With spring coming to an end, the excitement for summer is building. It is that time of year when the sun is shining bright and everybody is in a good mood.The warm weather creates positive attitudes for everyone. It is personally my favorite time of the year, and that is why I am choosing to write about it.

Growing up in Minnesota, summer was never a dull moment. The best memories I have from my childhood would consist of spending those 90-degree days on the lake, whether it was some random weekend or when we celebrated Fourth of July for a week long. I was fortunate enough to have a cabin, which is where I spent most of my summer. Summer in "The Land of 10,000 Lakes" is, in my opinion, the best area you can spend your time.

Whether it is on the lake, or a river, fishing in the summertime is fantastic. (It is still great in the winter too!) When I think of summer, the first thing that comes to mind would be sitting in a boat with a fishing pole in my hand soaking up the hot sun. If you grew up in Minnesota, there is a very high probability that you have gone fishing at some point in your life. It is the ideal summer activity because even when you're not catching fish it is still a great thing to do for the summer.

I am not sure if it's just me, but my family would tend to make Fourth of July a week long holiday. Now, I never complained about this because I looked forward to it for months. But, there is only one place to celebrate and it was at the cabin. Days up here consisted of fishing and every water activity you could possibly imagine. You have the smell of burgers and brats cooking all day that were ready upon request. Also you make unforgettable memories that are shared with your family and friends. On top of this you have not one, not two, but several firework shows all across the lake. The more I think about it maybe we should make Fourth of July a two-week celebration.

After all the exciting moments over summer, you save the best for last. The great Minnesota get-together ties the whole summer together. I could not imagine a better way to end summer than the Minnesota State Fair. A two-week-long celebration filled with music, carnivals, greasy foods and so much more. It's a time when the whole state comes together just to remind ourselves how great of a state we really are. It's so fun that one time around isn't enough. People go multiple times. The Minnesota State Fair is one of the best times of the year and the perfect end to your summer vacation.

Minnesota is the best place to grow up and enjoy your summer months. Whether it is out on the lake, at the cabin or finishing summer off at the state fair, there is no place I would rather be. I am thankful for all the great memories of summer in Minnesota and I look forward to many more.