1. Bonfires

Perhaps one of the biggest parts of a typical Midwestern summer, bonfires are a staple of summer activity in small-town living. Whether you’re sitting around with just a few friends chilling or dancing around with more people you can count, it’s always a fun go-to when there may not be anything else going on.

2. Rolling the windows down

Nothing screams small-town anywhere like rolling down the windows, driving on back roads and blaring your music as high as your speakers can handle does. This is one of the biggest things small-town kids enjoy about summer.

3. Swimming

Cliché? Yes. Deniable? No. Swimming is the ultimate staple of fun in the summer for people everywhere, and whether we swim in a river, a lake or someone’s way-too-small backyard swimming pool, it’s a must-do for every small-town resident’s perfect summer.

4. Enjoying the beautiful surroundings

One of the perks of living in the middle of nowhere, is just that. When you live so close to nature, you can really have some fun exploring. Whether it be a random expedition into the woods behind your friend’s house or into a county, state or national park, it’s a guaranteed adventure and a good time to go with.

5. Going to concerts

Whether it’s a small-town garage band playing at the local park, booking a trip to the big city to see your favorite artist perform or even traveling to a music festival, an outdoor concert is an ideal concert…weather pending.

6. Traveling

Though small towns are fun when we find things to do, it won’t beat traveling to new places, experiencing new things and making new memories to bring back to town and tell stories about. Whether it’s to the beach or to a big city you’ve never been to, it’s always a journey.

7. Friends coming back to town

When you’re in college, you can go a long time without seeing some of the people that you grew up with. Whether you’re drinking a cold one at a bonfire or having crazy new adventures, reuniting with friends is bound to bring back old memories, as well as create new ones.

8. Fair season

Though I saved it for number eight on the list, fairs are a cultural hub of small-town life and are by far one of the biggest attractions in the summer in these towns. Though the rides may be scary and the food may send you into a diabetic shock, summer fairs are all-around fun and the biggest thing a lot of small towns look forward to in the summer.

9. Just being outside

If it seems like there isn’t much to do in the summer when it's warm outside, it seems to be even worse when it’s cold. When you’re cramped inside or in a school building all winter and part of spring, summer is an open invitation to get outside and be active, whether it be playing sports or having a picnic. The simple fact that you’re outside is a beautiful thing in a small town.

10. Enjoying our small-town lives

Summer is one of the best parts of living in a small town. You may be bored, but if you have a little creativity and the motivation to find something fun to do, living in a small town can provide you with some of the best memories of your life. We may not always love the small-town life, but our summers and our memories will stick with us forever.