Isn't summer the best time of the year? Sure, it's pretty warm (especially here in Texas!), but school is out and it's time to kick back and relax. However, most people realize after a few days of tanning by the pool that sometimes, summer isn't all the fun it seems and the boredom sets in.

Plus, many of the students on summer break are college students, and if we are working, that usually means trying to save money, not spending it going to Six Flags with friends or taking a road trip to the beach. Doing fun stuff is expensive, right? It may seem true, but it is not. I have put together a list of the best FREE things to do in the summertime!

(Keep in mind, although some of these pertain specifically to Dallas, many of them can be found in other locations.)

1. Hammocking

Whether you have a hammock strung up across your backyard, or you have invested in an ENO hammock, grab a book (or headphones) and catch the summer breeze while hanging in the trees! Which leads me to my next point...

2. Read!

Okay, I'm not trying to be your mother and tell you to pick up a book, but isn't it great to gain fresh insight with a new read? Pick a genre, look at what's popular, or maybe even see what is coming out as a movie, just so you can read it first and then tell your friends, "The book was better!"

3. Letterboxing/Geocaching

One of my best friends introduced me to letterboxing a few years ago, and the best way to describe it is like a treasure hunt with no treasure: just leaving your mark in a logbook. This activity is similar to geocaching, but less work and more fun, as letterboxes can be found very close to home.

4. Take a hike

Considering how hot it is outside, maybe go early in the morning and catch the sunrise, or see the sunset in the evening!

5. Go to a local park or botanical garden

6. Have a local photoshoot

Grab some friends and the best camera available (even if it is a phone), get dressed up, and have a day out to update your social media profile pictures.

7. Picnic

Get your checkered blanket and wicker basket ready!

8. Watch airplanes

Okay, so maybe this is only relevant to big cities. But sometimes I like to grab a huge cup of sweet tea and go sit at Founder's Plaza in Grapevine and watch the airplanes come and go.

9. Hit the museums

Get a dose of culture and go to a museum in the area. My personal favorite is the Dallas Museum of Art (general admission is free but there are some neat traveling art exhibits that can be viewed for a small price)!

10. Spa day

Grab that bath bomb you couldn't use in the dorm and lather on a face mask.

11. Reorganize your room/closet clean out

Coming back to your old room can be a bit dull, so shift some stuff around and clean out the closet to make room for new clothes!

12. Learn a new skill

Go on Youtube and teach yourself something new, whether it's knitting, building a fire, cooking, or painting.

13. Exercise

Take the dog for a walk or go for a jog around the block! Set a new fitness goal and try to reach it by the end of the summer.

14. Play cards/board games

Not "bored" games. BOARD GAMES! The favorites are Monopoly, LIFE, Apples to Apples, Chutes & Ladders, and Catan.

15. Volunteer!

Serve your community and lend a hand to local charities or organizations that are in desperate need of volunteers throughout the summer vacation. Check city websites to find these places!