During the summer, it's easy to feel like you should constantly be busy doing something. To you, maybe that means working, studying, taking summer classes, traveling, etc. No matter what your summer is filled with, you can always take time for yourself and find something fun to do. Whether you take an hour just for some you-time or whether you take the whole day, here are five things you can do this summer that might help you feel like you spent your free time wisely.
1. Get some ice cream
It often gets pretty warm during the summer, and ice cream is always a wonderfully refreshing treat. Grab a friend, family member or just go by yourself to grab a sweet treat. Lactose intolerant, vegan, or have another reason you don't eat ice cream? Consider checking out places that have vegan ice cream! The prices might be a bit more, but it might just be worth it. If you're in the habit of treating yourself, check out this link for some good ice cream shops in the Twin Cities!
2. Visit the Aquatennial
If you like fun city events, think about attending the Aquatennial between July 18 and July 21. You will find activities like the blood drive, the farmers market, the water ski show, yoga and so much more! Check out the full itinerary here.
3. Go swimming
Most everyone enjoys swimming, though some prefer one scene over another. Lucky for you, there are plenty of pools in Minneapolis. If you're more of a beach person, check out one of the over 10,000 lakes Minnesota has to offer!
4. Find a drive-in movie theater
There is almost nothing better than a balmy, summer night. The only addition that could potentially put you in more of a summery mood would be a movie or a late-night drive. Put the two together and the solution is a drive-in theater. There aren't any directly here in the Cities, but there are some in suburbs, like Lake Elmo. Check out Vali-Hi Drive-In Theatre in Lake Elmo or the StarLite Drive-in Theater in Litchfield to enjoy movies the way they were meant to be.
5. Midnight showing of "Rocky Horror"
At the Uptown Theater, they do a midnight showing of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." While it makes for a late night, this is something that is incredibly fun for all. 10/10 would recommend. The last show they'll have for a while is July 28, so get in while you can! You can find more information here.
These five things are only a drop in the bucket of all the fun things available to you here in Minneapolis. Most of these are also not exclusively summer activities, so you can do most of them any time of the year! Don't feel like your summer was wasted, just get out there and do something simple and fun. It doesn't have to be a big deal, nor does it have to be expensive: it's all about what you want to do and what you have the time for. And don't feel let down if others around you talk about having the "grandest summer ever, just running about and visiting all these exotic places." You might not have ventured too far, but as long as you're happy with how you spent your time, it doesn't matter.