Top 5 Simple Summer Activities You Can't Miss This Year

From long-awaited vacations to lazing on a hammock under the trees, summer offers plenty of opportunities for fun and relaxing leisure pursuits. There’s so much to do!

Some families can’t miss a summer visit to a campsite or amusement park. Summer is also a great time for day trips to a favorite festival or cultural center. There are so many possibilities – and so little time. How do you pack the most summer fun into a few short weeks?

Maybe you can’t do everything, but usually there are a few activities you consider “can’t miss” summer adventures.

Like you, there are many things we at Christmas Central can’t wait to enjoy this summer. Here’s our list of five things we think make summer worthwhile.

Whether it’s hamburgers and hotdogs or steak and ribs, Americans love food that’s been seared on the grill. It could be a weeknight dinner or a big family reunion, but nothing says “summer” like a meal cooked outdoors.

During summer, those meals are even more enjoyable when they’re shared as part of a backyard barbecue or summer picnic.

When hosting a backyard barbecue, remember these planning tips:

• Give the grill a good cleaning. Stock up on barbecue briquettes and lighter fluid, or buy a spare propane tank.

• Have plenty of drinks on hand for your guests. Separate alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages and clearly label them. Provide bins to collect empty bottles and cans.

• Offer plenty of seating, in multiple settings if possible. This could include a conversation area on the patio, a dining table under the pergola, Adirondack chairs by the firepit and hammock chairs and swings hanging from porch rafters.

After dinner, you might relax on the patio for drinks and good conversation or gather around the firepit for s’mores and stargazing.

To keep guests comfortable until the late hours, ensure comfortable seating with outdoor pillows and cushions. Shed a little light on your outdoor spaces with patio string lights and decorative outdoor lanterns.

Music, art, culture and vocations converge at summer festivals across the country. Many festivals are annual favorites that we look forward to attending every year. Jazz festivals, art festivals, food festivals and heritage festivals invite us to join others in shared experiences that heighten our sense of self and community.

In many regions, county fairs offer a similar opportunity to explore common interests while indulging in food, amusements and entertainment not available during other times of the year.

Likewise, summer visits to the farmer’s market or trips to the country for you-pick fruits and garden-fresh vegetables can create memories and invite encounters beyond the normal scope of everyday life.

Be prepared for spontaneous outdoor excursions. Pack your car with essential gear, like portable chairs, picnic blankets, and reusable cooler totes or bags, so you’re always ready to stop at the next roadside stand.

Watch for advertisements and search “festivals near me” or “farm markets near me” for exciting activities and new places to explore!

When the weather is this good, who can resist the lure of the great outdoors?

From picnicking in a local park to a full-out camping adventure, people across the country head out in summer to enjoy their favorite warm-weather pursuits. The list of possibilities is large. Boating, canoeing, golfing, paddleboarding, hiking, cycling, mountain biking and zip-lining only touch the surface.

A more relaxing adventure may include a trip to the beach, a stroll along a nature path or a visit to a botanical garden.

Whether you plan a road trip to a national park, a visit to a historical site or day trips to local attractions, no season encourages us to get up and go more than summer.

Seaside, swimming pool, lake or river, you can’t beat a cool dip on a hot summer day. Summer is the best time to head to the beach for fun in the sand and sun, for hosting pool parties and for long days relaxing at the lakeside cabin. If you’re up for more than dipping your toes in the water, you might try water skiing, tubing, surfing, jet skiing or a lazy float down the creek.

For even more entertainment in the water with friends, there’s pool basketball, pool volleyball and even floating versions of ping pong and checkers! A vast selection of inflatable toys offers opportunities for diving practice, target shoots and water squirting fun.

Need a pint-sized pool for your little swimmers? Inflatable kiddie pools set up in minutes and store easily when the water fun is done. Don’t forget about floats and swim vests, which aid buoyancy and increase their confidence when they’re ready to graduate to the big kids’ pool. 

Sometimes, it’s the simple indulgences that mean the most – like taking the family (or the furbaby) out for ice cream! Cool, sweet and delicious, ice cream has been a favorite American summer treat since Colonial days, but the frozen treat’s roots date back to ancient times.

Every community has a favorite ice cream spot, whether it’s a parlor that’s been filling cones for generations or a boutique shop creating unique flavor combinations. And since ice cream is too good to limit yourself to just one serving a year, doesn’t it make sense to travel around and sample the offerings of each store? Try a new place every week and create your personal list of favorites.

While heading to the ice cream shop is a favorite summer experience, the best part about ice cream is that you can also enjoy it at home! Set up an ice cream sundae station at your next birthday party, pool party or barbecue. Offer several ice cream flavors, along with toppings like chocolate chips, crushed pretzels, sprinkles and sauces. Make sure you have plenty of ice cream scoopers, bowls, cones, spoons and napkins so everyone can fully enjoy their ice cream creations.

Summer pleasures are typically uncomplicated and unique to the season. Whether you stick with tried-and-true pleasures or venture into the new and unknown, summer encourages activity, exploration and casual gatherings with family and friends.

But the season doesn’t last forever, so don’t wait! Grab sunscreen and a sun hat and head out for experiences and adventures that will make this a summer to remember.

Looking to upgrade your summer setup? Browse our collection of outdoor lights, pool floats, patio furniture and festive summer décor to make the most of every sunny day!