With finals week underway at UNCW and other colleges, summer is quickly approaching. You might have awesome plans to study abroad or intern at a job in your field. But, if you don't, you're not alone. If you're going home for the summer, here are 15 ways to not be bored during the next three months.
1. Try new recipes.
Summer is the perfect time to try all those recipes you've been pinning during the time you were supposed to be studying. Fresh tomato and basil pasta? Mango pineapple frozen margaritas? Salmon and summer veggies? Try them all.
2. Plan a day trip.
Whether this is with friends or by yourself, a day trip in the summer is essential. It adds to the adventure feel of the season and it's easy to do. Pick a town within two hours of your own and go explore!
3. Picnic.
There's nothing like a good old-fashioned picnic. Grab a basket, pack up the essentials like a checkered blanket and sandwiches, and hit the nearest park. Spend the day lounging and reading a book or grab a friend and a frisbee for extra fun.
4. Get a part-time job.
It's a sure way to be busy and make some extra money. Try babysitting or being a camp counselor if you like kids, or get a cashier job at your local grocery store. They're usually always hiring.
5. Craft.
Crafting is inexpensive fun depending on what you want to make. Grab some canvases and paint and start making wall decorations for your dorm or apartment at school next year. Crafting is great for rainy and sunny days. It also goes well with a glass of cold lemonade.
6. Pick peaches.
If you're looking for an outdoor activity and love peaches, this is perfect. Look up local orchards in your area and see if they offer peach picking. It might be a little more expensive than grabbing some from the grocery store, but it's worth it for an afternoon of fun. Tip: make a peach cobbler or ice cream from your pickings!
7. See an outdoor movie.
You don't have to have a drive in theater near you to see a movie outdoors. Local parks sometimes do family friendly movies at night or you could hang a sheet up in your backyard and project a movie onto it. If that doesn't work, grab your laptop so you can watch a movie under the stars.
8. Go to an estate sale.
Even if you don't plan on buying anything, it's always fun to see what kind of treasures you can find. Slightly more upscale than a yard sale, it's something to keep the boredom away and you really never know what you'll find.
9. Try a racket sport.
Perfect for playing in the shade, racket sports are easy to play in the summer. Badminton and tennis are popular, and Target has all the racket sport essentials. Go pick up a racket and a birdie for a few lazy hours.
10. Go on a nature walk or bike ride.
Although it's much hotter in the summer to do this than in the spring, it's still just as beautiful. Flowers are still in bloom and it's a great way to get some exercise and clear your head. If you have a camera, bring it to get some shots of nature such as butterflies.
11. Volunteer.
When in doubt, volunteer! Whether this is your town's library or a pet shelter, spend a few hours of your day making someone else's day better and I can assure you, you won't be bored!
12. Go to a baseball game.
Even if you're not a sports fan, they don't call baseball America's pastime for no reason. Go to either a local game or an MLB game and you'll get caught up in the excitement and have a great time. Don't forget to have a hotdog and popcorn.
13. Binge watch a whole T.V. series.
This is great for those rainy days every summer has. When the rain starts, turn on Netflix and pick a show. It's easy to get sucked into a series, but don't let it keep you from going outside once the rain clears up!i
14. Check out your town's events.
Most towns have local events going on throughout the summer. Whether this is a festival, a parade or maybe a street concert in the city, gather some friends and head over to it. It's a great way to spend a nice day and you might run into neighbors you haven't seen in a while.
15. Enjoy the sunshine.
Overall, just spend some time outside and enjoy the sunshine. Don't sit inside at the computer all day. Summer only comes once a year, so go sit outside and enjoy it.
