As July comes to a close, the thoughts about the school year begin to creep into the back of our minds. We hear commercials about school supplies, "back to school" sales, and all that comes with the approaching school year. Not to fear, there are a few things you can still try to accomplish before summer leaves us once again.
1. Road Trip
When people think of road trips, they tend to automatically assume it has to be long, boring, and planned in advance. Luckily, none of the above needs to be true! Get a few friends, wake up early, pick a destination, and drive! Stop to get some gas, make a playlist as you go, and just let the unexpected happen.
2. Camping
Before it gets too cool to even think of sleeping outside, grab a tent and look for the closest camping sites near you. If you don't feel safe camping in the woods, pitch a tent in your backyard! Some of my funniest memories are of a bunch of my friends and I pitching a few tents and cramming as many people as possible into them, all in my backyard.
3. Hiking
Kill two birds with one stone, get some exercise and have fun while doing it. Throw on your sneakers, an old pair of shorts and t-shirt, and get ready to climb. Not all hikes have to be intense. There are plenty of beautiful "walking paths" or "easy hikes" for the inexperienced. Don't forget to bring some granola bars, lots of water, sunscreen, and some bug spray. The views will be worth it.
4. Tubing
Luckily, in New Jersey, we live close enough to many places that allow tubing. One place is the Delaware Water Gap. Just make sure you get there early. It tends to be an all day event. Pack a lunch and relax while floating down the cool water on a scorching hot day!
5. Paddle Boarding
While surfing may not be everyone's cup of tea, the new popular sport of Paddle Boarding could be your new activity! Some places are as cheap as $20. Many rental places also give private lessons, which could really help as well.
6. Boardwalk
No summer is complete without visiting a boardwalk at least once. Yes, it may be full of benny's and annoying tourists, but who can pass up the childhood feeling of visiting the boardwalk on a beautiful summer night?
7. State Fair
Another key summer activity are the local fairs that come around! Grab some cotton candy, popcorn, and enjoy screaming your head off on some rickety old roller coaster.
8. BBQ
Go on Pinterest and find a recipe for grilling that is anything other than typical burgers and hot dogs. There are so many delicious vegetables grown all over New Jersey this time of year .You have to take advantage of it. If you aren't into veggies, find a recipe, and try making your own home made burgers!
9. Bonfire
What's better than sitting around a fire with all of your friends on a cool summer night? Eating smores, while sitting around a fire with all of your friends on a cool summer night.
10. Go night swimming
Nothing else to do tonight? Get some speakers, good tunes, good friends, and jump in the pool.
11. Go mini-golfing
While regular golfing may be boring for some, mini-golfing won't be. Find the corniest themed mini-golfing place around and bring your A-Game. Whether you actually compete against your friends, or just play for fun, it will keep things interesting. In the end, reward both winners and losers with some ice-cream.
12. Watch the sunrise
Waking up early might really be a pain, but waking up for something this spectacular really will pay off. If worse comes to worse, stay up all night until the sun comes up. Many of us are lucky to be only a few minutes from the beach, and watching it rise over the ocean is magical.
Summer brings us an unlimited amount of opportunities for new adventures each and every day. Take advantage of the beautiful weather, the fresh air, and the long days to make the most out of what we have left of this astonishing season.
