1. Go to the beach, obviously.
It wouldn't be summer if you didn't spent a day carelessly laying in the sand not worrying about the 12 hour shift you have the next day. Let yourself get a nice burn, spend the next 3 days recovering from it, and go right back again. Get knocked over by a wave or two. It wouldn't be summer if you didn't spent at least one day by the ocean.
2. Go hiking.
There are thousands of mountains and trails and parks to go to that are home to some awesome views. As long as you have the right shoes on, pack enough water, and can force yourself to beat the heat, you're in for a hell of a day.
3. Go fishing.
Or crabbing. Or something along those lines. It's a really nice way to spend the day if you aren't in the mood to swim in the ocean. You still get to sit by the water and enjoy the weather, and you can catch some nice fish to eat for dinner. Or you can catch one and send it right back in if killing it just isn't your style.
4. Visit a boardwalk.
Even if you aren't playing any games or buying anything from the stands, it's still a nice place to go to get a change of scenery. Some stands give out free samples of ice creams and finger foods, too. If you're up to it, try the polish water ice. It's delicious and my favorite way to cool off.
5. Go to the fair.
Fairs come around every summer regardless of the town or state that you live in. They might not be the cheapest when it comes to doing stuff, but it's a great place to meet up with some friends and hang out. If you are able to spend a little bit of money, most fairs have pretty reasonable prices as well, considering they only have two weeks to make a profit.
6. Go see free movies or concerts.
There are a lot of places you can go that offer free movies and concerts in the park. They are usually old movies that you've seen over a thousand times, or bands no one has ever heard of before, but that doesn't make them any less fun.
If you're lucky, some places host free concerts by actual popular artists, such as 95.5's Annual Summer Kickoff. Beware: some people arrive as early as 5 hours before, so make sure you get there early, or have a way to sneak in the back.
7. Have a bonfire.
Besides paying for fire wood and gasoline, it's basically free. Any extras (marshmallows, burgers, hot dogs) are totally up to you. Gather a few of your closest friends for some good company, and get comfortable. Sit there all night if you want to. It's an easy way to get out of the house.
8. See a movie.
So many good movies come out during the summer and most movie theaters either have daily discounts, such as Hazlet Multiplex's Discount Tuesday, where movie tickets are as little as $6. They even have reclining seats. Even if they don't have a daily discount, most theaters normally have a student discount valid with an ID.
9. Go to a zoo, aquarium or a farm.
Similar to the movie theaters, zoo's and aquariums normally have a discount day or student discount. So even if the zoo is normally expensive, you can get a little bit of that taken off. Farms are normally free. If seeing animals in captivity isn't really your thing, then you can always go out and try to find some in nature.
10. Go waterfall hunting.
This one can be tough. Some waterfalls are really hidden in the depths of valleys or forests or woods so try and dedicate a day to this. Find some people who know how to navigate to help you out. This one is perfect for those of you who love a good adventure.