Summer is finally here! Yay! Here in SoCal that means it’s blistering hot and the basic dress code is pool casual. If you don’t have a plan, then you could end up spending your entire summer indoors complaining about having nothing to do. Every summer I say I want to have a fun active summer, but I always end up sinking into my usual summer coma before I make any plans. This year, I decided to make a list of what I want to do this summer instead of sleeping all day. Here’s a list of some activities you SoCal people can do this summer.
1. Spend a day lying on a beach.
This is a classic and almost goes without saying, but I got to say it. One of my all-time favorite activities during summer is just going to the beach, lying on the warm sand and swimming in those cool waves.
2. Go on a camping trip.
It may be a little too warm at times, but there are so many beautiful places to be outside and one with nature. Good old fashioned tents-only camping is a dying art and I think that is a crying shame. So grab a sleeping bag, pack some food and visit one of the stunning camping areas that California has to offer. One of my personal favorites is Big Sur; it’s a little further north, but one of the most beautiful places you will ever visit.
3. Hike the hills around Los Angeles.
Personally I’ve never hiked up to the Hollywood sign, but that’s on the bucket list. On one of the beautiful days that SoCal has to offer, pick a mountain and start hiking it. The great outdoors are calling.
4. Go to Disneyland.
Yes, it’s expensive and yes, it’s crowded, but it’s also the happiest place on earth; so I think it balances out. This summer especially, go enjoy the 60th Anniversary Diamond Celebration as it wraps up. And hey, if you get too hot, then just Fast-Pass Splash Mountain for an immediate cool-down.
5. Go surfing at San Onofre.
A surfer’s beach if there ever was one. Even if you aren’t a great surfer — like me — you can still enjoy the culture and maybe even pick up some tips from the veteran surfers that frequent the beach.
6. Visit Santa Monica Pier.
Ride the rides, get some ice cream, watch the sunset from the end of the pier. Oh, and when you get hungry, check out Finn McCool’s, an awesome little Irish pub in Santa Monica with some of the best Irish nachos you will ever taste.
7. Go to the OC Fair.
There are carnival rides, wine tasting, competitions of all sorts, a fun run, a ton of food and concerts. This year they have Boston, Andy Grammar and Chris Young, to name a few. It lasts pretty much all summer and there is always something new and exciting to do.
8. Go to a baseball game.
Southern California has three professional baseball teams and there are always games. There is just something about watching America’s Favorite Pastime with a cold beer and a hot dog that screams summer to me. Oh, and guess where the All-Star Game is this year? Right in beautiful San Diego at PetCo Park.
9. Ride your bike along the coast in Huntington Beach.
There are better bike trails other places, but none have as good a view as the one that winds its way past Huntington Beach. This eight-mile beach trail is mostly flat, so it’s perfect for a day of coasting along on a beach cruiser with the sight of the ocean just a slight turn of the head away.
10. Take a road trip.
As awesome as my home is, you don’t have to stay in SoCal all summer. Try going other places too! For instance, Northern California is pretty alright too, and there is plenty to do up there as well. Maybe even leave the state; it’s a big wide world and there is so much to see so don’t limit yourself!
11. Stay in bed and watch Netflix all day long.
