Summer is upon us! Finally, the week of finals and constant stress is behind us! We can now relax and enjoy our summer. With that being said, I decided to do some research and find some fun things to do during the summer!

1. Go to the beach (or the lake).

My plan is to go to the beach as much as possible this summer! However, I like to switch it up a bit and spend a few days at the lake as well. Lucky for us New Jerseyans, we have some of the best beaches to choose from.

2. Go to the zoo!

Lucky for us New Jersey peeps, we have many zoos to choose from as well. If you are up for a bit of a drive, you can check out the Bronx Zoo or the Philly Zoo. But there is no need to drive that far because we have a zoo right here in NJ called the Turtle Back Zoo.

3. Take a hike.

Literally, not figuratively. This is something that costs very little and you get the most amazing views! My personal favorite place to hike is the Ramapo Reservation in North Jersey. For only the cost of gas and an hour drive, I get a great workout and beautiful scenery.

4. Have a cookout.

It doesn't have to be a family cookout, nor does there have to be a special occasion. My favorite thing to do in the summer is have some friends over for some good ole barbecuing and some sitting around the fire. I also enjoy spending time with my family having spur-of-the-moment barbecues.

5. Have a picnic.

This is yet another thing that is relatively inexpensive. All you need is some friends, some food and drinks, and a blanket and you are set. Find the nearest park, or even set up a spot in your backyard, and spend some quality time with your friends.

6. Read a book.

This may not seem very fun, but reading is one of my favorite pastimes. The summertime is when I get 99% of my reading done. There is nothing that I enjoy more than cracking open a brand new book while sitting out in the sun.

7. Spend time with family.

This is my all-time favorite thing to do in the summer. Some of my favorite memories growing up were when my family would all be at my aunt's house swimming and having a barbecue. This was something so small, but it was definitely enjoyable. It was times like those where we shared countless laughs.

Well, there you have it! Here are just a few ways to make the summertime even more enjoyable than it already is! To make it even better, these are all fairly inexpensive. As I start my summer off, there is nothing that I look forward to more than making the absolute best out of it. Spending as much time with my family, seeing my friends as much as humanly possible, and making memories.