This is an article about (almost) everyone’s favorite season: summer. No more class schedules that restrict you from doing what you want to do, no homework to overtake any free time you might have, and no stress of exams weighing on your shoulders. It sounds like a dream, and even those of us with jobs can agree that working without the stress of school makes the days much more tolerable. I do have a job, but I am fortunate enough to have weekends off, so I’ll share with you guys all of the things that I’m most looking forward to this summer. Before you get upset about missed opportunities you’ve suffered due to COVID-19 last summer, remember that things are starting to look up and you can do many of the things that seemed to be forbidden a year ago. I will let you know that I am fully vaccinated and plan to continue taking the appropriate measures so everybody around me can enjoy their summer, too!
Any of my friends could tell you that I love concerts, so the first thing I’m looking forward to this summer is the ability to go to concerts again. I am unsure of how the crowds will be organized for social distancing, and I’m sure that masks will be required, but the ability to hear some of my favorite artists perform in person again is a feeling like no other. I have a small, close group of friends that will be coming with me, and that’s all I need to be able to enjoy the outdoor seating and the music of our favorite performers again. If you’re like me and are dying to see your favorite artists in concert, check your local venue’s website and see what they have to offer this summer!
The next thing I am looking forward to is visiting amusement parks. I’m an adrenaline junkie, so when I realized Six Flags and other parks were reopening with enhanced sanitation efforts, I was ecstatic! I have loved roller coasters and other fun rides ever since I was big enough to ride them, so this reopening means so much to me. My boyfriend, however, just tolerates the rides since he knows I love them so much. Don’t worry, I’ve already gotten him to agree to an amusement park trip this summer! Some of our favorites are Six Flags New England, Canobie Lake Park, and Hershey Park if we’re willing to make a trip out of it. If roller coasters and adrenaline highs make you excited for summer too, look into a day pass at your local park.
Although many of us are sick of heading outside and enjoying nature, since we’ve seemingly been doing that for the last year and a half, I look forward to more walking and hiking this summer. I have been so careful to wear my mask and socially distance from others on campus, and when I left campus to take hikes on the weekends (so it doesn’t interfere with my class schedule and homework time) there were so many others with the same idea that the trails were packed and I no longer wanted to roam mask-free. This summer, I can go on a walk early enough or late enough as to avoid the busy days and times. This way, I can get some time to walk without being surrounded by others, and as long as I am alone I can feel comfortable to breathe in the fresh air without the need for a mask. Even on days or times where I am wearing my mask outdoors, the summer weather makes it so much more enjoyable to bask in the sun and enjoy nature. Most importantly, it’s free! That’s great to someone like me who likes day trips on a budget.
