just put more intention into the mundane things you would normally do. Planning a movie night is super easy and doesn’t have to be stressful at all. If you want to be really fancy, you can figure out a projector and watch it outside, maybe even from the pool. You can also try a drive-in movie. Otherwise, just invite your friends over, get together some snacks and drinks that match your vibe and pick a summer classic. My favorites are Mamma Mia, Grown Ups, and Jaws.
ice cream date
This is another summer classic for a reason. By the time you get back to your hometown, I’m sure you’ll be having withdrawals from the University of Connecticut Dairy Bar, and you’ll need some ice cream. This is another easy way to talk and catch up with friends outside in the sun, and the sweet treat is just a bonus. Ice cream is a summer staple that will always raise your spirits, and it’s the perfect end to any beach or pool day.
window shopping
The biggest issue my friends and I run into when trying to find an activity is that we don’t want to spend money every time we hang out. Summer is the time for most of us to establish our savings for the school year, so we don’t like to be constantly spending. Typically, not wanting to spend money eliminates shopping, but I think walking around to different shops and just looking around can be just as fun when you’re with your friends. Window shopping is also a great indoor activity if it’s raining or you’re looking to escape the heat for a few hours.
Whether you take any of these ideas or not, I hope you are inspired to at least try something new instead of sitting in boredom for months. This is your time to rest and recover from your busy spring semester and have fun with friends before it is time to get back to class. If you catch yourself complaining that there is nothing to do, remember how excited you were for all this free time and make the most out of it!