Savor Summer More Completely with These 11 Simple Suggestions

Why is the thought of summer so alluring? Is it the endless sunshine, the warm, lazy days, the long evenings that slowly dissolve into dusk? Maybe it’s that we’ve been conditioned from childhood to think of the season as a release from the drudgery of routine for the freedom to do, be, explore.

If you live in an area with strong seasonal divides, summer can be fleeting. There are only about 100 days (roughly 15 weekends) between Memorial Day and Labor Day, the unofficial summer season in the United States.

So make the most of that time!

Christmas Central offers 11 suggestions to help you fully experience the joys of summer.

First things first. Some people find endless opportunities exciting, but for others, limitless choices can be overwhelming. Summer should be fun, so don’t let decision overload short-circuit your motivation.

Instead, organize your thoughts and narrow your options. Start by making a “Summer Bucket List” of all the fun little things you’ve always wanted to try or places that might be nice to visit.

Then prioritize one or more activities on your list and figure out how to turn fantasy into reality.

Summer is a great time to try something you’ve always wanted to do. According to the U.S. National Science Foundation, people with a wider range of experiences tend to be happier. And some studies show that experiencing something new enhances our ability to learn.

So go ahead: learn a language, take welding lessons, go ziplining, ride in a hot air balloon. You’ll find the novelty exciting – and it may even help keep your brain healthy.

You may have heard of “grounding,” the practice of making direct physical contact with the earth, as a way to deal with stress and anxiety. Also called “earthing,” supporters say it’s a way to “connect with the Earth’s natural electrons” for improved mental and physical wellness.

While we’re not endorsing or condemning, we can’t deny the appeal of going barefoot in the summer.

Even if you don’t take off your shoes, however, there are other ways to “touch” nature that can benefit your well-being.

First off, get outside! Spending just two hours a week in a natural environment can boost your immune system, enhance creativity, improve heart health and help you sleep better, according to UCLA Health.

So visit a park or nature sanctuary, take a walk in the woods, climb a hill, kayak, canoe, or bike a trail.

Channel your inner child, get down on the ground and take a close look at the plants and bugs in your garden. You’ll be doing your health a favor.   

There’s a lot to be said for a change of scenery.

If you can swing the cost of a cruise or international vacation, more power to you! If not, there’s probably plenty to do and see within a few hours of home.

Even a short vacation, like a long weekend or even a day trip, pulls us out of our daily routine and helps us recharge.

Of course, traveling can be stressful and expensive, so going away may not be the answer. As an alternative, try sightseeing in your own city.

What kind of experiences do you seek out when you’re on vacation? Find similar adventures close to home.

For instance, when’s the last time you visited a local museum, national or regional monument, amusement park, theater, sports venue or zoo?

Some people never even think to visit places near their home that thousands of people travel from far and wide to see.

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Forget selfies. For centuries, people have collected tangible treasures from their travels.

Seashells from the beach, picture postcards, T-shirts and other keepsakes that you’ve found or purchased provide a tactile link with the places you have visited and can evoke a stronger memory than a digital image.

Once you’re home, a scrapbook, shelf display or shadow box containing your mementos will remind you of your experiences long afterward.

Alternatively, buying a plate, a painting or a Christmas ornament from every place you travel lets you revisit that destination over and over again.

According to YouGov, while 59% of Americans said they read at least one book in 2025, most only read a handful and 40% of Americans didn’t read at all.

Change that statistic. Pick up a book! Reading is one of the cheapest activities around. Libraries loan books for free and some no longer fine patrons for late returns. Seek out used book sales and Little Free Libraries (or start your own) as an economical way to support your new habit.

Electronic book readers make reading even more convenient. They’re smaller than a hardcover or paperback book and you can store hundreds of titles on one e-reader. Ebooks can be borrowed from the library or purchased outright – often for less than the cost of a physical paperback. In addition, several services like Bookbub and The Fussy Librarian offer personalized book suggestions, special offers and discounts on ebook purchases.

There are few pleasures greater than enjoying a good book outdoors on a warm summer day. By the pool, on the beach or lazing on a hammock in the shade, reading can entertain, educate and open your mind to new ideas.

Life-long learning is not limited to a single season. However, schedules seem to ease between June and August, making it easier to find time to learn something just for you, just because.

Long summer days were made for outdoor activities and extended daylight hours, meaning there’s more time to learn how to golf, paddleboard, play pickleball or experiment with nature photography.

From brewing beer to keeping bees, there’s a good chance that someone in your community is ready to share their expertise and knowledge.

Crafting, too, can be good for the mind and soul. The activity can be as simple as coloring, drawing or painting. Crochet, knit, take a pottery or stained glass class, try origami or visit a local craft store and see what clicks.

The weather is fine and the days are long, so there’s no better time to get together with friends or relatives you haven’t seen in a while. Whether you gather at a park or host a family reunion, reconnecting with the special people in your life is just good for the soul.

In fact, social connectedness in general has huge benefits for our mental and physical health, according to the National Library of Medicine and the Centers for Disease Control.

While family and friends typically make up the core of our social group, we can also seek out new social connections.

Volunteering for a favorite organization or cause is one way to meet like-minded people. Not only will you expand your social circle, but others will benefit from your efforts. In fact, many volunteers will tell you that the rewards of volunteering far outweigh the time and effort they spend supporting a cause.

Book clubs, church groups, bike groups, and online Meetup and Facebook groups are just a few ways to connect with other people who have similar interests.

Turn off your laptop, put down your phone and experience summer through the lens of life.

One hundred years ago, people made the most of summertime with picnics in the park, trips to the lake or beach, or a simple Sunday drive.

Teach your children games you used to play as a kid: Red Rover, Red Light Green Light, Spud, Freeze Tag, Four Square. Fly a kite, jump rope or get out the sidewalk chalk and draw a hopscotch board. Kids have never needed computers to have fun!

If it’s too hot in the sun, play cards, checkers, dominoes or a board game under cover of the patio or front porch.

No kids? No problem! Maybe it’s time to act like a kid again and enjoy the simpler pleasures of summer.

When’s the last time you rode a bike, ate a Popsicle®, played kickball or beach ball, blew bubbles, visited an amusement park, had a backyard campout or lay back on the grass to watch the clouds?

Play as long as you like: You don’t have to go home when the streetlights go on.

Summer can pass in the blink of an eye. Soon enough, we’ll be digging out the sweaters and carving pumpkins. Don’t spend this autumn wishing you had made more of your time in the sun.

Write a list, make some plans – even call on others who can help – and work toward filling at least a few of your summer desires.

Whether you’re hosting a kids’ pool party or just trying to keep the kids entertained, games you can play in the swimming pool are a big hit.

Even so, it’s always nice to change things up with a fresh game. Here are a few fun pool games you might want to try.

Find the Bottle: A plastic water bottle with the label removed is really hard to find underwater! To play, fill the bottle with water so that it will sink in the swimming pool. With players’ backs turned, toss the bottle into the pool. Then, let players begin the search. First to find it wins!

Addition Competition: Write the numbers 1 to 24 on a set of ping pong balls with a permanent marker. Toss the balls into the pool and have players collect as many as they can. Instead of counting how many balls they found, add the numbers on the ping pong balls. Highest score wins.

For more swimming pool activities you can enjoy with and without pool floats, click “Top 10 Games to Make Your Kids’ Pool Party Unforgettable.”