Here are seven things you and your friends can do! Between traveling to a near by city or keeping it local, there's always an adventure to be had!
1. Attend a festival in a nearby city.
Most of the festivals and street fairs in New York City are free. The only thing you need to keep in mind is transportation and food.
Living close to New York City has given me a multitude of options for adventures to be had. Recently, a friend and I travelled to Union Square to attend Bubble Battle NYC 2015. About 20,000 people were there blowing bubbles. The cost of travel was only $20, which isn't terribly expensive if you're on a budget. The event was free and such a blast. So many people came together for a few hours to purely to blow bubbles, it was truly a sight to see.
2. Put on a mock Hunger Games.
What you need: 10 plus people, water games and a spot to play the games. It can be a field, like Central Park, or it can be a heavily wooded area.
Every summer for the last three years, my friends and I have gotten together the first weekend after school ends to do a mock Hunger Games. There's a field in my town that has woods surrounding it, so we go there and play with water guns, Nerf guns and water balloons. All of the "tributes"have to wear white, so that when we get "killed" it shows up clearly on our shirts. The "weapons" are put in the center of the field to act like a cornucopia. We all stand in a circle and count down from ten, just like in the novels and films. Once we get to "one," it's every man for himself.
3. Go on a hike.
If you don't have a state park, you can always go for a walk around your neighborhood or explore another part of town.
During my first year at Quinnipiac University, I've taken a liking to hiking at Sleeping Giant State Park, which happens to be across the street from campus. Hiking while at school was a great way for me to clear my head and also get some exercise, not to mention a great photo opportunity.
4. Go to a concert.
A good way to see musicians live without spending a lot of money is seeing free shows in them during a summer concert series. Many large metropolitan areas host concerts on their greens. Good Morning America and the Today Show, both shot live in New York City, have a free concert series during their morning broadcasts.
I recently just went to see Ed Sheeran on Good Morning America, as part of the summer concert series. I camped out in Central Park with one of my friends all night. We got there at 11 p.m., the day before the concert. We stayed up all night, but it was so worth it. Experiencing your favorite artist live is truly life changing.
5. Go to the beach.
What you need: towel, swimsuit, sunscreen, a good book and plenty of sunshine.
I could go to the beach every day of the summer. Not only do you get a fabulous tan (unless you're pale like me and get a not so fabulous sun burn), you get the beautiful ocean to swim in, a fun boardwalk to hang out on, and a beautiful sunset to end your day.
6. Go on a road trip.
Road trips are a beautiful thing. It gives you a chance to hang out with your friends and explore parts of the country you normally miss because flying is so convienent. Even if you just go a few hours outside of your town or city, it's still a road trip and somewhere new.
7. Roast marshmallows.
Roasting marshmallows is a must during the summer. Making s'mores always reminds me of summers when I was a kid.
Those were the best summer. It was something my family and I did every night. We would go to our friends house across the street and sit by their fire pit and roast marshmallows on the long and dirty sticks we found in the woods near by. There would be soft, summer music playing through the blue portable radio that would sit on the nearby table.
With these seven things to do this summer, you'll never bored with your friends again! You can get as creative as you want when it comes to making plans. You have endless possibilities during summertime!
